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Chapter Text

“You prove surprisingly adequate in battle.” The woman Yvette encountered complimented as she went to pick up her kitchen knives she was using as daggers.

“Th- Thank you…” Yvette was still very shocked about the fact that this parasite in her head had allowed her to see for however brief a time. Even though it was through someone else's eyes, she was able to see herself for the first time in over 130 years.

Yvette was currently running through the ship with a woman who was very blunt and to the point. She had been calmly playing her lyre because she had finished her work as a maid for the day, she had just finished sharpening the kitchen knives when something large came flying over the city, not being able to see what it was right away she couldn't get away and got snatched up by a giant long object.

“It seems your blindness is no hindrance after all.” The woman scoffed.

“I can see using magic, it's not perfect but it's effective enough to know where things are and how big they are.” Yvette explained as they quickly made their way up a fleshy patch of some sort of tissue to climb. “Adaptation is important to warriors as well is it not?” She asked, smiling slightly as her long messy hair fluttered behind her through the winds of a place that stank of sulfur.

“Yes you are right, making weakness into strength is a very good skill to have.” The woman praised.

“Hey you! Get me out of this damned thing!” A voice that sounded as if its owner was trapped in something.

Yvette took a brief evaluation of the room and ran over to the pod with another woman inside.

“We have no time for stragglers!" The fierce woman scolded from behind her.

“It's using magic, I'll find a way to get you out!” Yvette ignored the fierce woman as she made her way to the strangely shaped hunk of flesh next to the pod.

She managed to course magic through it and turn it on, then suddenly the worm in her head squirmed uncomfortably as her mind connected to the console and she willed the pod to open, freeing the captive woman inside.

The new woman introduced herself as Shadowheart, as Yvette introduced herself as well. They then all made their way to the helm, with US the little squishy sounding creature in toe.

Unfortunately a bit of turbulence from the crashing ship caused Yvette to bump into another console causing its two captives to be freed but also become hostile. Why let the opportunity slip away? She grappled one of them and drank them dry as the other two women were distracted with the other one. When they turned around all they saw was a body on the floor with a bloody neck, they thought nothing of it as they ran into another room with a pod in the middle of the room with seemingly tens of pods lining the inner wall.

“It says ‘Perfect’.” Shadowheart said, reading the rune.

“Perfect what I wonder?…” Yvette asked when suddenly more turbulence hit and she touched the console causing her to channel her thoughts to make the pod in the middle to scream and gruesome sounds to be heard.

“Changed into a mindflayer at the pull of a lever?! How!? If we are not purified this may be our fate!” The fierce woman was clearly very distressed and for good reason.

“Oh hells! Mindflayers! Is that what this is? Yes! We need to be rid of these things but we need to land this ship somehow!” Yvette readily agreed.

They all made their way to the helm and pulling out her lyre Yvette used thunder wave on the incoming enemies. It was only a quick few enemies in their way, though Yvette couldn't help but get a quick surprise jab on the cambion, just out of pure spite, that was fighting the mindflayer causing him to drop his weapon, which she quickly picked up and threw to the fierce woman for easier fighting.

Shadowheart ended up getting to the console first and connected the nerves as something very large poked its head in and Yvette could feel a great heat coming from that direction, a dragon! Unfortunately she didn't have much time to worry about it because soon the whole ship was going down! Yvette tried to hold onto something! Anything! as the ship plummeted down, then she was thrown outside as she was hit over the head with a chunk of debris causing her to black out not remembering anything afterwards.

◇

Waking up after she didn't know how long on sand with the sound of waves lapping at a nearby shore. She was on a beach, she steadily stood up collecting her bearings checking things out with her echolocation. The ship was burning but stationary, planted into the ground right next to her, she wondered how she survived. Her skin felt warm and her eyes could detect light, she was in the sun but for once there was no pain, it was actually quite pleasant.

She could hear Shadowheart's heartbeat nearby but it was slow and she was laying down, she must be unconscious, maybe for the best for now until she explored the area a bit more. A scent caught her attention right away as she walked along into the burning remains of the ship, it was so familiar…

She followed the scent north, she had to kill a few more squishy beasts along the way but it grew stronger and it was mixed in with other scents, she recognized rosemary as one. Then she heard a male voice call out to seemingly anyone for help, though it sounded almost indignant in its tone.

“Please, someone help me!” The male voice called.

Out of habit before meeting anyone, she brushed her bangs over her eyes to cover them. Her gnarly white scars over her eyes and gashed uneven skin around them tended to make people very uncomfortable. She normally wore a piece of lace over them but that was removed when the worm was being put into her eye.

She cautiously walked over, she wanted to help where she could, even if the person who needed it sounded like a stuck up noble's son.

“You need help with something?” She asked tentatively as she walked closer.

“Hury! I have one of those brain things cornered! You can kill it can't you? Like you did the others?” He asked.

“Very well…” She replied cautiously.

However as she walked closer to walk past him the breeze shifted towards Yvette and she could truly smell what she had been following. She froze as she remembered what the scent was, it wasn't this person directly but the man standing in front of her has had close contact with Cazador Szarr.

