Unedited. Like hella unedited.

~

Sophie watched the massive wooden fall from the heavens of her home. The place her father rebuilt was now about to kill her.

Part of her wished she was the Moonlark again, able to teleport out at a moment's notice and be able to ask Leto and the Collective what to do next.

But she was her own woman now, a woman that led herself to slaughter.

Her eyes drifted close, ready for the impact and for the breath to leave her lungs for a second time.

Sophie had a feeling Kynareth wouldn't give her another chance like she did before.

But the impact never came.

Eira's voice called out, "My King!"

Sophie's eyes flung open and watched as King Dorian and Prince Ruy held their hands up to the sky, blue force fields holding the debris. Sophie turned to Ruy with awe, but he was too focused on keeping the guildhall together to even give her any notice.

"GO!" King Dorian cried out.

Eira and Kylo pushed themselves out of the rubble and forced Sophie to her feet.

As fresh air overwhelmed her lungs, Sophie gasped in relief, cleaning out her body. She shrugged off Eira and Kylo, muttering quick thanks and standing on her own two feet.

The domed roof of her guildhall cracked up the side before caving in on itself.

The blue light from inside the guild sputtered out before Ruy and Dorian slammed through the front door, the guildhall crumbling behind them.

"Get back!" Ruy cried, a wave of dust and debris stampeding towards them. Ruy landed in front of Sophie, grabbing her and sheltering behind his wings. They crouched together, Ruy holding Sophie's head to his chest and grimacing as the deafening sound of the building shattering echoed around them.

Sophie had no idea how long they stayed like that, her ear pressed to Ruy's chest and her hand gripping the cloth of his shirt. She listened to his panting chest, focusing on the rapid beat of his heart. The heart that beat for her.

"You're okay. We're okay." Ruy repeated, his voice barely registering above a whisper.

Whether he was saying that to her or himself, she was unsure.

Ruy unraveled his wings and stood all too soon, still keeping Sophie tight to his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around her as they both scanned the pile of rubble and smoldering ashes that was once their guildhall.

"No... No." Sophie began, tears welling. People were clambering and demanding her attention, pointing out the fast-approaching group of soldiers.

Sophie thought of the group of soldiers were Neverseen soldiers in Lilac's vision.

Turns out they were Black Swan soldiers, instead. Black Swan soldiers mixed with Neverseen captains. So it really was true, then.

Leto was a Neverseen spy. It just started to sink in.

Sophie peeled away from Ruy, limping towards the rubble. Someone was barking orders behind her. She didn't quite know who- It was all muddled.

Sophie fell to her knees, not caring about the aching pain as she pressed her forehead to the ground. She clamped her hands over her ears to tune out it all and began to sob.

Wild, ugly sobbing. She lost it. This beautiful amazing gift of a guild that her father hand-built from the ground up, and she just killed it.

Her home. Her home was the smoldering ash in front of her.

Gentle hands forced her eyes upward. Ruy's face was covered in soot and ash, his dark hair untamed and slick with sweat. He kneeled in front of her, his hands never leaving his chin. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, their lips barely touching, before pulling her into a hug. In the corner of her eye, she saw King Dorian stiffen.

Sophie didn't deserve him. She caused all of this. He deserved to live in his castle with his royal family and love a woman who deserves it.

She just dropped her head to his shoulder and cried.

"We need to go." He muttered.

"I can't believe I allowed this to happen." She sobbed.

"Sophie, we need to go. Now. The soldiers are almost here." Ruy's eye caught on a bag that glittered with divine light. The artifacts Sophie retrieved during this clusterfuck of an outing. Ruy grabbed the bag and threw it over his shoulder, taking a wing and draping it over Sophie's shoulder as he gently urged her to stand.

"Let's go, love." He murmured.

Sophie was wrapped in a blanket, holding a mug of spiced tea as Filomena cradled her. Ruy and Eira murmured behind her, but Filomena tried to keep her niece's focus on the sunset. Anything to keep her distracted.

"What were you thinking? You could have gotten her killed!" Ruy spat.

"This is serious! I'm sorry, but we needed to collect the artifacts!" Eira argued, before pausing, "How did you even know where we were?"

"The sirens noticed you were taking too long, and they went to get Maha. They were terrfied about breaking Sophie's direct orders, saying that a certain dark ahired woman told her not to tell us about the escapade. Maha told me, and my father and I hauled ass over here. We saw the fire, so we figured out shields can help with the smoke." Ruy explained. A silence settled between the two of them, and Eira pursed her lips, "Prince Ruy-"

"If she had died on your watch, Eira? I would've killed you. You know that, right?"

Eira swallowed, "I... I know. You would kill me even though it would release Mephala?"

"Even then."

Ruy knocked her shoulder as he passed her, striding to Sophie. He gently patted Filomena's shoulder, gesturing that he'd take her spot. Filomena kissed Sophie's cheek, standing and switching places with him.

