chapter 26 - the knave

Right after I woke up, my brain already was well aware of the situation I was in.

We got captured by the Fatui, and there is also a dangerous and very strong harbinger who defeated us before we could even realize she started an attack.

I looked around to inspect my surroundings.

I was inside the cave for sure, that was probably a lot bigger than I thought considering that I didn't hear any sound nearby. I was locked in a small cage, probably in a smaller "room" of the cave, as I saw that my cage was placed somewhere in a long hallway, lit by torches giving a dim light.

I had no idea about Diluc's location, I was the only one placed in that cage, so I was a little worried but I thought his situation might be similar to mine.

I inspected the lock on the cage. Our capturers were either too careless or too confident, because even though they saw my dendro power, they chose to lock me in a cage with a small lock in it - which is not an obstacle for my tendrils, I could easily break free.

But even though I considered the average Fatui soldier stupid, I knew damn well that I shouldn't underestimate a harbinger. That woman probably knew that even if I open the lock, I wouldn't be able to escape.

I sat on the ground, legs crossed trying to come up with a strategy to break free. I had an idea about what shall we do after escaping - warn Jean then leave Mondstadt. It was a good idea that we were the ones who came after all, they can't start a war with our nation as we are not acquainted with the knights.

But first, we need a way to get out.

I internally scolded myself because of my lack of knowledge about the harbingers. I never needed to obtain any information about them, but in our current situation it would have been useful to know which harbinger captured us and what are her powers.

I knew that the harbingers are the loyal servants of the snezhnayan archon, the Tsaritsa, they are always causing troubles in the nations, there's eleven of them (or, were, as I heard), each having a rank number, that they received according their strength.

But I knew very little of the members. Venti told me about Signora, who recently died, and in Sumeru, The Doctor was a frequent topic as he was a past student there. But this is the furthest my knowledge reached to.

My thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming closer to my cage.

Shit, I haven't come up with a plan yet.

Two Fatui soldiers stopped in front of me. I stood up, I was thinking of fighting if needed, but eventually I relaxed my muscles. Even if I could defeat these two, there was a very low chance that I could last long, let alone finding Diluc, because there was no way I would leave without him.

"Don't try anything, bitch" one of the fatui warned me. They led me out of the cage, cuffing my hands behind my back.

"Manners are a luxury in Snezhnaya?" I asked back. The fatui guy came closer to my face.

"Easy with that sharp tongue, darling or I will take it away from you" he threatened with a snarl. I tried hard to not laugh in his face.

They led me to a room made in the caves. Just how big is this cave is? Seriously, how come no one knew about it? I thought.

They pushed me down on my knees. In the simply furnished room, there was the harbinger woman.

"You two can go now" she motioned her hand in the direction of her subordinates. "I want to talk to this one in private"

"Yes, ma'am" they said then left the room.

I inspected her carefully. When we first saw her outside, it was dark so I barely saw her, only her most noticeable features.

She was a beautiful woman with a very, very dark and dangerous aura lingering around her. In this light, I could inspect those strange eyes of hers - they were dark, and the redness I noticed earlier were two red x-s in each eye. I've never seen anything like this before.

She didn't wear her white coat, so I could see her attire underneath it: simple white shirt and black pants. She was tall and she obviously had a strong body.

"Hello, Tessa, nice to meet you" she smiled darkly, sitting in a chair in front of me. It surprised me that she knew my name somehow, I wasn't particularly famous.

"As you know my name, I would appreciate if you'd introduce yourself" I tried to act cool even though internally I was on the verge of panic. I didn't see any way out of that situation.

"Oh, right, excuse me" she said. "I am number Four of the Fatui harbingers, Arlecchino"

"Nice to meet you, Arlecchino" I nodded. "That's what I would say, if I wasn't your hostage"

"You were the one sneaking around in the first place" she pointed out.

"Because you Fatui rats are threatening our country" I answered quickly.

A menacing smile appeared on her pretty face.

"You have a sharp tongue considering your situation" she said, standing up. She walked to me and took off my handcuffs.

"You are being too bold right now" I said, massaging my wrists.

"This is my way to show that I trust you" she shrugged. "So appreciate it. I just want to talk"

"I have around zero trust in you" I answered. "Where is Diluc? And how did you know my name?"

