Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [81]
His hands passed through Jaheira as if she was nothing but mist.
"No!" he screamed as the half-elf began to fade away before his eyes, vanishing like a column of smoke dissipating on the breeze. Her body was dissolving, whisked away by some force Abdel could neither see nor stop nor comprehend.
Just before all trace of her features vanished, Jaheira spoke the last words Abdel would ever hear from her lips.
"I love you, Abdel Adrian. Forever."
Abdel clutched one last time at the vanishing wisp of wind, then collapsed to his knees. Jaheira was gone, and he was alone in his father's realm, sobbing uncontrollably and clawing at the damp, dark earth in grief and anger.
Chapter Eighteen
The sun had yet to climb high enough to crest the monastery's marble walls, but Melissan was already up. Balthazar had not yet turned up, despite the many reassurances of his followers that his arrival was imminent. Her own extensive investigation of the premises had not turned up the missing monk either. Melissan was beginning to grow suspicious.
She had learned long ago not to trust anyone. Many times the Bhaalspawn she had chosen to save in the past had betrayed her. She had known Balthazar for many years, ever since the Five had first come into existence. He had been her most powerful ally throughout all her efforts. Because of this she consented to allow Imoen to be separated from her when they arrived at Amkethran's monastery. Now, with Balthazar still absent, Melissan had her doubts.
When she discovered the dead guards at the foot of the tower, still standing rigidly in position, it merely confirmed what she had most feared. The tall woman bounded up the steps two at a time, already knowing what she would find at the top of the stairs.
Imoen's throat had been slit and her heart cut out. The mark of the drow assassin Sendai was carved into her forehead. Looking at the gruesome corpse, Melissan knew not even the most powerful cleric in Tethyr would be able to restore Imoen to life. Sendai had defiled her corpse, she had polluted the remains with foul poisons, and she had sucked what little immortal essence remained from Imoen's soul.
Somehow she had done all this right beneath Melissan's nose. The tall woman knew Sendai was long gone. The drow would never allow herself to be caught above ground during the light of day. A shiver ran down the tall woman's long spine nonetheless. Melissan had not even been aware Sendai was on the prowl. There had been no warning of the slaughter. Melissan knew that could only mean one thing.
Balthazar and Sendai were working together, plotting against her. She whispered a silent curse at not having foreseen this outcome. She had grown careless, allowing herself to believe of all her allies, Balthazar would be the last to turn on her. She had foolishly thought the monks could protect Imoen until Abdel returned from destroying Abazigal. Imoen had suffered the ultimate consequence for Melissan's naive faith in Balthazar's loyalty.
With Imoen dead, Sendai would go after Abdel next. Once Gorion's ward was slain, the work of the Five would be all but complete. Their last task before attempting to raise Bhaal once again, Melissan realized, would be to kill her.
She heard a commotion from down below. Some of the other monks had discovered the paralyzed corpses of their brethren. Melissan suddenly realized how much immediate danger she was in. It was unlikely Balthazar would be able to corrupt the entire order. They would not willingly aid him if they knew he was allied with a drow assassin.
But the monks would never think to question their enlightened brother's leadership without blatant proof of his foul betrayal. If Balthazar lied to them, they would simply accept his words as truth. If he told them Melissan was working with the Five, they would accept it as fact without considering Balthazar's own role in Imoen's death. If the monks found her here now, standing over the mutilated corpse of the one they had sworn to protect…
Melissan could hear the sound