The small group of Assassin and the Guildhall fire survivors were on a small cave on the furthest side of the bay. The moon glittered off the rocking ocean, which was quiet and soothed the survivors with its monotony. Ruy grabbed Sophie's hand, smoothing his thumb over the top of it.

"I know it is silly to ask, but are you okay?" Ruy asked.

Sophie stated, "My guildhall crumbled down around me, my Rastus father is a rat, and my eye was damn near slashed open."

Ruy nodded, "Yeah... I'll take that as a no."

A few moments passed before Sophie spoke, "I've been a fool."

"You couldn't have known, Blondie-"

"No, Ruy, I've been a fool about all of this."

Ruy's face dropped, "What?"

"Thinking I can be anything but a soldier, thinking that I can have this- that we can have this!"

"Sophie-"

"We have been fools Ruy. We have been taking too many luxuries. I thought that I could have my Rastus father without him trying to take over my life. I thought that I could have a big sparkly home without someone trying to burn it down every few years. I thought that I could have you without having to share."

"Share? Sophie, I promise you, I'm yours alone."

"Why didn't you tell me that you are trying to get the Dunmer to move back above ground?"

The question took him off guard. He shook his head, "They are my people too. I want to take care of them."

"Do you really think you can be the Prince of an entire people and my right hand in the guild?"

"Then I'll step down. Maybe Alexios is ready to take over the second position? I'll be whatever you need-"

"Ruy!"

Her voice was sharp and low. Ruy shook his head, "I'm not leaving your side Sophie, no matter what you say."

Sophie gestured around them, "Look at this Ruy! This is all becuase I have been childish. I allowed myself to trust Leto, allowed myself to go to parties and weddings! Allowed myself to be distracted by my love for you!"

Her words cut him like knives.

"What are you saying right now?"

Sophie's lips quivered, and her throat bobbed, "I don't know. Just," She stood suddenly, "Give me some space."

Ruy watched her stride away, his head slumping as he tried to wrap his mind around it. For Sophie, she lost damn near everything. Her words... she didn't mean them.

Right?

The Neverseen barricade was gone in a matter of hours after the guildhall was nothing but smolder as the sun rose on a new day. The people who had just woken up were not being forced awake by the smell of smoke like most of the surrounding civilians. The Neverseen and Black Swan mass of soldiers poked around the remains of the guild for the artifacts, not knowing that Sophie and Eira had taken them.

Sophie supposed one good thing came about this.

Sophie helped everyone else off the boat before jumping off and into the sandy beaches of Kephalonia herself. Alexios, Lilac, and Maria were the first to run up to her. Maria saw her wife and sobbed in relief, throwing herself onto Filomena.

"You are both okay!" Lilac breathed.

Sophie numbly nodded, turning to her brother. His brows were knit down, tears welling in his eyes. He held out his arms silently, and Sophie hugged him tightly.

"It's gone, Alexios. The guildhall is gone."

"I heard." His eyes were red, his cheeks wet. He had been crying.

Sophie hugged him tight before waving over little Lilac, who joined the small hug between the siblings.

Maria and Filomena approached, "We have already been updated on what happened. Is it really true? Leto is the traitor?" Maria asked.

Leto was her childhood friend, and his treason hit even harder for her. Sophie solemnly nodded her head.

"The Black Swan and the Neverseen will soon know we have the artifacts. They are going to be following us." Filomena started.

"We need to tell the elves too. Surely they will no longer wish to be with the Black Swan after this." Maria replied.

"It's not only that, but they are in danger know that we know Leto's true intentions. The Black Swan needs to be disbanded." She waved over an Assassin, asking him to bring her belongings she left on the island. Ruy handed her the bag of godly artifacts quietly, giving everyone a quick nod before setting off to help the other fire survivors.

Almost everything was destroyed in the fire. Sophie had nothing but the clothes on her back, her small sack of belongings she brings everywhere, and the beaten armor she wore to the battle at the Throat. And, almost cruelly, the sword Kynareth gave her at the Battle of Foxfire.

Her bag held the journal Edaline and Grady gave her, her minyama, a small collection of photos she kept on her person, and her keys to the Villa. Leto has probably ransacked her Villa at this point, no hope of going back there.

She thought of all the memories she and Leto made in the Villa. He often sketched in the courtyard while her father was gardening. She would often spy over his shoulder and ask him silly questions.

Those memories felt sour now.

Soon, they were all huddled about maps and missives alike. "We are going out on open sea, shake off our enemies for a while before finding a place to settle down and rebuild." Sophie grumbled, her hands on her hips as she circled a map.

"I believe that Lady Nyoka will give us refuge. Her island is massive, and with her on our side, we can-"

"No." Sophie snapped.

Maha's lips parted, "No?"

"We don't know of how much her hopsitality she is willing to offer. Especially with so many enemies."

"Lia, you said it yourself! She was an ally in your youth, and she is an ally now-"

"I said no!" Sophie snapped.

