Adonissian lay in bed, staring up at the darkness as rain pattered against the stone and shutters. Denault snored softly, his arm slung across Adonissian's chest.

One job among dozens. Nothing personal in seducing a married man and kidnapping his child, merely another sacrifice so the most powerful people in the Book could stay safe. Don't think about that, just frame this as last bit of unpleasantness and then freedom from his contract.

Attempts to disentangle Denault failed. Adonissian lay still again, worried he might wake the man up if he moved too quickly. Dawn's first light edged the outlines of the shutters. Little time remained, but he waited to try again until he was sure Denault slept soundly.

As he forced himself still, Adonissian writhed inside. Until Hassani's rejection, he'd done his duty. Sure, parts were distasteful and people got hurt, but people got hurt anyway. If he didn't do it, Rega would send someone like Kass or, worse, her pet monster Ghulen to get it done.

Sure, problems and issues came up, but he'd always won through in the end. Damn Hassani. If she'd given in like everyone else had, he wouldn't be here forced to these distasteful means. She was to blame for this more than he was.

He pulled himself carefully out of bed, stifling a groan at the soreness in his back and throat. Hauling his belongings across several verses to get here, too little sleep, too much spicy fish stew, and last night's extended sexual activity all finally caught up to him.

Dressing silently, Adonissian forced himself to not look at Denault. The man might be an entitled ass, but he loved his daughter fiercely. No parent deserved what Adonissian was about to do much less what he'd already done, but Hassani forced his hand so here he stood. Damn her again.

Avani's room connected to her father's by a short corridor. Padding its length quickly and quietly, he thought about how he'd convince her if she awoke. Fortunately, the girl trusted him instinctively from the moment he introduced himself when he 'bumped into' her father again.

Since becoming a Phero, he'd avoided children whenever possible, worried that they might fall for him as Kass crudely suggested. Luckily, it just made them like him. Trust him.

Calling the little girl's room a mess was generous. While Denault kept the common areas tidy and presentable for company, he'd surrendered all pretense at the boundary of Avani's room. Dirty clothes and colorful toys littered every scrap of floor space all lit by a dim white lambent crystal glowing faintly on its hook above the girl's oversized crib.

Placing his bare feet carefully to avoid stepping on anything fragile, pointy, noisy, or all the above and especially to avoid crushing that damn 'pillar, he stalked to the crib and pulled the girl's blankets away.

"Adda?" the freakishly Pale girl mumbled sleepily, clutching at a rag doll that still resembled Hassani in spite of the wear and tear inherent in living with a toddler.

"We're going on a little trip, Avani," he said softly, brushing her platinum-white hair back before hefting her to his shoulder.

She slumped over it and wrapped an arm around his neck, burrowing into him. "O'tay."

Retracing his steps took even longer than the way in. By the time he reached Denault's room again, dawn's faint light lit the edges of the shutters and the hallway beyond.

"I'm sorry, Denault. For all of this," he said softly to the man's sleeping form. "I'll see that she's cared for and returns unharmed once Hassani comes to heel."

Denault rolled over and Adonissian's gut tightened. Denault coughed, rolled back, and pulled a blanket over his head.

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Adonissian turned and walked towards the doors, grateful for the rumble and crash of the waves against the stack, the rain pounding down, and the distant rumble of thunder to cover any sound he might make. Nearing the entryway, he squinted into the darkness in search of his sandals.

Right when he began to relax, he stepped on something bristly and squishy. Stumbling in surprise, he slammed Avani into the wall and landed heavily on the bench by the door.

The girl awoke screaming as Adonissian pulled himself to his knees, staring in horror at the white glint of bone jutting from his forearm. This couldn't be happening.

"Avani, what in the Ascendant's name are you-" Denault roared, rushing naked through the doorway and stopping in shock.

"She was out here so I picked her up to... I know it looks like... but it isn't." Adonissian gestured weakly towards where the girl curled up in a ball screaming. A lot of blood. His mind numbly noted that at least the blood seemed to be his and not hers. His eyes locked on his mangled arm and he couldn't look away.