Now that she took a second to figure it out, she realized she had smelled this person before, around the lower city while she prowled for a bandit to sink her fangs into. She avoided all seven of them for as long as she had been in Baldur’s Gate. Indeed he still didn't have a heartbeat, this was one of Cazador's vampire spawn. She could feel him watching her, shifting his weight wondering why she had suddenly stopped.

Run!

She bolted back down to the place she had come from without a word however he managed to catch her and pull her to the ground with a cold blade to her throat.

“L- Let me go!” Yvette squirmed trying to get out of his grip.

“Shh shh, not a sound. Not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours… hold on… you're a vampire aren’t you!?” He started off speaking softly then as he caught a whiff of her he immediately became demanding in his tone.

“You- you prowl the lower city, I always avoid the seven of you. Please! I don't want any trouble from you or Cazador!” Yvette cried in terror, tossing her head a bit and squirming more in desperation and fear.

“What do you know of- GAAA!”

The man's angry words were cut off by a shared squirming pain in both of their heads.

Yvette could see again, however it seemed to be a memory that wasn't hers, Cazador’s cruel smile, prowling dark streets up until now she had only seen with sound. Then the memory fades and she is back to her blank vision again but not without being completely shaken with terror. She didn't even feel the tears streaming down her cheeks as she scrambled as far away from him as she could. Her bangs moved aside in the struggle exposing her eyes.

“Wait! Please! I apologize, I didn't realize…” He scrambled right after her.

“Please don't! Don’t hurt me! I'm just a maid. I was abducted by the mindflayers!” Her voice shook.

“Yes I see that now, I'm not going to hurt you, I only have a few questions.” He tried to speak calmly but it was obvious he was shaken up by something he had seen in her mind.

He had seen the last thing she had seen with her eyes, Cazador cruelly carving at her eyes with a blade made of silver.

Chapter Text

Yvette was still shaking but she stopped trying to get away from him instead opting to pull out her kitchen knife to defend herself.

“Alright ask your questions, but don't get any closer!” Yvette warned shakily as she turned her head to listen.

“I saw you on the ship, running about, free, did you happen to find out anything about these worms?” He asked, his voice was strained a bit as he attempted to regain his confident composure from before.

“They-” Yvette sighed dejectedly. “They turn us into mindflayers.” She answered as worry lines creased her forehead.

“Turn us into-” he laughed, though it was a laugh you have when you realize you've been had. “Of course it'll turn me into a monster. What else did I expect?” His voice sounded sad, like he had given up already.

“Believe me I'm not keen on being turned into anything against my will a second time, so we would need to find a healer that can help.” Yvette replied, finding her own confidence a bit now that he was no longer threatening her.

“We? Well I suppose traveling with one other person is better than going it alone, even a blind one.” He stood up, making her want to stand as well.

“W- well only if you want to… I do my best not to be a hindrance.” She stuttered a bit still trying to calm down from her severe shock of the last few hours.

She needed someone who could see, there were only so many things she could see with her magic.

He slowly walked closer to her, she stiffened in her stance a bit but was surprised when a gentle hand wrapped around her hand with the knife and began to encourage her to put it down.

“You can put the knife down now.” He spoke a bit more gently now, seemingly empathetic.

“S- sorry. You still smell like him.” She hissed as she sneered in disgust.

“So that's how you knew, you're quite the bloodhound aren't you? With what little trust you could have in me, please believe me when I say I have no desire to keep being controlled by that monster. I've made it a mission to be the last thing that bastard ever sees.” He snickered a bit, attempting to cover his own disgust.

“It's one of the only useful things I have left.” She put her knife away.

“But I've never seen you hanging about the crypt, who are you?” He asked.

“Yvette, my name is Yvette. I got stuck in Baldur’s Gate after he killed my master, he let me live but took my eyes. Claimed it was to make an example of any other vampires that trespass into his territory. Granted I'm glad he's dead but, a gift from a vampire always comes at a cost.” She rubbed her own shoulders as if a chill had run through.

“So that's why you're a maid, I was curious why a vampire would willingly choose to serve mortals, especially a half elf.” He remarked.

“Yes, it's room and board, and all I have to do is dust and clean a bit, I can live with that.” She replied.

“My name's Astarion, by the way, I was also in Baldur’s Gate when those beasts snatched me.” He introduced himself.

“A pleasure to meet you.” She performed her signature flawless maid's bow, face and eyes pointed down out of habit.

As she raised her head again she couldn't help but feel a slight quiver of excitement or pleasure come from him as she did so. She recognized that quivering all too well, he was someone who lacked experience in commanding others and was reveling in the power he now felt he had. Patriar's children sometimes got this quiver before asking her to do something revolting.

She furrowed her brows a bit, she wasn't going to be a welcome mat for him, and let him walk all over her, he wasn't her master nor her employer.

“Come on, there was a cleric on the beach that also survived the crash. And I'm sure this goes without saying but I will keep your secret if you keep mine. Deal?” She asked in a firmer voice.

He sighed seemingly exasperated.

“Fine, deal. Lead on.” He begrudgingly agreed.