Maha froze, clearly hurt, but just looked back over the map with arms crossed. It was clear to the others what was happening to Sophie, but they didn't quite know how to help. The man she believed in stabbed her in the back, and now she didn't even know who to trust.

"There," Sophie pointed to a massive island crossed off the map, "It is far enough away so that we can hide but also close enough so we have access to mainlands."

Alexios peeked over her shoulder, "Amalia, that is Manáto Island. It is cursed to the high hells and whoeever goes there doesn't come back."

Kassandra approached the table with a strong stride, and when she heard Alexios, she laughed, "No, I promise you that island is quite safe."

Alexios turned to his great aunt, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Kassandra giggled a little bit, a rare sight for the Iron Empress, "Leonidas and I made up that rumor so we could hunt on that island without anyone disturbing us. It is surprisng how much it caught on."

Sophie's minyama dinged, and she finally checked it after days of being MIA. It was crammed with missed calls, most notably from Wylie and Mansi. "Shit," Sophie muttered, opening up the screens to scan his messages.

I found something. -Wylie

Damn it, pick up! -Wylie

Sophie, I'm not kidding. I think I found something big. -Wylie

I found a friend of Ruy's. He's an interesting guy. Just thought you want to know for when you PICK UP MY CALLS -Wylie

One text was waiting from Mansi.

Alvar and I are on our honeymoon, and the first thing we hear is that the guildhall is on fire?! PICK UP DAMN IT. - Mansi

"I'm going to make calls. Leto knows about Kephalonia, he will know we are here soon enough." Sophie sighed.

Maria grabbed her niece's arm, "Wait... the Dunmer? What should we tell them?"

Sophie stared at Ruy, who was hunched over A map with King Dorian and Zuberi, explaining the best spots for the Dunmer kingdom once they return above ground. Her throat bobbed.

"Tell them to go home. All of them." She added that last sentence very clearly.

"Wait... Ruy too? Amalia, you know he isn't going to leave us." Alexios asked.

"The Dunmer people need him, and where we are going? he isn't going to be able to help them." She refused to look at Ruy,

"Send. Them. Home."

"And where are we going?" Filomena asked.

Sophie glanced at Inalia. Vincenzo Borgia, Leto, the Neverseen, all of them were on their tails.

And their enemies won this battle.

"We are going away. Far away and for a long time." Sophie answered, leaving the crowd to make some much-needed calls.

Leto found them faster than she thought. She was hoping for a full 24 hours before he figured it out, but the sun had just set when something had gone wrong. She never did give him the exact details of Kephalonia, but he still heard it in passing and in her missives. Soon, the Neverseen warships were spotted on the Horizon by the Spartans on patrol. Ruy was on the mainland of Inalia, trying to use his and his father's political power to try and avoid the Senate's wrath upon the guild. Sophie had no idea what the charges were, but she didn't need to. All that mattered was she wasn't allowed to walk in Inalia as a free woman ever again. Her family will most likely be exiled and disgraced once more, charged with arson and treason, blamed for the soldiers now tearing apart the whole nation trying to find them. The Morretti family named being dragged through the dirt for centuries to come.

All because of her.

There is nothing Ruy or his family could do to save them, even with all the political power the Dunmer royal family holds. Her mind also drifted to Alvar and Mansi. To the life they are building for themselves. Would she allow that to burn as well?

"Let's go, let's go, let's go." Maria hustled all of the hooded assassins and their families down the mountainside. Every single light had been extinguished in the island the minute they saw the warships, everyone moving to the other side of the island.

Sophie and Alexios strode out of their tent, both of their faces etched with fear and worry. But Sophie turned back to the tent, where she and Ruy agreed to meet after returning from the mainland. She waved over Ricin, igniting her hands with lightning and turning to her dragon with teary eyes. He cooed, nudging his forehead against hers for a moment as if he understood what all of this was doing to her. He pulled back for a moment, then her companion lit his mouth with lightning that matched her own.

Together, they fired their bolts to the burlap and wood of her tent. The lightning burst into flames instantly, the tent quickly turning into smoldering ash.

Maria walked up, gripping Sophie's shoulder before taking out her water skin and manipulating the water to smother the last embers.

Sophie didn't stop the teardrops falling onto the parchment as she placed it on the smoldering pile that was once her tent.

She reached into her cloak, pulling out the first dagger she ever wrapped her hands around. The silver was rusted and faded, the pommel's leather fraying and discolored. This was the dagger her father gave her when she first started her training. And finally, her amulet that hung from her neck. The amulet of Kynareth.

She placed a gentle kiss onto the blade and swung it into the parchment. The parchment fluttered slightly in the breeze, but the blade remained steady. The amulet was wrapped around the blade, and when Ruy sees it, he will know she wasn't kidnapped or killed. That it was her saying these words, Sophie turned to see her family staring back at her.

Filomena, Maria, Alexios, and Lilac Morretti.

She took Lilac's hand, leaned her head onto Maria's shoulder, and they all started down the hillside to the ships waiting below.