[center][color=#FFDAB9][h3]Seraphina Duval[/h3][/color][/center]
[color=gray][color=#FFDAB9]Location:[/color] Private Ship, Moored in Sorian Harbor
[color=#FFDAB9]Time:[/color] Late Morning
[color=#FFDAB9]Mentions:[/color] [@Apex Sunburn] Sada Kurau[/color]

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[color=lightgray]The small, sleek ship rocked gently in the harbor as Seraphina Duval paced across the polished wooden deck, her heels clicking rhythmically with every step. The air was thick with salt, the scent of the sea mixing with the damp wood of the ship's hull. Around her, a few trusted members of the Black Rose stood at attention, their eyes flicking toward her as they awaited her command.

Seraphina took a deep breath, her gaze sharpening as she addressed the room. [color=#FFDAB9]“Where's the spy?"[/color]

With those words, the door to the cabin opened, and a young woman with long wavy brown hair and wide, fearful eyes was led in by two guards. Following close behind were her brown-haired parents, their faces etched with fear. The woman stood trembling before Seraphina, her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Seraphina turned to face them, her gaze landing first on Dahlia, then shifting to her parents. There was no malice in her eyes—only cold calculation. She gestured for Dahlia to step forward, her voice soft but firm. [color=#FFDAB9]"Dahlia, you know why you're here."[/color]

Dahlia swallowed hard, her voice shaky as she spoke. [color=#FFB6C1]"Please... I don't want to go. It's a suicide mission. The ship—[i]they’ll kill me[/i]... And if they don't kill me, I might get jailed or even killed by—"[/color]

[color=#FFDAB9]"Perhaps,"[/color] Seraphina agreed, interrupting calmly, her fingers tracing the edge of the map. [color=#FFDAB9]"But you’re useful to us, Dahlia. You have skills we need. And if you succeed, you’ll be free of us. You’ll get the answers you’ve been looking for about your twin brother, Darryn."[/color]

At the mention of her brother, Dahlia’s face twisted in anguish. [color=#FFB6C1]"You promised me you’d tell me what happened to him... I’ve done everything you’ve asked, and still nothing!"[/color] Her voice cracked, her desperation palpable.

[color=#FFDAB9]"Everything has a price, Dahlia. You want answers? Then you’ll have to earn them."[/color] She gestured to one of her guards, who immediately grabbed Dahlia’s mother by the arm, pulling her roughly to her knees beside her daughter.

Seraphina took a slow, deliberate step forward, her gaze fixed on Dahlia. [color=#FFDAB9]"I understand that you are afraid,"[/color] she said, her tone smooth, almost soothing. [color=#FFDAB9]"You fear that this mission will be your end, and perhaps it will be. But let me offer you a way out."[/color]

Dahlia’s eyes flicked to her parents, her breath hitching in her throat. [color=#FFB6C1]"A way out?"[/color] she whispered, her voice trembling with desperate hope.

Seraphina nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile. [color=#FFDAB9]"Yes, a way out. I’ll let you walk away from this mission, Dahlia."[/color] She paused, letting the silence fill the space between them before she continued, [color=#FFDAB9]"But only if you choose. One of your parents will live. The other..."[/color] Her gaze flicked to the guards holding Dahlia’s parents. [color=#FFDAB9]"The other will die."[/color]

Dahlia gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as her eyes filled with horror. [color=#FFB6C1]"No... please... you can’t ask me to choose. I can’t..."[/color]

Seraphina remained unmoved. [color=#FFDAB9]"I can, and I am. This is your choice, Dahlia. If you refuse to go on the mission, then you will decide who dies and who lives. If you go, they both walk away unharmed. But if you refuse me, then you will watch as one of them bleeds out in front of you."[/color]

She leaned in slightly, her voice low and threatening. [color=#FFDAB9]"And do not think that I’m bluffing."[/color]

Dahlia’s entire body trembled as she turned to her parents, their faces full of anguish. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook her head in disbelief. [color=#FFB6C1]"Please... don’t make me do this..."[/color]

Seraphina remained silent, waiting, her gaze unwavering.