She walked to a small table, pouring two glasses of wine. She offered one to me. I didn't accept the glass handed to me.

"Easy, it is just wine" she rolled her eyes, sipping on her drink. "Your boyfriend was harder to defeat than you. He has some injuries but we are taking care of him. Don't worry, he will be fine. As for your name, well, you are on our list"

"What list?" I asked, folding my arms before my chest. I was worried about Diluc, but I knew he was though. I need to do my part.

"The Fatui keeps track of people they consider remarkable. Your mother is already on the list, so of course we know about her daughters. You are considered as a genius according to your studies at Sumeru, and your powers have a huge potential, you are just not at your fullest yet"

"And why does the fatui have such a list?"

"For many reasons" she shrugged. "Knowing potential strong enemies is important, but also the harbingers are a dying species, as it turned out, and empty positions must be filled up. I am surprised no one offered you a position yet, but I guess you are not strong enough right now"

"And why would you think I would accept that offer?" I rolled my eyes. Arlecchino finished her drink and poured herself an another one.

"Yeah, you wouldn't" she nodded. "Yet"

I didn't answer to that. The audacity of the Fatui never failed to impress me.

"Anyway, what do you want from Mondstadt?" I asked. I lifted up the drink she previously offered to me. I didn't think it was poisoned, and probably I shouldn't had drink it, to keep my head clean, but I wanted to somehow earn her trust.

"Nothing of a great importance, at least that is what I think" she shrugged, turning to me. "One of the harbingers requested it from our leader, who sent me to fetch it. Honestly, if we took it in peace, Mondstadt would have never noticed it, but you had to be nosey" she sighed. "It is a children's storybook which is actually a coded blueprint for a device. I don't even care."

"Don't you think you are telling me too much?" I chuckled.

"I honestly don't care" she answered. "I have no interest in helping in this mission" she sighed and finished her second drink. Then she turned to me again, looking deeply in my eyes.

"How about making a deal, Tessa?" She asked. I stepped back.

"There is no way" I shook my head. "I don't want to be involved anything that has to do with the Fatui"

She giggled at my statement.

"You know, I am in a very tight spot right now" she said. "I can't harm you, and I can't kill your boyfriend either as it would reduce the Fatui's chances with you" she states. "And he is on the list too anyway.."

I didn't correct her that Diluc is in fact not my boyfriend, it seemed like that making her believe that he is was more beneficial in this situation.

"But that doesn't refrain me from killing anyone else" she chuckled. "But only if we would fail to come to an agreement" she shrugged.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"A small sample of your blood" she answered.

"Huuh?" I reacted loudly. I had many questions and didn't know where to start.

"You know, the Fatui is more complicated than it seems, and among the harbingers, some of us have their own motives" she sighed. "I have my own motives as well and even though I don't believe in trivial matters like luck and fate, meeting you was truly fortunate"

"That doesn't explain anything" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I asked a favor from Dottore, but he never gives help for free. He always marks up a high price. Usually something rare that he can experiment on. And amongst his long list, a blood sample from your family would be a good payment for him in return of my asked favor"

The request sounded so little, and way too simple. I wouldn't mind giving it, but somehow the thought of The Doctor having my blood sent shivers down my spine. I was considering it, but also there was a risk that I would put my mother or Klee in danger. I quickly ran through all the possible scenarios in my head to find all the possible reasons why that freak wants my blood. Most likely it has something to do with our immortality, that was what I deduced according to what I know of him... it might not be such a huge price...

"And what do I receive in return?" I asked. A smile appeared on Arlecchino's face. She already took that question as an agreement.

"You and your boyfriend are free to leave and I am willing to give up on that book. I will lie that one of these incompetent bastards accidentally burned it or something. I don't care"

Her offer was generous actually. Way too generous. I knew that I will regret the whole deal sometime in the future and I wouldn't be surprised if my path would cross Arlecchino's again... But that is the problem of the future Tessa.

She leaned her hand in my direction. I accepted it.

I just made a deal with something worse than the devil himself.

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Author's note

Hellooooo

I hope you liked this chapter. Honestly, I... enjoyed writing this one ??????

Also, I hope you liked my interpretation of Arlecchino, we don't know much about her yet, so this is what I've come up with

See you next chapter xx