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kinda-iconic · 5 years

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Everything comes at a price

Summary: The mysterious collector has agreed to a deal; the amulet is theirs, so long as Amy grants him with the vision that he desires. Though initially reluctant, Adrian agrees, but it isn’t long before he tries to stop it.

Author’s note: This fanfic follows on from Chapter 2 and the events take place during chapter 3. I love angst, so I’m kinda hoping that this will happen at some point - this is a repost as Tumblr deleted the first one, so I’m hoping not too much has changed. All I can really say with this is that... I feel so sorry for Amy!

Song that inspired this Fanfic: Bridges by Aisha Badru

Pairing: Adrian x MC

Warning: Depictions of violence, angst and death

Tagging (I apologise if you didn’t want tagging): @queerchoicesblog @nobounderiesplease @nitakali @teamtomsato @galaxyside-0 @bhavf@shelley-parah @itlivesbeneath @gavryllo @katyagrayce @desiree-0816 @brightpinkpeppercorn @begging-for-kamilah @ladykateofhousebeaumont @mangoruby @krishu213 @choicesfannatalie @adrianadmirer @zigortega4life @laniquelovewrites @flyawayboo

‘Alright,’ Langdon removes himself from behind the counter, running his thumb along the edges of the necklace. He briefly fixates his gaze on the jewel, before turning his attention back to the group. ‘I can see that this amulet is of great importance to you.’

Adrian clears his throat, edging closer to the collector. ‘So you’ll allow us to have it?’

‘For a price, of course.’

‘Certainly,’ He retrieves his wallet from his breast pocket, ‘how much would you like for it?’

The man chuckles softly, ‘oh I don’t want your money.’

Adrian meets his gaze for a moment, his brows narrowing in confusion. ‘Then what…’

‘They told me about you, you know,’ he wanders over to stand before Amy, his hand outstretched towards her, ‘but I never thought that you’d be so…’ he pauses for a moment, his fingers curling as they rest against his chin, ‘innocently human.’

‘I…’

She smiles bashfully at him, her forehead creasing in uncertainty, ‘thank you, I guess.’

He chuckles to himself, before turning his attention back to the group. ‘I will give you what you desire,’ he inhales sharply, before placing a firm hand on Amy’s shoulder, ‘so long as your friend assists me in my endeavour.’ He clears his throat before continuing, ‘for the past decade, I have been searching for the location of the Decarti vase; it’s a magnificent piece of our history, and some believe that it possessed the ability to restore life.’

‘Even if that were true,’ Jax added, ‘why would you have the need for something as powerful as that?’

‘I’m not interested in its power,’ he hesitates briefly, ‘I’m interested in its retail price.’ He walks over to stand adjacent to Amy, his expression stoic, with a hint of curiosity.

‘So, do we have a deal?’

His grip on Amy tightens, and Amy can’t help but wince as he presses his fingers into her flesh. Adrian steps forward, his lips curling into a snarl, ‘I suggest that you remove your hand from her shoulder,’ he retorts coldly, ‘unless you want to lose it.’

The man watches Adrian warily, his eyes narrowing as he tries to assess his counterpart. Adrian edges closer once more, reaching up to adjust his tie as he regards the collector with a cautionary glare.

‘Weren’t we agreeing on a deal?’ Langdon laughs bitterly, ‘it’d be a shame if I had to go back on my part of the bargain.’

‘The exchange we were agreeing on was a vision,’ Adrian retorts, a guttural growl emanating from his throat, ‘as far as I recall, that wasn’t an invitation for you to touch her.’

‘Hmmmm…’ He looks dutifully between the pair, the corner of his mouth curving into a mischievous smile as he takes note of the way that they look at one another, his mouth agape as the realisation begins to dawn.

‘Ah,’ he chortles, releasing Amy from his grasp, ‘boyfriend, eh?’ He holds up his hands, distancing himself from the young woman as Adrian approaches her, curling his arm around her waist. ‘I was never going to hurt her,’ he nods subtly, ‘I guess I just assumed that the young miss wasn’t as fragile as she appears.’

‘Well, your assumption was correct,’ the arm around Amy tightens, ‘but we came here for a bargain, did we not?’

‘You did indeed,’ the man edges closer to the pair, and Amy can feel the grip around her waist tightening even more. He extends his hand, gesturing for Amy to take it.