The guards gripped the shoulders of Dahlia’s parents tightly, and the sharp glint of a knife caught the sunlight as one of the guards raised it to her father’s throat. [color=#FFDAB9]"It’s simple,"[/color] Seraphina said quietly, almost gently. [color=#FFDAB9]"Choose, or I will choose for you."[/color]

Dahlia’s breath came in short gasps, her mind reeling with the weight of the decision. Her hands shook, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to form words, but nothing came. Finally, she broke down, [color=#FFB6C1]"No, please... I’ll go. I’ll go on the mission."[/color]

Seraphina straightened, the faintest hint of satisfaction crossing her face. [color=#FFDAB9]"Very well. That wasn’t so difficult, was it?"[/color] She then smiled at the young woman. [color=#FFDAB9]"You’ve made the right choice, Dahlia."[/color]

Seraphina’s gaze, sharp as a blade, lingered on Dahlia as she took a slow step forward. [color=#FFDAB9]"I’m pleased you’ve seen reason, Dahlia,"[/color] she began,  [color=#FFDAB9]"However, understand this clearly."[/color]

She glanced at the guards, who held Dahlia’s parents firmly in place, their expressions frozen in terror. Seraphina’s eyes returned to Dahlia, hard as iron. [color=#FFDAB9]"Your parents will remain here, under my watchful eye. If, at any moment during your mission, you so much as entertain the idea of betrayal..."[/color] Her gaze darkened, and she allowed the words to hang in the air before continuing, [color=#FFDAB9]"they will die—slowly. Painfully."[/color]

[color=#FFDAB9]"And when I say painful, Dahlia, I mean it. We have mages capable of pain spells beyond your nightmares."[/color] She told her. [color=#FFDAB9]"You’ll know that every cry, every scream of agony they let out, is your doing."[/color]

Her eyes met Dahlia's. [color=#FFDAB9]"Or perhaps I’ll use them as our test subjects for the new drugs in development... Play with them until they beg for death."[/color] Her voice carried the nonchalance of one discussing dinner plans as she spoke, [color=#FFDAB9]"But death, Dahlia, will not come quickly for them. I will make sure it lasts for days."[/color]

Dahlia’s breath hitched, her face paling.

[color=#FFDAB9]"So remember this well, Dahlia. You belong to me now. Fail me, betray me, and you will not only lose your life... but you will hear your parents tortured until their last breath. And trust me,"[/color] she added, [color=#FFDAB9]"Their last breaths will take a very long time."[/color]

Dahlia could only nod, her throat too tight to speak, the gravity of the situation crushing any remnants of hope she had left.

As Dahlia and her parents were led out of the room, their footsteps heavy with despair, Seraphina turned her back on them, her expression cold and detached. The air in the room was thick with tension when Laurie stepped forward, brows furrowed in thought. Her voice, though quiet, carried the weight of her curiosity.

[color=#98FB98]"Why not use one of our own?"[/color] Laurie asked, her tone careful. [color=#98FB98]"Why the Fletchers?"[/color]

Seraphina didn’t turn to face Laurie immediately. Instead, she remained staring out over the harbor, her hands clasped neatly behind her back. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice slow and deliberate.

[color=#FFDAB9]“Because they’re all going to die regardless,”[/color] Seraphina replied, her voice devoid of emotion. She turned slightly, her sharp gaze locking with Laurie’s. [color=#FFDAB9]“Marek wants them dead.”[/color] She allowed her words to linger in the air for a moment, watching the understanding dawn on Laurie’s face before continuing.

[color=#FFDAB9]“Dahlia and her twin brother Darryn have been in servitude to the Black Rose for a long time now. They were once useful, particularly Darryn, but things have changed. Dahlia…”[/color] Seraphina trailed off for a moment, considering her next words with the careful calculation that defined her. [color=#FFDAB9]“She’s always been a stealthy little thing, slipping through shadows, unnoticed. That’s why I chose her for this mission. Her skills are valuable, and while her fear clouds her judgment, her survival instincts are strong. She will get the job done because she has no other choice.”[/color]

Laurie nodded slowly, processing the explanation, but there was still a lingering uncertainty in her eyes. [color=#98FB98]“But why not use someone more loyal? One of our own could—”[/color]

[color=#FFDAB9]“Loyalty is not always a guarantee of success, Laurie,”[/color] Seraphina interrupted, her voice sharp. [color=#FFDAB9]“She's disposable. This is a test run after all... We have others to send after her if need be. I'm sending her to a mage first to enchant her with a spell or two that will make her useful no matter what they do with her."[/color][/color]