“One last thing.” She said before taking out her knife and sliced a bit of fabric from the bottom of her slightly burned maid uniform and tied it around her eyes to cover them up. “Alright now let's go.” She said briskly as she turned around to go back the way she came.

Astarion hesitated slightly but said nothing as they walked through the burning shipwreck.

’Perhaps it would be best to keep the snarky remarks to her at a minimum for now. Her scars are a mark of her humiliation like mine, mine are only slightly easier to hide. Astarion thought to himself as he remembered who was the one who made her eyes so unsightly.

They found Shadowheart still passed out on the beach, they woke her up and continued up through the ship, finding and killing a mindflayer along the way. As they crested a hill Yvette could feel unstable magic sputtering from a stone.

“What is that up ahead?” Yvette asked.

“An unstable rune of some sort.” Shadowheart explained.

She walked closer cautiously before suddenly a voice came through the unstable magic echoing on the other side.

“A hand? Anyone?” A man's voice called.

“Shadowheart could you pull his hand while I try to stabilize the rune with magic?” Yvette asked in her general direction.

“Alright.” She replied a bit cautiously.

They managed to easily pull him out but not without whoever it was landing right on top of Yvette.

“Ow…” Yvette groaned.

“Apologies!” He quickly got to his feet to help her up from being crushed beneath him.

“I'm Gale of Waterdeep, I'm usually better at this.” He introduced himself, shaking her hand once she was on her feet again.

They introduced themselves, and went through his long winded explanations about mindflayer worms and agreed they needed to be rid of them as soon as possible.

“Yvette, sorry to ask this but are you projecting magic of some sort?” Gale asked as they walked further up the hill.

“Yes, as you can probably observe, I'm blind so I've adapted a type of thunder magic to help me hear and feel where things are. I can’t see details, but I can see those trees, the rocks and Shadowheart in front of me, but no colors or faces, like silhouettes.” She explained.

“Fascinating, using magic to overcome an ailment! But if you don't mind me asking, why didn't you just have them healed?” Gale was slightly hesitant, but couldn't stand not indulging his curiosity as they walked up to two tieflings that were scared of someone in a cage.

“Maybe I can tell you another time Gale.” She brushed him off.

Yvette could tell they were tieflings because she could sense their horns and their tails, the person in the cage she recognized as the fierce woman, who projected her voice into Yvette's mind to get rid of them. She did but not before they gave her a useful piece of information.

“If you're having problems with your eyes they have a healer in the grove over there, they might be able to help.” The male tiefling said before running off.

“Well that's convenient, let's head there.” Gale said.

Yvette took a moment to evaluate the cage the woman was in and determined the weak spot. She effortlessly pulled out one of her knives and threw it at the rope holding the trap up causing the whole thing to fall and break.

“Quit your gawking! Get me-!” She began to shout but was cut off.

The fierce woman was unharmed, if not a little surprised.

“I cannot ‘gawk’ at anyone ma'am.” Yvette muttered flatly as she went to retrieve her knife.

“Call me Lae'zel.” She introduced herself in the same blunt and fearless tone as before.

“As much as I enjoy running around and saving everything, let's make camp, we are losing the light. We can reach the grove tomorrow.” Gale recommended.

Everyone agreed as they did need time to process everything that had just happened to them all.

◇

“Oh don't use that one Gale, it's rotten on the inside.” Yvette was helping Gale prepare a bit of food for everyone.

“How can you tell?” Gale asked.

“Cuz it smells bad, obviously.” She replied flatly.

Yvette had gone hunting when they were all making their camp, putting a deer to sleep and drinking it dry was far easier than explaining why she was bearing her fangs over someone's neck in the middle of the night. After the deer was drained she simply walked it back to camp and they used it in the stew. No evidence aside from the lingering scent of deer blood that Astarion quickly picked up on from her.

As the others sat at the campfire in a rather glum mood trying to make sense of the day's events Yvette walked over to Astarion who was sitting on a blanket outside his tent.

“Are you hungry?” She asked him gently, she still had her habits of making sure everyone was satisfied with a meal.

“Have you forgotten we don't eat food dear?” He asked in a rather annoyed tone.

“I was going to offer some of my own for you because the deer was more than enough for me, but if you insist, I will leave you alone.” She turned around to leave, a bit dejectedly but he caught her wrist.

“I'm sorry, if you are offering… I could be persuaded. I'm just not used to… this.” He quickly changed his tune.

She sat down next to him on the blanket.

“So what will it be tonight my esteemed companion? The wrist, neck or the thigh?” She asked in a theatrical tone, she added in that last one just for kicks which he balked at.

“Such accommodating service, how could I refuse? I will take a lovely bite of neck tonight.” He played along, amused.

“Shall we take a walk then? The others may think we are doing something naughty but it's better than a stake to the heart in the middle of the night if one finds out the truth.” She offered.

“Alright, let’s go, I believe I saw a nice spot as we were setting up that should do perfectly.” He stood up, he offered her his hand but she unfortunately didn't happen to notice it in time as she stood and straightened her skirt.

“Hmm? Oh were you…? I'm sorry.” She smiled a bit, embarrassed.

“Don't be.” He replied as he led the way into the woods.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” He asked after a moment of walking.