But he is stopped.

‘No.’

Adrian positions himself between the pair, his voice deep and somewhat unnerving. She looks up at him, her brows knitted in confusion.

‘Adrian?’

Langdon tilts his head, eyeing Adrian suspiciously. ‘I thought we had a deal, Mr Raines.’

‘Our deal was never set in stone,’ he lowers his gaze to the floor before meeting her eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ he turns away from her, focusing his sole attention on the man, ‘but I’m afraid that you ask too much.’

He pauses for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose, ‘and after your chivalrous conduct, I don’t feel comfortable letting you anywhere near her.’

Before Langdon has a chance to respond, Kamilah interjects, each utterance becoming more venomous as she ponders over to Adrian.

‘We need that amulet, Adrian!’

‘I know.’

‘Then why are you trying to make this more difficult - ’

‘We’ll need to think of another way to retrieve it,’ he cuts her off, fixating his eyes back on the collector, ‘are you certain that we cannot find another means to…’

Langdon shakes his head, lowering his gaze to the floor. ‘I would normally accept financial payment, but the gift of a Bloodkeeper’s ability is…’ he smiles menacingly at her, ‘worth so much more than money can buy.’

Adrian lowers his head, his facial expression almost stoic as he trails his hand along Amy’s forearm, meeting her with a worried gaze. He exhales, his words carried by a despondent sigh.

‘I can’t let you do this…’

‘It’s the only way we’re going to get that amulet.’

‘There’s always another way,’ he cups her cheek with his hand, his thumb tracing a line on her cheekbone, ‘besides, I’ve been told I can be pretty reasonable.’

‘But the solution is right-’

‘Please, Amy,’ he hesitates for a moment, his words becoming more of a plea, ‘do not risk your safety for…’ he shakes his head, his brows narrowing as he tries to find the words, ‘something as trivial as this.’

‘You know it’s not trivial...’

‘Amy...’

‘I get it,’ she runs her fingers through his dark hair, ‘you’re worried about me.’

‘Is it that obvious?’

She reaches towards him, cupping his cheeks between her palms before she leans forward, enveloping his lips in a tender kiss. After a moment, the pair part, resting their foreheads upon one another. She inhales sharply, a soft whimper catching in her throat.

‘You know I’d do anything for you…’

She kisses him again, her breath ghosting over his skin as she nestles her face into this shoulder. She sighs, her fingers entwining themselves in the hair at the nape of his neck. She bites her lip, her brown-doe eyes meeting his once more, her voice soft and quiet.

‘That’s why I need you to trust me.’

‘Amy…’

She turns to face Langdon, her arms folding protectively across her chest. ‘I’ll do it,’ she exclaims hastily, ‘if it’s the only payment you will accept.’

‘It’s not the only payment, but it seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up,’ he smiles fondly at her, offering her his arm.

‘May I?’

She turns to face Adrian for a moment; he fixes the collector with a cold glare as his jaw clenches. He exhales sharply, a blanket of wariness covering his face.

‘I don’t trust him…’

‘I know,’ she places her hand on his chest, ‘but you trust me, don’t you?’

He bows his head, fixating his gaze on her fragile fingers as they grasp onto his jacket.

‘I do.’

The man draws closer, his eyes never leaving Adrian.

‘Is there anything that you need before we begin?’

She turns away from Adrian, his hand softly gracing the curve of her waist as she steps forward.

‘I… I need to be sitting down.’

‘Of course,’ he gestures for Amy to take his arm, before leading her over to an upholstered chair, its plum threading worn with age.

‘Is there anything else?’

Before she takes a seat, she spies a coil of rope, nestled in the shadows. She retrieves it from the darkness, before walking over to Jax.

His nose crinkles in confusion.

‘What is…’

‘I need you to tie me to the chair.’

His eyes widen as he processes her request.

‘You want me to,’ he glances over at Adrian, who stands motionless, his sad eyes fixated on the young woman, ‘why do you want me to…’

‘The visions they’re…’ she hesitates for a moment, ‘they can be rather painful and…and I know that, if I’m not tied down,’ she exhales defeatedly, ‘I’ll try to run.’

‘But why me?’ He crosses his arms, his face painted with confliction, ‘why aren’t you asking Adrian?’

