A Walk in the Dark Chapter 11 by Maggie Finson

Author’s Note:Dahlia has learned a few things about her new self. Now it’s time for coming to terms with some of those. And no, she is still not a happy camper.

“I killed a man!” I shouted at Sam, and my maids made themselves scarce while watching things from the safety of another room. They were used to my tantrums by then, but also were smart, and brave enough to stay close to help quell the results of my worst ones.

“True.” He answered and grabbed me, which he needed to do with all the pacing and fuming I was doing then tenderly hugged me. “But he was bad, a very bad, man, love.”

“But it wasn’t in a fair fight!” I retorted, trying — not so hard, by the way — to get out of his insistent, gentle embrace. “I flirted with him, I led him on, and he didn’t even know he was dead until I’d done it and told him.”

“And all that tells me is that you’re good at what you were meant to do here.” Sam countered. “He didn’t suffer did he?”

“No.” I sniffled, and since when had I started that girly stuff like sniffling? “I made it quick, and it was mostly painless.”

“Dahlia, my love, my life.” Sam hugged me tighter. “You made a good choice in who to kill, though that in itself sucks. But you didn’t pick a good man to do it to. Did you feel a need to find a genuinely good man and kill him?”

“No.” I snuffled some more against his chest. “But I killed him and he had no clue that I was going to do it.”

“You’re an assassin.” He soothed. “You aren’t the up in your face kind of character who would walk up, condemn him then get the job done in spectacular fashion in front of everyone. You are what you are, and you made the best of some bad choices there.

“And I would have really loved watching that bar fight.” He added with a chuckle and kiss to my cheek.

“It was kind of messy.” I told him and giggled in spite of myself. “I kept asking people to be reasonable but they didn’t want to be. It just kind of went south real fast there.”

“I can imagine.” Sam laughed. “And then you shared a drink with the guys who were still standing, that was classy.”

“I was thirsty.” I grumbled then let a little grin creep past my indignant attitude. “Besides, they weren’t bad guys, and they helped me find Salar’s finger when I left. They found a few that I wasn’t responsible for, too, I’ll have you know.”

“Given what I’ve heard about that particular tavern, that doesn’t surprise me at all.” Sam chuckled again and that deep rumble in his chest — I still had my chest against it — was about the sexiest thing I’d ever known.

But I shook that off. “Sam, I don’t like killing people who don’t know what I’m doing. Yeah, the guy deserved killing, tried to drug me and he thought I was a too innocent farm girl with a really nice rack, but I still killed him without a word of warning.”

“So what’s wrong with letting the really bad guys know that can happen?” He asked, hugging me tightly to keep me from stalking some more. “If they know there is someone out there who can get to them anytime, maybe, just maybe, they’ll slow down the things they’re doing.”

“Fat chance.” I spat out. “Low lives are low lives, my love.”

“But,” he countered, “low lives who know what could happen to them might just tend to be a bit less active while they’re looking over their shoulders and suspecting everyone around them.”

“I still don’t feel any better about this.” I spoke into his chest. “Not at all.”

“Of course you don’t love.” He answered then really whammied me. “That’s why you’re unique here, you know? You’re an ‘evil’ Dhro’aaa who only takes out evil people. That should drive our new people nuts.”

“Like we need any more problems.” I groused.

“You did well, my handmaiden.” Kae’song congratulated me then grimaced. “Though next time find another way to present your trophy, if you would.”

I widened my eyes and gave him my very best innocent look. “What? I just thought it would add an interesting flavor to your wine.”

Truthfully I was so pissed off when I returned that I’d simply tossed the severed finger — with the ring on it at the table. Could I help it if the thing plopped right into his goblet of wine? Okay, maybe I did aim that throw. A little.

He let out a sigh then actually chuckled. “I suppose I had that one coming, my dear. Do try to avoid the bar fight part next time, though.”

“Seemed to be the thing to do at the time.” I muttered then more loudly went on. “A girl has to take her fun where she can get it, you know.”

He actually laughed at that one. “Oh, Dahlia, you are a true gem.”

“Is there another reason for you summoning, me?” I questioned, not even wanting to go to that place with the guy. I was wearing some of my blatantly sexy stuff, so I figured he had guests coming.

“Another important visitor is here.” Fu Manchu nodded. “He should be here with us in a few moments. Please try not to look so threatening when he’s here. You’re quite lovely with your eyes flashing in resentment and anger, but you are lovely enough without that.”

He had never talked with me that way before. What was this? No veiled threats, no demands and he’d actually said please! Now I was confused. Okay, more confused than usual.

Just what the HE double hockey sticks was going on here?

“No promises.” I told him.

“No, you already know what making even an idle promise means to your kind.” He nodded and shrugged. “Just do try to be pleasant this time around if you would.”

“I’m never mean to your important guests.” I pouted. Then brightened. “Does he have underlings with him?”

“Yes, and be as nice as you are able to them as well.” He chuckled again.