“A hundred and thirty years of servitude, it's what I do. Also I feel like we should look out for each other, watch each other's backs and all that. I don't mind sharing my blood if you could help be my eyes until I get them healed, there are certain things I can't see and I would need help sometimes. Would that be something you'd be interested in?” She asked quietly.

“So it's of mutual benefit? Yes, that is something I can agree to. Saves me the trouble of getting my nails dirty.” He replied, seemingly satisfied.

“Thank you.” Yvette replied as Astarion brought them to a stop, a small clearing. “So, where do you want me?” She asked.

“You can lay down where you are.”

She sat on the blanket he had brought and began to unbutton the back of her uniform then pulled it down to expose her neck and collar bones. Then she laid down on her back, she could sense him coming in close. He opted to go for the side that didn't have her old master's scars, she couldn't blame him for that. But he hesitated, seemingly for a reason she didn't know.

“Everything alright? Do I need to turn my eyes away?” She asked, hesitantly.

“No, no, it's not you. It's just that… he only ever let us feed on beasts, we were never allowed to feed on thinking creatures…” He explained.

“I see… well, it's one way to find out if he is still controlling you.” She turned her head to face away and give better access to the side he wanted.

“That's true.” He said, quickly throwing all hesitation away.

He sank his fangs in, a little crudely and painfully, it was clearly his first time feeding from a humanoid. It was only a small pain but soon dissipated, the pain was tolerable, at least in comparison to her master who enjoyed taking it as painfully as possible in a display of his power over her. She couldn't stop herself from reaching up and lightly patting his hair to remind her this wasn't him, his hair was never this soft.

Chapter Text

“Astarion? Are you planning on turning me into dried jerky? You've taken quite a lot.” Yvette asked flatly, pulling on one of his ears gently to get his attention.

“Hmm? Oh yes of course, apologies.” Astarion sounded very satisfied with his meal as he stood. “Ha, thank you, you truly are different from anything else, absolutely delectable. I feel,” he took in a breath, “happy.”

He sighed contentedly as he savered the feeling of finally a good meal, her blood was sweet and satisfying, so different from the animals she feeds on which is why he had trouble pulling away.

“Don't worry, you aren't anywhere near as bad as my old master, who would purposely bite down as viciously as possible, until I was said dried jerky.” She chuckled a bit trying to make light of it as she used a healing spell on her neck.

They began to walk back to camp. They weren't gone longer than a few minutes.

“Good to know, at least I know I'm not a monster… yet.” He sighed as he thought about their circumstances.

“Hmm, hopefully we can find a healer in time so you can keep your soft hair and pointy ears.” Yvette pursed her lips.

“Oh you like my hair? I do my best to keep it perfect as always.” Astarion replied proudly.

“Well I like how it feels, I'm afraid can't say much else about it.”

“Ah right, it's a shame everyone else gets to admire it and you can't.”

“Well I could touch it, but most people are uncomfortable with someone touching their face and hair.”

“Uh, you can't see my face either! Those are my two best features!” He groaned, then sighed. “Well under normal circumstances I would be uncomfortable with someone touching my face but for you it's also seeing in a way. Perhaps if we survive these tadpoles I'll let you take a look. But only because it's a crime for you to not be able to see my beautiful self.” He huffed a bit.

“Ok deal.” Yvette smiled a tiny bit, it sounded to her his ego was a bit bruised because he can't flaunt himself around as he probably usually does to get his way.

They made their way back to camp quietly, it didn't seem anyone noticed their absence as they were all tied up in their own thoughts.

Yvette pulled out a bedroll, spread it out in a seemingly good spot and laid down to rest.

◇

Later that night she woke to the sound of someone in distress. She listened and determined it was Astarion’s tent. She quietly walked over, he seemed to be breathing hard and shaking. He was having a bad dream, she felt sympathetic for him considering he had lived with that bastard for who knows how long under his thumb.

She decided to do what she had done when her employer's children had bad dreams. Yvette quietly cast calm emotions on him, it may not get rid of the visions in his meditation but at least he wouldn't be afraid anymore. After she cast the spell, his breathing began to even out and his shaking slowly disappeared as he slipped back into a calm rest.

She had just about finished her rest so she decided to sit out in front of his tent facing away from him and keep an ear out to make sure no one was creeping in on them. At least until he finished his meditation. Maybe she really was a bloodhound.

◇

“What are you doing?” Astarion’s voice asked behind her cautiously.

“Hm? Oh nothing.” She brushed him off before standing and walking off.

She decided to take her shoes off and feel the water on her feet as she sat on a rocky part of the river shore. Soon she could hear Astarion’s familiar quiet footsteps approaching. Now that all of the birds and most insects were asleep she could hear far better.

“Trying to sneak up on the blind companion are we? Now that's a new one, Astarion.” Yvette chuckled.

“Your ears are as sharp as your nose, how did you know it was me? I'm down wind of you.” Astarion asked curiously, walking over normally now.

“Your footsteps, your shoes and walking style are different from everyone else's, even when you sneak.” Yvette explained as she faced his direction a bit.

“Ha no fooling you is there?” Astarion admitted.