‘Because I know you won’t hesitate,’ she meets Adrian’s gaze, trying desperately to comfort him with a soft smile, ‘Adrian would.’

‘Is that everything?’

‘Yes,’ she turns away from Jax, pondering over to rest beside the chair. She sits down, her eyes darting around the room pensively as Jax approaches with the rope, binding her arms to the back of the chair. He ties the knot, tight enough to restrain her, but not enough to cause any harm.

‘Is that alright?’ Jax fiddles with the knot, ensuring that her arms are properly bound.

‘Yes,’ she responds with a warm smile, ‘it’s not too tight just…’

‘Tight enough to stop you from escaping?’

She nods.

He checks the knot once more, tugging at the threads before meeting her eyes.

‘You can still back out of this you know,’ he looks over his shoulder at Kamilah, whose eyes bore into his own, ‘it’s not too late to change your mind.’

‘I know,’ she mutters, ‘but this is something that I have to do.’

He backs away from her, returning to stand beside the others as Langdon approaches, grasping onto her hand as she adjusts herself.

‘Are you alright, miss?’

‘I’m fine,’ she looks over at Adrian; their eyes meet, before he lowers his gaze to the floor. She watches him quietly for a moment, but it isn’t long before she addresses him, ‘Adrian?’

At first, he is reluctant to look upon her. However, after some time, he looks up at her, his gaze softening as he meets her eyes.

‘It’s going to be okay,’ she smiles lovingly at him, ‘I’ll be alright.’

Adrian nods, needing desperately to believe her.

‘Okay,’ Langdon presses forward, leaning his weight against the chair. He reaches towards her, tucking a strand of Amy’s hair behind her ear.

‘Are you ready?’

She sighs, her eyes darting to the faces of her friends as they look back at her, their gazes evidently stoic. Except for Adrian.

She locks eyes with him for a moment; he smiles weakly at her.

‘I’m ready.’

At first, all Amy can see is a void of darkness, its shadowy tendrils slowly enveloping her as they close in, like an eagle catching its prey.

Suddenly, an electric current rushes through her, and she is briefly blinded by a vibrant light. Her body stiffens and, as her eyes adjust to the vibrancy, she manages to catch a glimpse of the past. However, as she tries to focus on the location of the vase, she is projected into the past of those that she holds most dear.

‘No.....’

Kamilah stands in an old temple, her eyes red with fury as they scan her surroundings for any sign of life. The floor is covered in fresh blood. It isn’t long before she removes her cloak, a sinister smile enveloping her face as she pierces the heart of another with an ornate dagger.

‘Kamilah...’

Kamilah steps forward, tilting her head as she speaks her name, her brows narrowed in confusion.

‘Amy?’

Amy’s face goes red as her blood courses rapidly through her veins. She tries to refocus her mind on the task at hand, but it isn’t long before she is overpowered by another vision.

A lone figure prowls a battlefield, his navy uniform stained with splatters of dry blood. He reaches forward, grasping onto an enemy soldier before digging his fangs into the man’s jugular. The man struggles for a moment, trying desperately to fight him off, but before long, his body goes limp and still. The soldier throws him to the floor as he gazes over his horizon. The field is littered with the dead. He smiles fondly at the sight, turning his head as he looks briefly over his shoulder at another. It is only then that Amy is able to see his face.

Adrian.

‘Oh god...’

‘Feeling peckish, are we?’

Adrian laughs, removing his cavalry sword from its sheath before sharpening the blade, droplets of fresh blood falling onto his skin.

‘Aren’t I always?’

The figure looms closer, greeting him with a wide grin as he surveys the scene before him.

Gaius.

Amy’s head snaps back, her wrists tugging at the ropes as she tries desperately to break free. ‘Hrrgh!’ she cries out in pain, the rope burning into her flesh as she continues to struggle.

Adrian inches closer, his eyes widening as he takes in the sight before him.

‘A...Amy?’

Within seconds, Langdon appears behind her. ‘Don’t fight it!’ He reaches his arms towards her, his hands settling on her shoulders as he whispers into her ear, ‘if you want that amulet, I need to know where that chest is hidden,’ he pauses for a moment, taking in her contorted expression, ‘regardless as to how much pain it causes you.’