Damn, I almost wanted to feel his forehead and take his temperature. This was sooo NOT the evil mage who had forced me to become this gorgeous, sexy, dangerous… Never mind, you get the idea, I’m sure.

“So what?” I questioned. “You expect me to just stand here or something?”

“No.” He told me and was all business again, ahh, the familiar Kae’song was back. I didn’t really know why that made me feel better. “I expect you to be an attentive hostess. Without the glares and threatening to gut someone if you don’t mind.”

Okay, he wasn’t back to being the evil mastermind I was used to. “Are you feeling all right?”

“Quite well, thank you.” He answered with a straight face. “But I appreciate your concern.”

Dammit. Had my erstwhile master changed sides or something? “I’ll try.”

“Good enough.” He nodded then waved me to a chair.

Now I was really puzzled, and concerned. What was this all about? And just who had taken the real Kae’song and replaced him with this stranger?

The guest was a knight of some kind. Oh he wasn’t in armor, but it showed in his physique. And yeah, I know, since when had I become a connoisseur and judge of a guy’s physique. Don’t ask me, it just happened somewhere along the line of improbabilities I was already dealing with.

Oh, this was a fine specimen, too, even if he was only Human. (You know, I really had to do something about that instant disdain for humans.) But not only was he a knight, he had power. Lots of it, though it was more subtle than Alis’ had been. This was one very dangerous human.

“Lord, allow to present my handmaiden, Dahlia.” Kae’song actually nodded towards me and smiled. This was just getting weirder and weirder.

“Dahlia, the lord Kevin Thenthas.” He actually introduced me! Formally! What was the devious bastard up to here?

“Hello.” I responded while frantically trying to figure out just why everything I had gotten used to in this insane place seemed to be taking a really radical left turn. But my internal pride, something that had come with the transformation and what I was now, just refused to call anyone ‘My lord’.

“A pleasure.” Lord Kevin took my hand and actually kissed it. I almost reared back and headed for the shadows. No one, no one, had ever treated me that way since I’d ended up here. “I see that you are everything the tales say, my Lady.”

“Oh, I’m sure you haven’t heard all the tales.” I answered, flustered and not exactly sure where to go from there.

“Hanas?” he raised an eyebrow and grinned. “You got rid of a particularly noxious person, and managed to orchestrate the incapacity of more than half the town’s thieve guild in one stroke, lady.”

Okay he did know. I hid my confusion by rising, not without a smile for the guy, and very carefully pouring wine for both of them. As I was doing that for Kae’song, I fiercely whispered. “I am not, absolutely NOT going to have sex with him.”

Kevin heard that and chuckled. “Have no fears for your virtue with me, dear lady. I’m pledged to another and have vowed celibacy until we are wed.”

Okaaay. So just what was going on here? Inquiring minds wanted to know, or at least one enquiring mind did.

“All right.” I stood between them, sharing glares equally and noted my hands were on my hips. “What is this? Why am I here right now?”

“Honestly, lady.” Kevin answered. “I had more than a little difficulty believing that there was actually one of your race in the world who wasn’t actively evil. I just wanted to see for myself, now calm down, pour yourself some of this excellent wine and join us, please.”

Holy crap. How, just how do you deal with something like that? Me, I poured myself a cup of wine and meekly seated myself at the table. I was waaay too confused to do anything else just then. “What about your retainers -- Lord Kevin? I questioned and winced internally at the honorific I’d allowed to get out from behind my teeth.

“They are being seen to adequately, lady.” Kevin smiled at me, actually smiled, and nodded at my cup. “Have a drink.”

Ohhh, maaan. What now? I did know one thing though. When this was over I was going to find a keg of wine, ale, or just beer, find somewhere private, and make sure it was empty before I did anything else.

“Did you drug me?” I asked Kae’song with narrowed eyes.

“No dear.” He laughed. “You passed the test I sent you on. Though as I said, the way you presented your trophy left something to be desired. Now you will start learning my real reasons for bringing you here and transforming you. If you had chosen a truly good person to be your victim then things would be very different now.”

Okay, now this was getting very seriously messed up. I took a very big sip of my wine, looked from one to the other of the guys, and let out a defeated sigh. “Okay. I suppose you’ll tell me what this is all about when you’re ready.”

“You will begin learning that tomorrow, lady.” Kae’song answered.

“You aren’t one of the bad guys, are you?” I glared at him then relented and just let myself look confused, which pretty well summed up my perceptions just then.

“No, I’m not.” The mage responded then added. “Now in front of a witness, I release you from your oath to me, and I release your consort. You are — how is it said where you come from? Free agents.”

“I need more wine.” I grumbled while getting my head around what had just happened. I’d felt the compulsion to obey him leave, felt the lack of it, and that scared me, too. Now, whatever I did would be on my own head with no one to blame for it but myself.

“Here you go, Dahlia.” Kae’song grinned while he poured more into my goblet.

Crap. Just when you actually think you have things figured out.