“Well to be honest I've memorized lots of people, you and the other six I've always tried to keep a distance from for obvious reasons, so out of everyone else here I recognize you the most.” She replied a bit awkwardly.

“I'm flattered aha! It seems we have been dancing around each other in the city for a very long time. Most impressive of you to be able to avoid me for this long, and of all things it took being abducted by mindflayers for us to finally meet.”

“Haa as hard as I tried, you finally caught me.” Yvette sighed theatrically.

“Every great hunter needs a hound.” He sounded as if he was smiling in a mischievous manner.

“I'll take that, I've been called worse.” Yvette chuckled as she was caught off guard a bit. She swished her feet in the water a bit and faced upward to the horizon.

“Astarion?”

“Yes?” Astarion answered, slightly agitated.

“Is the moon out?” She asked hesitantly.

“Yes, the stars too.” He answered in a softer tone.

“Could you enjoy them for me tonight?”

Astarion didn't answer right away, but didn't move much either.

“They are beautiful.”

◇

Once the sun rose everyone else did as well and they continued toward the druid grove they were told about.

“Someone is shouting up ahead.” Yvette alerted.

As they approached the shouting Yvette could hear goblins were on the trail of three adventurers.

“Goblins are coming!” Yvette informed.

Everyone spread out and readied themselves for a fight. The goblins assumed Yvette to be an easy target due to her blindness so were sloppy in their attacks she easily disarmed them and dispatched each one that came her way with her knives. She heard arrows flying and swords clashing and some beast on four legs. Luckily the battle didn't last long and the pack of goblins was defeated relatively quickly. A gate was pulled open and everyone made their way inside quickly, there could be more to follow.

Coming into the grove Yvette could feel the magic of nature here, fresh but also strained at the moment, she could hear someone chanting in the distance.

“There are children here you fool!” An older voice sounded, scolding the man from the gate.

Their group walked in closer to figure out what was going on.

“And you let them take the druid too? Unbelievable!” The older voice shouted.

“Druid? Did the goblins take someone prisoner?” Yvette asked, she could have sworn they got all of them.

“Get lost! This is no place for a useless blind burden!" The adventurer snapped at Yvette.

“Show some respect! This woman just saved your pathetic hide!” The older voice defended.

“Well I didn't ask for any goddamned help!”

Yvette scoffed.

“I may be blind but I know a coward when I hear one. Now quit your pathetic mewling, we have goblins to worry about now!” Yvette commanded the conversation and made the coward back down.

The adventurer walked off in a huff to join the rest of his party as Zevlor introduced himself.

“We've also come seeking a healer, we were told there was one here?” Yvette asked.

“It was the arch druid Halsin who didn't return, he was the best healer in the grove. Though you may have some luck with his apprentice Nettie.” Zevlor recommended.

“Thank you.” Yvette replied as they walked further in.

Smells of herbs, metal, fire and food cooking were around, as well as sounds of practice swords hitting targets.

“Deary, deary! Might you be seeking a healer for those little peepers of yours?” An older feminine voice sounded as they walked past.

Intrigued Gale stopped Yvette.

“Maybe we don't need Nettie, if she's willing to help.” Gale offered.

“Alright.” Yvette walked closer to the woman, however an eerily familiar scent began to waft over to her making a chill run up her spine.

“Uuhm, sorry never mind. I'm happy like this ma'am.” Yvette's voice shook a bit as she strode further into the grove seemingly as fast as possible.

“What was that about? I thought you wanted to get them healed?” Gale asked, rather annoyed.

“Gale she's a hag, I can smell her foul mushroom breath from here.” Yvette sneered in disgust.

“Trust her judgment Gale, she can small a rat from a league away.” Astarion defended, although a bit sarcastically.

“Very well, a deal with a hag tends to always end badly so I understand the hesitation on that particular solution.” Gale admitted.

They continued down into a deeper part of the grove where there were more shouting people. A child was being held inside for stealing something. People here were just as rude and judgmental as the people in the upper city.

They were let inside where Yvette could sense quite well, being a cave. This crazy druid lady with a harsh voice was threatening a child with a deadly snake!

“She's a parasite! She eats our food, drinks our water, then steals our most holy idol in thanks." The druid spat.

“She made a mistake, children learn, give her a chance, theft should not be punishable by death!” Yvette spat right back.

“You may not understand being surrounded by theft in whatever city you are from, but we druids cut out rot that ails us.”

“Oh and am I to carve out my eyes just because they no longer work for me when they can still be healed? Your logic and punishment is far too harsh for the crime.” Yvette was losing patience with this judgmental witch that calls herself a druid, lover of life ha! What a joke.

“She's right Kagha, let her go.” A druid next to her spoke firmly.

“Fine, she may go, but just know another child slip and my viper shall feed.” Kagha's voice was low and sinister.

The child ran out and the group was asked to guard the refugees as they continued on their way to Baldur’s Gate, Yvette accepted though she heard Astarion scoff a bit. They were also guided to where Nettie was in the back of the cave.

“Here let me take a closer look at you in the back this way.” Nettie took Yvette's hand and guided her through to a hidden room behind a large stone.