Her mind is transported back to the battlefield, the whites of her eyes beginning to show as she screams out in pain, her focus shifting between the two figures as she draws closer to them.

‘Not a bad effort if I say so myself,’ Gaius exclaims, patting Adrian on his back, ‘not too sloppy...not too gruesome...’ he smiles once more, ‘just the right amount of gore, I’d say.’

‘Well I don’t intend to disappoint,’ Adrian retorts, a menacing grin enveloping his lips, ‘after all, isn’t this what they all deserve?’

Gaius laughs, his eyes fading into red as he looks upon his soldier proudly, like a father to his son. Suddenly, their attention is captured by a loud whail in the distance, their eyes following the trail of thick blood as it lines the path to their next victim.

‘As your reward, My Prince,’ he steps forward, turning to face his creation, ‘I shall allow you the satisfaction of the kill.’

Adrian’s lips curl into a sinister smile as he reaches up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth as he looks at his master fondly.

‘Thank you, my King.’

The images fade once more, and Amy is left alone in the darkness. She cries out, her pained plea sending shivers down Adrian’s spine.

‘Adrian...’ Amy hesitates for a moment, her breath hitching in her throat as she holds back a sob, ‘please...no...not... not you...’

‘...Amy?’

She tries to open her eyes, but the brightness intensifies, carrying her into another vision, the darkness consuming her memories of Adrian and Kamilah.

A young woman creeps out of the shadows, a brown chest nestled within her arms. She looks around for a moment, checking that she has not been followed.

‘I trust that you have delivered on our bargain?’

A cloaked man appears from behind her, his hood covering the entirety of his face.

‘Of course,’ the woman sighs, opening the chest carefully before holding its contents out to the mysterious character. The vase is made from porcelain, its green tint brightening as it is exposed to the light.

‘I always honor an agreement.’

‘Good,’ the cloaked figure takes the vase from her, his eyes widening as he takes in its intricate detail. ‘My my,’ he gasps, ‘isn’t this exquisite!’

‘What did you expect?’ She stands beside him, peering over his shoulder, ‘the Decarti Vase has always been a valuable asset to my culture.’ She sighs defeatedly, lowering her gaze to the floor, ‘I guess it belongs to you now.’

‘Certainly,’ he smiles mischeviously, turning the vase in his hands.

‘What are you going to do with it?’

He chortles, holding the vase tightly in his grasp.

‘It is no concern of yours.’

‘But I’ve trusted you with a priceless artifact,’ she exclaims warily, ‘I deserve to know what you intend to do with it!’

The man watches her, amused, before removing his dagger from its sheath. He looks over the blade, the orange hue of candlelight reflecting on the hilt.

‘This relic is incredibly powerful,’ he turns to face her, ‘some say that it has the power to restore life to those that possess it,’ he pauses for a moment, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘But there are others that believe it can be used as a means to take life instead.’

‘But it’s just a vase, how can it...’

He pierces his skin with the blade, letting the fresh blood fall onto the vase’s exterior.

‘I will show you.’

The blood begins to boil, it’s coppery scent filling the air as it disappears into dust. The woman looks on in awe as the cut in his skin heals, her eyes refusing to leave the sight of the wound.

‘But that’s impossible!’

‘Nothing is impossible, my dear.’

She watches on in bewilderment, before her excitement turns into wariness. The young woman edges closer out of curiosity.

‘I don’t understand,’ she mutters, ‘you weren’t going to tell me...’

‘On the contrary, my sweet,’ he steps to rest before her, his bloodied fingertips tracing along the curve of her jaw, ‘I had always intended to tell you.’

‘But...why?’

He leans closer to her, his warm breath ghosting on her skin as he whispers in her ear.

‘Because you won’t be alive to tell anyone else.’

Amy’s breath catches in her throat as the memories relay before her; the young woman gasps, her head lolling back as the blade of his dagger seeps into her flesh. He forces the blade in deeper, her initial cries of pain turning into nothing more than a whimper as her blood stains the dirt around her. He drops down to his knees as he cradles her motionless body, watching the essence of life fade from her eyes.

‘Please,’ Amy wails, ‘for the love of god, make it stop!’

Adrian’s muscles tighten, his eyes growing wide at the sound of her terrified voice.

‘Amy...’

