Makings of a Monster

- "All right then. I think we have tested poor Tamoko enough," smiled Winski. "I suggest the secret room for sentimental and symbolic reasons even though Reiltar isn't home."
The group was led there, and Tamoko's face only conveyed interest.
- "This place has been sort of safe haven for us all," explained Jelena. "Reiltar doesn't know that it exists. As they sat on the pillows and made themselves comfortable, Sarevok tried to think of where to start.

- "It seems to me that none of you is very fond of Reiltar," suggested Tamoko to help them to get started.
- "That is to put it mildly," nodded Winski. "He is capable of diplomacy and false charm when he feels the need, but at home he has been a sadistic tyrant. He thinks Sarevok and Jelena are property."
- "All the time when Sarevok was child... all the time... he gave him vicious beatings just because it amused him," said Jelena, her voice shaking.
- "I have seen the scars," said Tamoko. That alone had made Reiltar Anchev her least favourite person even though she hadn't met the man yet.
- "A few of those could have killed me," told Sarevok in flat tone, his eyes a good deal colder than usually. "For that alone I would kill him. But he has beat mother and... done other kind of violence to her. It is as if he is always inside my head, ruining everything for me. I can't forget what it feels like when... no, I won't have peace until he is dead."

Tamoko nodded. It seemed reasonable to her. She had already noticed the emotional scars too, even though Sarevok had not wanted to talk much of Reiltar. She would gladly kill the man who had hurt Sarevok so.
- "And... we have a plan. I love Jelena, and I'm so fortunate that she loves me back," told Winski, hugging Jelena's shoulders, "and we want to move away from Sembia and start a new life. I have sworn never to leave Sarevok alone, and he wants to come with us. And since you two are committed to each other, we hope you to come too."
- "I have traveled a lot. It won't be a problem to travel some more," Tamoko only said. "But first you need Reiltar dead."
- "That is right. Even if we wanted him to live, it wouldn't be a possibility," sighed Jelena, who seemed unhappy about it. That woman has amazing capacity of forgiving, thought Tamoko.
- "For me it is obvious that this man deserves to die. Couldn't a professional ninja... no, you call them assassins, take care of that?" asked Tamoko.
- "I will kill him myself. He will know that he dies, and that it is me who kills him, and he will know what pain is," said Sarevok in a voice that left no room for negotiation. His eyes were so cold, his voice flat with underlying menace. Tamoko had never seen him like that and was a little shaken. He really hates his stepfather, she thought.
- "We are aware that it will make it more difficult as there will be investigation. But it seems that this has to be. I can't say I am sorry. He has hurt too much the people I love and I have been forced to watch it for years, feeling powerless to prevent him," said Winski. "And by the way, Sarevok. That was a good introduction to the remaining secret."

Sarevok glanced at Winski irritably, then turned to face Tamoko looking warm and adoring again. There was also worry in his look.
- "I want to say again how much I love you, because this is something... I don't know what you will say. I am not... like others. If you saw me in real combat, you would understand easier. I have blood of a god in my veins. God of murder. His name was Bhaal and he is dead. It seems that he once walked the earth and sired children. I am one of those. I have blood of god of Murder running in my veins."
Tamoko was quiet for a moment, looking Sarevok into eyes all the time.
- "You are still Sarevok to me," she only said, waiting for him to continue.
- "Sometimes when I fight I... lose control over my actions and I just kill and feel a powerful joy and rage at the same time. I have this inner darkness which both gives me strength and scares me. And I don't know what else it means. There is a prophecy held in a library of Candlekeep, but it is a long way from here and it is expensive to study."

Tamoko looked away for a moment, then faced Sarevok with worry in her eyes.
- "First of all, Sarevok. I promised to be yours, and I will. I love you no less. But I worry. I worry if that god wants something of you."
- "I don't know," answered Sarevok.
- "Reading the prophecy should clear some things up," Winski added.
- "Being a warrior and having divine blood of murder..." mused Tamoko. "There is a certain glory in it."
- "We will have to think of what to do about it," said Jelena gravely.

Later, as Sarevok slept over at Tamoko's, he told her how his life had started. The story of the priestesses made Tamoko even more worried, but her heart also ached with the love she felt for Sarevok. How cruel his life had been... as Sarevok already slept, this time peacefully, she held his hand and caressed it. She would try her best to make the rest of his life happier.