She was encouraged to sit so the dwarf could take a closer look, Yvette could hear the collective intake of breath from her group as she removed her blindfold. They had not had the chance to see the true extent of the mutilation up close.

“Mmm, I'm afraid the scars are far too deep for me to heal, if master Halsin were here he could definitely take care of it.” Nettie said, slightly dejected as she moved her head from right to left.

“Where is Halsin? I heard he went somewhere and didn't come back.” Yvette asked.

“He went with some adventurers to an old temple of Selune, who were in search of some relic.”

“Do you know why he went with them? He doesn't sound like the type to be a treasure hunter.”

“He was studying a mass outbreak of mindflayer parasite infections, be very careful if you are thinking of going out to find him. These parasites are different from typical mindflayer worms, they should be all changing into mindflayers by now, but they aren't. Halsin was trying to figure out the source and the reason. I wish you luck in finding him if you are heading that way.” Nettie warned with a serious tone.

“We will be careful, thank you.” Yvette replied as she tied her blindfold back on.

◇

Yvette was thanked by the child's parents and given a locket as a gift. They spoke with Zevlor and he asked if they could stop the ritual, Yvette agreed with yet another scoff from Astarion. Lae'zel got to intimidate a poor tiefling into telling her where a gith creche was. Met and recruited Wyll. And they also bought a bit of new gear, Yvette finally had something to wear besides her maid uniform and got some actual daggers rather than kitchen knives.

They decided to make camp after that to mull over the new information.

“You don't seem surprised about the information about your eyes.” Gale asked hesitantly.

“Ive heard it many times, that's why I've more or less given up on it at this point. Most masters I ever served as a maid promised they would get them healed somehow if I was a good maid, but none ever fulfilled their promise.” She replied casually, clearly done with it.

“So that's why you use magic to get around. How long have they been like that?”

“About a hundred and thirty years now. I was passing through Baldur’s Gate as a traveling bard with someone when we got attacked, if it's alright with you I'd rather not go further into detail.” Yvette was getting slightly uncomfortable being made to remember that miserable time.

“Of course! I apologize for prying.” Gale backed off quickly.

“Sooooo, now that the wizard has stopped indulging his curiosity I have something to share. I may have borrowed it from our wonderful snake wielding druid.” Astarion quickly jumped in to share something, it sounded like a piece of parchment.

“So the snake lady is a snake herself is she? Well, let's go down there and see for ourselves.” Gale responded.

“Oh? Snake lady has dirty secrets, sounds like fun.” Yvette immediately wanted in, anything to get dirt on that cruel bitch.

The others settled down for the night, Yvette decided to play her lyre by the river for a while to decompress.

“It's been a long time since I've heard that one.” Astarion commented as he came over to join her.

“My father taught me… a long time ago.” Yvette admitted in a quiet voice.

“How long were you with your master?” Astarion asked with a slight hesitation.

“Ten years. I was only twenty five when…” Yvette took a breath. “When he ripped me away from my life.” She spoke steadily to prevent herself from getting emotional, she's never talked about this to anyone.

“I've been this way for the last two hundred years, I was a magistrate then. A group of gur were angry with a ruling I had passed and beat me to death's door. Cazador chased them off and offered me immortality, and now… well… you can imagine the rest.” Astarion’s voice was strained, he was also having trouble opening up.

“We… don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. We can just be a little less stressed with the knowledge that we at least aren't going to grow tentacles any time soon, hopefully.” Yvette tried to change the subject.

“Oh yes, not a tentacle to be seen, or heard, aha!” He laughed playfully, making Yvette chuckle a bit.

“I hope it stays that way.” Yvette agreed.

“Yes, of course at the first sign of change I will have to stake that little still heart of yours.” He mused.

“Hmm, well it's not like I can see you coming.” Yvette snickered a bit.

“Darling, you really should take more pride in yourself, you are able to ‘see’ far better than all of us in certain situations.” Astarion scolded indignantly.

Yvette sighed quietly.

“It's different to be proud when you have nothing to be proud of.” She replied, with a slight broken smile.

“Well if you have nothing yourself, then be proud of having me, a breathtakingly beautiful vampire as a companion.” He theatrically flaunted himself a bit.

“Hm, yes. I think I will. Even though I have no idea what you look like, I'll take your word for it.” Yvette smiled in his direction genuinely this time.

Chapter Text

“So where are we off to today?” Yvette asked as the others were tapping on a table with parchment on it.

“I saw some old ruins down by the beach. It might be worth looking for some gold or something to sell to buy supplies.” Shadowheart explained.

“Oh, sounds interesting.” Yvette was intrigued, she's never gone dungeon delving before.

As they teleported with a waypoint Yvette could sense a hunk of wood indeed among the wall of stone.

“Uh, it's locked! Does anyone have a lockpick?” Shadowheart complained.

“Stand aside dear I've got this.” Astarion stepped up and picked the door with ease.

“You got it open, just like that?” Shadowheart sounded surprised.

“Ha you sound surprised, I do happen to have many talents." Astarion boasted theatrically.

As they walked in Yvette smelled something she knew was not good news.

