"Yeah, I regret it. Been regretting it every day since he told me. Since they BOTH told me. The fucking imp...I only stayed clear of him because the angels found us, and there was no way they were going to spare him, especially if they were there to kill me. You seen what he is? If they hate me for just being what I am, they'd take absolute delight in ending him. Orion is capable. Resourceful. But even he has to sleep some time. I let him go his way while I went mine thinking it was best. Then when I see him again he tells me I failed him because he had a tenure in the Abyss enduring something I'd hoped to spare him with all my heart. Maybe if I was with him when the demons attacked it wouldn't have happened. He's probably right."   "And Zora? Tells me outright I failed her as a father. 'If you honestly think you did your best as a dad, you better think again.' I honestly did think that. Until now. Hearing how you've disappointed your child might not seem significant to other parents. I've heard little shits have tantrums and scream as much at their mother and father. But Zora's been operating as an agent for Lirelle and the Zhentarim for years, proving she's every bit the capable woman her mother was with all the best parts of Orianna. And missing all the worst parts of me. She's her own woman now. And she's disappointed in how I turned out as a father. Yeah...that one made me start drinking again."   "But I looked at that for a good, long time. What was the common thread there? With both Orion and Zora...Orianna...I ran away. I didn't face the fights that were inevitable in the end. Maybe I didn't see it coming. Maybe I couldn't see it coming. But here we are, and all my years trying to avoid Asmodeus have come to nothing. All my years trying to keep them both out of the anguish I faced has come to nothing. All because I didn't stand with them. Because I didn't face our enemies beside them years ago."   "I regret that. I regret every day I didn't spend with them. Not being there for Orion. Not being there for Zora. Especially not being there with Orianna when she passed. I regret failing my family. But I'll carry that and take it. Because I'm not making any more regrets, and I'll find a way to make this right before the end. Torm as my witness, that's what I'll do."

Atka rolled her shoulders and yawned, wishing she didn’t feel so stressed still. Rescuing Floon and Renaer, seeing and leaving her siblings, and not hearing back from Lord Dagult yet were wearing on her psyche more than the battles in the sewers. Inhale. Exhale. It had been a few days since her argument with her brother. It really was wearing on her. Those weird looks reminded her of that dream she had about him before running into him years later.   She yawned again as she walked into the library in Waterdeep’s center to research more about whether Ire might have been lying about that contract in her most recent dream. She didn’t think so, but if she was promised in a contract, she regretted not asking the Ring Master for hers to be broken. Ire haunted her dreams because of it, or seemed to, and even though it was likely they were just dreams… She shuddered and lost her train of thought. Atka collapsed into the first table that she found in the middle of the giant lobby. Maybe I should have done pit fighting tonight, she thought. Get some of this rage out…   “Can I help you find something, miss…”   “Ideal,” she introduced in a yawn and looked up to see an actual angel before her. He didn’t look at her like she was a tiefling, or even as though she was lesser than.   “Ideal. Yes, of course,” he said, knowing that she was using a false name, she figured. Was that wise, she wondered. Probably not.   “Sorry,” she corrected, “Call me Atka. That’s my name. I didn’t realize who I was talking to.”   “Do you realize who you are talking to now?” he inquired and sat down beside her, fluttering his glowing wings. Atka wondered if he paid such close attention to all of the library’s patrons, because this felt incredibly awkward.   “I just know that you’re a celestial, and I’d rather not lie to one of your kind.”   He chuckled, genuinely. “I’m Castiel,” he said. Atka paled a bit, knowing that it was the angel from her journal. “What is it?”   “Nothing of consequence. I just heard of you,” she uttered under her breath, refusing to make eye contact. Should she ask him about things? If Mamnen was okay? If he could help her?   “So, what research brings you here today, Atka?”   Atka couldn’t help but to be completely obvious with him as whatever color was left in her face drained out. “I… well…”   “I don’t get many tieflings in here, but the ones I do seem to research interesting things, telling things, and at times dangerous things. I want to make sure I know which you are doing.”   