The vision continues, and Amy is able to make out little snippets of the aftermath; the Decarti vase sits next to the lifeless body of the young woman, her scarlet blood staining its base as it begins to form a barrier around it. The man is quick to retrieve it, cleaning the blood from his hands before placing the vase in his worn leather satchel. He strokes her cheek, her warm blood tinting her tear-stained face. ‘Oh, my sweet,’ He sighs, ‘this is why little girls should not get involved in other people’s business.’

The man treads further into the cavern, stopping short at the sight of a waterfall, its fresh water falling in to the cavernous void below. The water falls silently down the rocks, its magical properties allowing green foliage to emerge from the cracks in the rock. He starts clawing at the dirt, stopping only momentarily to wipe the beads of sweat as they run down his forehead. Once the hole is deep enough, he removes the vase from his bag, wrapping it in his old cloak before lowering it into the ground. ‘You’re safe now,’ he murmurs under his breath, covering the vase with the broken dirt, ‘no one will ever find you here.’

Before the vision dissipates, Amy is met with the image of a word as it breaks through the threshold of her memories.

Carabella...

Her pale skin is quickly met with a waterfall of her own, as a trickle of crimson blood flows out of her nose and onto her lips, tinting her skin with a dark pigment.

‘Adrian?!’ The pain intensifies and she bites her lip, drawing more blood as she latches on, ‘I...please I.... I don’t want to do this anymore!’

Within an instant, he is by her side, trying desperately to pry her from her bounds. Kamilah edges closer, her eyes trained on the mortal as she begins to speak, her voice somber and cold.

‘Adrian, stop; you need to let this vision unfold.’

‘She’s in pain, Kamilah!’ He looks at Amy, her warm blood diluting with fresh tears as they make their way down her tear-stained cheeks. He breaks one of her wrists free from the rope, ‘I can’t let this continue any longer.’

‘Adrian, think about what you are doing!’

‘I am!’ he exclaims, his eyes red with agitation as he tugs at the rope keeping her in place. He hesitates for a moment, his breathing becoming less erratic before he speaks once more, his voice nothing but a whisper.

‘If you cared for her as much as I do, you’d do the same.’

‘I’m warning you, Adrian,’ Kamilah takes another step forward, her tone cold and threatening, ‘you may be my brother, but I will not hesitate to drag you away.’

They glance at each other, before he turns his attention back to Amy, her face now inscrutable and strained. He reaches towards her, softly cupping her cheek in his hand, running the tips of his thumbs across her delicate skin as he traces intricate patterns on her cheeks.

He focuses on her for a moment, but it isn’t long before he breaks his gaze away, his eyes meeting the floor as he clasps tightly onto Amy’s hand. He leans in, placing a delicate kiss to the back of her hand, before peering back over his shoulder at his friend. They hold each other’s gaze for only a moment before he speaks; though his voice is only a whisper, Kamilah is able to make out two little words, both said with sincerity and desperation.

‘Forgive me.’

He turns away from her, his hands trembling as he frantically tries to free his lover from her prison. Kamilah watches, her expression conflicted, before walking over to stand behind him. She rests her hand on his shoulder, her voice lowering to an inaudible whisper.

‘No,’ the grip on his shoulder tightens, and Adrian can feel his entire body being lifted into the air as his feet are grounded on the floor once more. A defeated sigh escapes her lips as she pulls him away from the mortal.

‘Forgive me, brother.’

‘Kamilah, no….’

He tries to push himself forward, but her hold on him is too strong. Within seconds, he is back in her company; she grasps onto his forearm, forcing his back against the wall. He continues to struggle against her strength as she pins him by her elbow…

‘Hhhrggghh…’ a deep growl emanates from his throat as he tries desperately to free himself from her control. ‘Kamilah…stop…’

‘Not until you get ahold of yourself!’

Jax edges closer to the pair, his eyes trained on Amy as he regards Kamilah over his shoulder.

‘Maybe we should listen to him, Kamilah,’ he pauses for a moment, cupping the nape of his neck with his palm as he stares at the mortal, his gaze softening as he witnesses her suffering, ‘this is cruel, even for us.’

‘How is it?’ She retorts, meeting Jax with an icy glare, ‘she knew the risks when she agreed to accept this as our payment - this may hurt her, but she’s doing the right thing.’