“Hold on, no one move!” Yvette alerted.

“Whats the matter?” Wyll asked cautiously.

“I smell crude oil, there are fire traps somewhere in here, a lot of them.” Yvette's brows furrowed as she shifted on her feet nervously.

“Probably to protect that sarcophagus in the middle, look, there are vents on the floor.” Astarion cautioned.

“You have quite the sharp nose Yvette, most impressive.” Gale complimented, though his voice had the slightest hint of suspicion.

“Here, why don't you wait outside just in case things go a bit south.” Wyll guided her shoulders gently towards the door.

“Uum, be careful.” She tried to turn her head to them.

Yvette was slightly dejected that she had to wait outside but she understood she wouldn't be able to see the fire to avoid it if she got trapped.

’Astarion gets to have all the fun.’ She pouted a bit but waited patiently.

“You can disarm traps too Astarion?” Wyll was surprised this time.

“Yes, as I have said, a man of many talents, now do be quiet or you'll have us all roasted alive in here.” Astarion sounded a little frustrated, like he was focusing intensely.

Luckily Astarion was able to get it disarmed safely. She was able to come back in to explore. She noticed one of the pillars had something different on it. She wanted to know what it was but the others were all busy looking through the sarcophagi to notice. She traced her hand lightly over it, a button, she pushed it and heard a distant latch unlock somewhere further in the dungeon, neat.

As they walked further into the ruins Yvette could hear voices muffled behind a door.

“Theres someone talking on the other side of that door.” She announced.

“Probably grave robbers, nothing lost.” Astarion said with a bit of mischief.

As they opened the door, indeed they were grave robbers and they were not happy to share. They all dashed in and began to fight back, Yvette managed to use thunder wave to knock one through a door, figuring no one could see them she decided to take the opportunity to feed on him, she would have killed him anyways what was the harm?

She quickly grappled the man and began drinking quickly, unfortunately another grave robber got knocked next to the open door getting a full view of what was going on.

“V- Vampire!” The man shouted, obviously terrified about what he was seeing.

She immediately dropped the now very dead robber but it was too late, she could sense Wyll was in the doorway having followed after the shouting robber.

‘Shit!’

She backed away from him with her hands up in front of herself as they shook, Wyll was a monster hunter, would he decide she wasn't worth keeping around?

She heard him take out the robber that had seen her and slowly approach her.

“Wyll… please, please don’t kill me!” She begged as she shivered in a corner.

“Yvette, calm down, I'm not going to kill you.” He walked slowly over to her and spoke in a cautiously soothing voice.

“R- really?” She was nearly panicking as he approached her closer.

“Its obvious you aren't some crazed evil monster. And I hope everyone else can see that as well. Right?” He turned and asked as everyone was now peeking in through the door.

“Well, she hasn't caused any trouble so far, so long as she doesn't mistake us for a meal.” Shadowheart replied.

“I was curious as to how her senses were so acute even with her blindness. That would definitely explain it.” Gale gave his opinion.

“She has already proven herself useful, both on the battlefield and off, so be it.” Lae'zel answered.

“Honestly I thought it was Astarion that was the vampire.” Wyll chuckled a little.

“Em about that… I also happen to be a… vampire. Aha!” Astarion replied nervously but also trying to keep it covered up with a lighthearted tone.

Shadowheart scooted slightly away from him at that confession.

“Hey, I never snacked on any of you either! I should receive the same grace.” Astarion complained, but it was clear he was nervous.

“Hes not a monster either, he helps me see and I promise to help keep his fangs pointed in the right direction.” Yvette defended Astarion, not wanting him to be killed or chased out either.

“Alright, I trust you to do that Yvette, though it might be quite the endeavor.” Wyll agreed, though with a hint of doubt.

“Its an endeavor to make sure I don't step into fire to, but he's willing to help with that. We've been fine so far, now let's continue, please, I need to walk my nerves off a bit.” Yvette defended in a quiet voice, trying to keep the shake out of it.

Yvette carefully started inching down the pile of rubble she had clamoured herself on in her attempt to keep away from Wyll. She tried to balance herself with her arms when a warm firm hand wrapped around hers letting her balance better.

“Uhm, thank you Wyll.” She was surprised with the unprompted help.

“You've uh, got a little something on your chin.” Wyll admitted as she finally found flat ground.

Yvette quickly cleaned her face, feeling embarrassed, she had dribbled a bit when she dropped the body. She quietly followed the others as they continued through the ruins once again, slightly more tense than before for obvious reasons.

The tension was soon replaced with surprise however as they entered a large room, Gale decided to press a button this time. It indeed opened the door but not before it raised all of the scribes littered around.

Things were going fine until one of the skeletons used silence on Yvette and she wasn't able to see at all. She spread her arms out trying to guard herself, touch being the only useful sense she had left. She was suddenly hit from the side with a staff making her stumble but, quickly she jumped at it digging her claws into its skull and stabbing it in the neck bones shattering them and killing it.

With the silence spell gone she could see again, she used thunder wave blowing another down the stairs. Finally La'zel took down the last one and Yvette could feel the true pain of her hit as she walked over to join the others, right on her ribs.