Atka frowned at him, hoping he just knew.   “You don’t strike me as a woman with a path like trouble, Atka.”   “You may not be a great judge of character,” she said, shoulders slumping and frown deepening. Castiel studied her momentarily and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. It was warm, radiating warmth throughout her body… She instantly relaxed.   “What are you looking for?”   “Not so much a what as a who.” she whispered. Castiel hmm’ed softly and removed his hand, bidding her to continue. “Sixteen years ago, I participated in the Ring of Dex and lost because I conceded in the tournament.”   “Conceded? Really?”   Atka nodded and figured if he’d heard of anyone doing that, it would’ve likely been her. “Anyway, I only entered the contest to try to find my mother and save her from something I’ve been told is dangerous to speak of–”   “A devil’s contract.”   “Yes, you must remember my brother.”   “More than somewhat. We’ve met on more than one occasion. I’ve told him the same I’ll tell you. Abandon the foolish idea that the Nine Hells can be bartered with and also possibly the risk of your own life if you pursue the devil you believe contracted her.”   “But that’s the thing, I suspect that she isn’t contracted at all, but that she promised me to a devil to escape the Nine Hells,” Atka spoke fast, eagerly trying to pull it from her mind. Castiel raised his hand and motioned for her to follow him. They quickly disappeared into a private study room.   “She promised you to the devil your brother is looking for?”   “He’s looking for the devil? When did he abandon the search for our mother?” Atka looked genuinely concerned. Castiel shrugged. “That’s troubling. My brother is smart; he’ll likely find him.”   “And you?”   “I want that devil as far from me as possible, but I don’t think he has an interest in me other than to torture me in my dreams.”   “Dreams? Go on.”   Atka embellished him with stories of her night terrors and their realness. Castiel did not react really, just listened. “Yes,” he said finally. “Someone has bound the two of you, as I suspect that his influence means to push you over the edge.”   Tears welled up in her eyes.   “You seem to be fending him off alright, if he is only able to reach you in your dreams. That said, your brother–”   “--my brother?”   “Yes, your brother has my concern and suspicion. Has he done anything that concerns you?” Castiel asked and then softly waited for her answer. What would he do to Mamnen if she said something about his telekinetic abuse?   “None that I can think of outside of twins ribbing on each other…” she said, sadly. Why am I protecting him? She wondered and crossed her arms to hug herself.   “You’re a compassionate woman, Atka. Don’t let it endanger you, and if you need to tell me something, find me here…” Castiel said with a disappointment dripping from his words. He knew she was lying by omission, but why wasn’t he pressing her? Maybe angels couldn’t, but the journal said he had gotten tense with Mamnen.   He stood from the table and sighed before wrapping his hand around the doorknob. “Atka, one more thing. How close are you to him now?”   “I’m not really. I’ve only seen him a handful of times in twenty years.”   “And your younger sister?”   Atka was taken aback for a moment, as she was never asked about Vereella. She stammered a bit, “I mean, we aren’t close, but I’ve seen her a handful of times as well.”   “Have you recently?”   “Perhaps three days ago?”   “Have you talked since?”   “What are you getting at, Castiel?” Atka asked, growing frustrated with concern. Castiel’s eyes said everything. Something had happened. “What are you getting at, Castiel?” Her voice had lost all bite.   “The Watch found her body on the shore this morning. No signs of foul play, but I wonder what she was doing so far from home by herself…” Castiel watched Atka’s reaction. Her shaking hand trembled, nearly cupping her face as she stared back. “I’m sorry.”   “She drowned?”   “We think so.”   “Gods…” Atka whispered.   “You seem like someone who can handle herself, and at the same time, I want to make sure you’re feeling safe at this moment. Do you have any reason not to?”   “My work is risky business, Castiel. I always have a reason not to feel safe, but don’t worry. Like you said, I can handle myself at any moment,” she said and tried to convince him, tried to convince herself.   Castiel nodded and opened the door. “Either way, I’d let this blow over before you see your brother the next handful of times. In case he feels some way about it.” And then he departed from her.   Atka didn’t close the door, just reduced to a puddle and sobbed on her arms on the table.