‘She’s our friend, Kamilah,’ Jax scoffs, ‘or are you forgetting that?’

‘I...’

‘It’s Amy, Kamilah,’ Adrian sighs, his breath catching in his throat as he holds back a wince, ‘she always does the right thing, no matter how much pain she has to endure.’

Kamilah looks over at Amy; she remains seated in the chair, fresh blood trailing down her chin. She struggles against her bonds, her salty tears thinning the blood as it seeps into her clothing. She meets Kamilah’s gaze.

‘Kami...please...’

Kamilah’s eyes glisten as a single tear threatens to fall. Her expression softens and, within seconds, she loosens her hold on Adrian, giving him enough slack to break free. He runs to her side, reaching his arms around her to free her. With a flick of his wrist, he severs the rope, untangling her from her prison.

‘Amy?’ He inhales sharply, his fingers entangling in her balayage hair.

‘Wh...wha... Adrian?’

‘Amy!’ She stirs, her eyes slowly opening at the sound of his voice. He takes her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. ‘I’m here…’ he lifts her hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss to her knuckles, ‘I will always be right here.’

‘A…Adrian?’

He embraces her tenderly, his arms constricting around her as he runs his hand across her back. ‘Are you alright?’ He holds her at arms length, his brow knitting as he notices her body begin to subtly shake, ‘You’re trembling.’

‘I…’ her voice is hoarse, no louder than a whisper. ‘I’m okay.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ he leans in, lifting her arms so that he can inspect her limbs, the red mark on her skin twisting from her wrist to her forearm. ‘Does it hurt?’

‘It stings a bit, but it’s otherwise okay.’

‘Amy…’

Kamilah’s voice carries across the room, her gaze softening as she approaches the mortal with a sad smile. However, before she has the opportunity to get closer, Adrian holds up his hand, signalling for her to stop.

‘She’s not doing that again, Kamilah,’ he peers over his shoulder at her, his tone a mixture of anger and guilt. ‘I won’t let you use her like this…’

‘Adrian…’

‘No.’

He turns his attention back to the mortal, ‘are you alright? Can you stand?’

‘Yeah, I think I’m alright.’

Amy stands for a moment, though it isn’t long before her dizziness catches up with her.

‘Amy?’

‘I…urm…’

Her legs buckle from underneath her. She grasps onto his jacket, trying but failing to keep herself standing.

‘Woah, woah easy there!’

Adrian catches her, his arms tightening around her waist as he supports her weight before perching her on the edge of the seat.

‘Are you okay?’

She nods rapidly, her breathing becoming irregular. He reaches towards her, wiping at the tears as they fall onto her cheeks.

‘I think… I think I just need a… moment to breathe…’

‘Of course,’ his hands trail up her torso, his fingertips resting slightly underneath her ribcage, ‘do you want me to -’

‘Stay.’ She whispers, each word a painful labour. ‘Please.’

Langdon waiting the pair for a moment before walking over to join their conversation. Though it seems that he is primarily concerned about Amy’s well-being, his attention swiftly turns back to the location of the chest.

‘So the chest?’ He bends down beside her, ‘did you manage to locate it?’

Amy gulps, the horrifying reality of her power settling in as she responds to him, her voice hoarse and raspy.

‘It’s hidden in a cave,’ she pauses, ‘the man that hid it buried it just a little way beyond the waterfall...’ she presses on, ‘I didn’t see a name as such but I... I saw a word... Carabella... I don’t know if that’s a name or... I...’

She buries her head in her hands. Adrian runs his hand along her back softly.

‘Carabella cave?’

Amy bolts upright, removing her hands from around her face.

‘You know it?’

‘It’s an ancient cave on the coast of Scotland; it’s not exactly a popular area for tourists, so the place has been almost uninhabited for years.’

‘Oh...’

‘Can I access it?’

‘It’s not impossible but… you’re gonna need a lot of help to get out of there.’

‘Hhhmmm… not bad,’ he looks back over at Kamilah and Jax, ‘I can certainly see why people desire to harness your power,’ it isn’t long before he fixates his gaze back on Amy, ‘not to mention your beauty and intellect.’

‘You have what you wanted,’ Adrian murmurs, placing a hand on Amy’s shoulder, ‘so I believe it is time for you to adhere to your part of the bargain.’