“Are you alright Yvette? Why did you let it hit you like that?” Shadowheart asked as she used a healing spell on her.

“They used silence on me, I can't see at all when that happens, I'm hoping we can avoid that in the future. If that was something stronger it could have been far worse.” Yvette explained.

“Yes it would be quite a problem if our enemies found that out.” Shadowheart replied.

“I have my strengths as well, if an enemy uses darkness I'll be able to see so it's a give and take.” Yvette smiled a bit, feeling much better.

“Or if we use darkness on our enemies you would be able to see them and take them out easily.” Gale suggested.

“Yes, that also works.” Yvette agreed.

“If I happen upon a scroll of darkness I'll learn it and our enemies won't even know what hit them, quite literally.” Gale sounded excited, making Yvette chuckle.

Astarion was already digging through the various things inside of the small room however something stirred when he went to open the sarcophagus. An undead floated out and asked a strange question but also just invited himself to their camp.

Once everything was thoroughly picked through, they opened the door to find more grave robbers, Astarion had himself a meal this time.

They used a waypoint to get back to the grove to sell their various findings, though Yvette could hear something as they walked past the children.

“Someone is singing in that direction.” Yvette pointed towards a back area behind the sacred pool area.

“So what, there's a bard right over there, it's not so uncommon.” Astarion brushed her off.

“This isn't the singing of any bard, it's a spell, I can feel its magic from here.” She cautioned.

“Alright, let's go down the mountain then.” Astarion sighed in annoyance.

“Don't be so downcast Astarion, we still have daylight for a little more adventure.” Wyll said a bit cheerfully.

They made their way down to the beach and soon everyone else could hear the singing as well. Wyll came up to a child who was about to walk into the water toward a tall rock.

Whatever was singing happened to have wings and immediately Yvette recognized they were harpies, the others were already being affected by the song. She could concentrate on the singing one and throw a dagger at it but that would also risk being lured. She decided it was worth it and quickly dashed to the edge of the beach and threw the dagger as hard as she could at the harpie. It hit home and the harpy coughed and spluttered as she had gotten it on the neck. The others now snapped out of their lured daze and helped her take care of the rest while she protected the boy at the beach.

The boy ran off back to the grove, while they explored the little hidden area. Yvette hesitated at the shoreline however.

“Don't feel like getting your feet wet darling?” Astarion asked playfully.

“I can't tell how deep the water is, the sound just bounces off the surface.” She explained facing down at the dreaded water.

“Huuh, the things I do for you. Here.” He sighed dramatically as he took up her hand in his and began to lead her behind him in the shallow areas of the water.

“Thank you.” She said quietly, embarrassed.

They found a chest full of a good amount of gold and Wyll raided the harpie's nest finding a ring of color spray.

“Alright the sun is actively going down now, I'd say it's time to go back to camp.” Gale recommended.

“Finally, I'm exhausted, how do people do this all day?” Astarion complained, making Yvette smile a bit, amused.

“The only water features I have to worry about in the upper city are fountains which are rather easy to avoid.” Yvette said as they made their way back to camp.

“Oh you work in the upper city do you?” Astarion asked, intrigued.

“Oh yes, I've worked for multiple families over the years. Some with more influence than others, though my time with each one always ended the same way, being sold off to yet another family. Most were rather unkind, although I had a certain… pleasure in getting back at such families.” Yvette grinned mischievously.

“Oh do tell.” Astarion encouraged.

“Cutting their meat in uneven pieces, ‘losing’ their daughter's proposal letters, sabotaging their clothes so they would fall apart or were stitched just a bit tighter to make them think they were gaining weight, and one of my favorites, I can curse mirrors to make them think they were aging horribly.” She grinned wider as she remembered how much mayhem she had caused to her masters through their wives.

“You devil! You have quite the wicked little mind. What would one do to deserve such a punishment from you?” Astarion asked curiously.

Yvette pursed her lips a bit not entirely sure how to answer. She determined she could tell him, he seemed understanding of struggles.

“Taking me by force.” She finally answered in a quiet voice.

Astarion was quiet for a while, his playful mood gone.

“Sorry if I ruined your mood.”

“Don't be, I know exactly how that feels.” He replied in a somber tone.

“I can only imagine the horrors that go on behind those fancy palace walls, you have my sympathies, for whatever they are worth. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to join you in your mission to kill that bastard.” Yvette offered.

“I don't need your pity… though it… is appreciated. I don't know how we are going to do it, but we have to try.” He snapped the first part a bit but softened his tone after a moment.

“Pity is what saved my heart from being staked today, don't discount it.” Yvette replied a bit firmly.

“You're right, you seem to have Gale and Wyll wrapped around your fingers, the chivalrous hero and the pining wizard, what a combination.” Astarion laughed a bit.

They were already in camp at this point and were talking at Astarion’s tent, quietly enough they couldn't hear.

The rest of the night was rather uneventful, though the mood was definitely better than the previous night. Yvette played her lyre as they chatted about before resting. Astarion didn't need to feed so Yvette just went right to her bedroll. She could feel eyes on her but she wasn't sure from who, so she decided to ignore it and sleep.