"You bastard! You damnable Wretch!"

Denault leapt on him, slamming him to the stone floor and raining blows down. Adonissian tried to cover himself with his good arm, but most got through, battering him to the edge of senselessness as Avani crawled away wailing.

He stopped resisting and took his punishment. If this killed him, maybe it made a fitting end. Justice for all the people he'd corrupted, all the families he'd torn apart.

The door flew open, cracking into Denault's head and throwing him off Adonissian. In the doorway, Kass took in the situation in a glance.

Denault came up roaring. Kass raised her bow and put an arrow into him at arm's length then bent to haul Adonissian to his feet as Denault fell away.

"You definitely still got it, Ado," she said, dryly. "Good thing you got the husband and not the wife; if he did this much to you she'd have torn you to tiny, stinky pieces."

"Get the girl." He swayed on his feet, drooling blood. He pointed with his good arm into the apartment where Avani still screamed.

Kass stepped over Denault's legs as the man slumped against the wall, clinging to the arrow protruding from his ribs. His eyes met Adonissian's, overflowing with pain and hate. "You're a monster."

"Your wife said something similar." Sharp pain shot through Adonissian's jaw. He explored his mouth with his tongue to find a tooth missing and several more loose. "When she comes, tell her to find me in Jadeye. If she plays by the rules, you'll get your girl back and be a happy family again."

"She'll kill you first," Denault spat blood. "Slowly. Leave the girl and maybe you'll live."

Dizziness overwhelmed Adonissian. He leaned heavily against the door. Almost threw up. Worried more teeth might come out with it if he did. "Right now, death sounds like a bargain."

The screaming crescendoed as Kass returned, a thrashing Avani slung over her shoulder. Kass grunted and nodded to the door, slipping on the mangled body of Avani's Sect-bred pet that had nearly killed Adonissian.

"Don't take her you bastards." Denault pleaded now, trying to get up and failing. He reached for Avani as Kass slipped by.

"Let's go before a neighbor gets curious." Kass adjusted her grip. "Stop moving, kid, or I'll drop you on your head... again I guess."

Kass quirked an eyebrow at Adonissian. "You messed up so bad from fighting her or him?"

"The 'piller mostly." As Kass passed, Adonissian saw the massive lump on Avani's forehead, blood streaked through her near-white hair. "Sorry kiddo, this has nothing to do with you."

"She's Jaxekin, you idiots," Denault wheezed. "Take her and Jaxe himself will hunt you down for the insult, hack you to pieces with that great awful sword of his!"

"He'll have to go through Rega first," Adonissian said, brushing Avani's cheek with his fingers. "Shh now, shhh."

The girl's wailing subsided to a whimper, her pale blue eyes fixing him with a look of confused pain. "Adda hurt? Nissanan hurt?"

"We'll be okay. It'll all be okay." Adonissian closed the door, unwilling to look back at Denault, struggling to ignore the man's wheezing, pained curses at his back.

"I don't wanna go, Nissanan," Avani said as they walked quickly down the dark corridor lit only by a lambent candle Kass had snatched up on their way out and handed to Adonissian.

That Avani couldn't help but trust him even after what he'd done lodged in Adonissian's chest like Denault's arrow.

"It's okay, we're going to see your Amma." Adonissian struggled to stay upright, squinting through the eye not already swollen shut and clutching his shattered arm tight.

"Amma don't like me. Adda said tha's why she goes 'way." Avani sniffled and clutched her head. Snot, tears, and blood ran down her face. "My head hurts. I wan' my 'pillar."

I killed it too, Adonissian almost said as they wound their way up a the large, spiraling staircases. He wiped her face with his sleeve as they reached the rain-lashed streets.

"It'll all be okay," he lied. "Just be quiet and we'll get you somewhere safe."

As they bowed their heads and barreled out into the storm, Adonissian felt numb, dazed, and not just his arm.

He struggled to keep up with Kass, mumbling. "Just stay quiet, kid. Stay quiet and let the monsters take you away."