The man regards the pair for a moment before he reaches into his pocket. ‘Here,’ he tosses a golden pouch to Adrian, ‘I may or may not have to have a rather difficult conversation with a previous client,’ he smiles gingerly, ‘but I guess you did adhere to your word.’

As Adrian and Jax convene around Amy, Kamilah watches from the side before strolling over to Langdon. They remain silent for a moment, though it isn’t long before Kamilah speaks, breaking the tension with a warning.

‘Can I give you some advice, Langdon?’

‘Certainly, Miss Sayeed.’

She moves closer to him, lowering her voice to a hushed whisper, one that only he can hear. ‘If your client is the man that we suspect it to be,’ she sighs coldly, ‘I would recommend that you do not make that phone call.’

Once Amy is feeling well enough to walk, the group prepare to bid Langdon farewell.

Adrian extends his hand towards the man, ‘thank you for agreeing to our bargain, Langdon,’ he pauses as they shake hands, ‘though the night would have gone a lot smoother if you had agreed to a cash payment.’

The man chortles. ‘I’ve made my billions in dealing antiques, Mr Raines,’ he pauses, taking him in, ‘I wouldn’t have been this successful if I was easy to bargain with now, would I?’

The pair converse for a moment longer and, as they fall deep into conversation, Kamilah sidles up to Amy, taking this as her opportunity to discuss the night’s events.

‘You know that I never intended to cause you any pain,’ she sighs despondently, ‘but I need you to understand that, if we are to defeat Gaius once and for all, then we will need every resource that we can to put an end to him.’

Amy remains motionless for a while, the memories of Adrian and Kamilah seeping slowly back into her thoughts.

‘I know.’

‘So you agree that we did what we had to do?’

‘Yes,’ she utters, ‘though there’s also something that I need you to understand.’

‘Oh?’

‘These visions are fragments of the past; they can help us to understand what Gaius is really after,’ her response is sudden, ‘but I am not in control of who I see, or rather, what I see…’

‘I don’t follow.’

‘I can’t control what I am exposed to, Kamilah. This isn’t something that I can turn on and off…’ she responds confidently, ‘I’ve seen things, awful things; things that no mere mortal should ever have to see,’ she lowers her head, unable to look at Kamilah, ‘and I’ve seen you.’

‘What are trying to say?’

‘I will do as you ask; I will use my newfound power as the tool you seek to locate Gaius,’ her gaze meets Adrian’s as he looks over at her, comforting her with a warm smile. She returns his grin, before turning her attention back to Kamilah, ‘but I need you to accept the consequences of what might happen as a result of me harnessing this power.’

‘And they are?’

‘I need you to understand that, no matter how hard you try to keep your secrets buried,’ she hesitates for a moment, trying to find the right words to say before continuing, ‘I cannot guarantee that the visions won’t reveal the truth to me.’

‘Ah.’

‘So you understand what I’m trying to say?’

‘Yes, though I ask that, no matter what you see, do not tell Adrian.’

‘But…’

‘There are things in our pasts that would horrify you, Amy, things that would truly make you feel disgusted with yourself that you ever associated yourself with us,’ within seconds, both women find themselves watching Adrian, ‘Adrian’s past is a difficult topic for him to discuss, and one of his greatest fears is that the truth will be revealed,’ she sighs once more, ‘that you will become aware of what he was truly capable of.’

‘But why wouldn’t he tell me this himself?’

‘We are capable of many things when we are broken, Amy; most either harness their grief and use it for something good,’ she sighs defeatedly, ‘or we can use it to destroy everything that is good and innocent about this world.’ She turns to face Amy, her wary eyes taking in the features of her face, ‘in his grief, Adrian chose the latter.’

‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘Because you said that you deserved the truth,’ she mutters under her breath, ‘and, in truth, that is all you really need to know.’

‘Kamilah...’

‘Just try to keep it to yourself,’ she retorts coldly, her tone stern and unyielding. ‘If not to spare yourself from the pain,’ their gazes fall on Adrian once more, a conflicted expression resting on Amy’s face.

‘Do it to spare him.’

#Playchoices #choices fanfic #choices bb #bloodbound #adrian raines #adrian x mc #kamilah sayeed #jaxmatsuo #gaius augustine

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