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Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4556 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 43
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Suspect

Anders' glare was icy as he stared over at Fenris who was standing on Jordan's other side.
“If you have a problem, mage, then say it,” Fenris growled, no longer being able to take Anders's eyes boring into him.
“I still can't believe you let her do that,” said Anders, his glare never faltering.
Jordan rolled her eyes at the two. They'd had this conversation several times before. The previous day, when Jordan had spoken to the Arishok, later she had went to the Hanged Man and told everyone what she had found out. When Anders heard, he hadn't been surprised that Jordan had defied his wishes and advise, yet he seemed to become furious when he learned Fenris had accompanied her. No shock when the two got into an argument over Jordan's safety. Anders arguing Jordan shouldn't have gone to such a dangerous place in her condition, while Fenris argued that it wasn't as dangerous as everyone believed. And even if something did happen, he was right there. Neither one of them seemed to be able to convince the other. They only stopped their arguing when Jordan stepped in. Now as they stood in front of the DuPuis mansion, Jordan could sense their argument about ready to reignite itself. She knew she needed to step in before things could get heated. After all, everyone needed to keep their cool. No one was sure what they were walking into at this point.
“You can see that she's fine, mage,” Fenris spat. “Nothing happened!”
“But the Arishok did become aggressive,” Anders protested. “What if he decided to kill the two of you right then and there? I highly doubt you'd be able to protect her against all the Qunari in the compound.”
“I can and I would,” Fenris said, narrowing his eyes.
“Hey! You two stop it right now!” Jordan shouted as she turned to both of them. “Get this through your thick skulls right now: I don't need anyone to protect me. I can take care of myself.”
“But you weren't--” Anders went to say.
“Anders, shush.” Jordan held up her hand to quiet him. “I know that, but that doesn't mean I still couldn't defend myself. Now both of you,” she said, flipping her head from one to the other. “Stop treating me like some delicate flower, and start at least trying to work together. I need you both to help me here.”
Both Anders and Fenris looked away from her and each other. Jordan snorted, hoping this would be the end of the arguing. Or at least about this. She knew Fenris and Anders would probably never stop disagreeing, and she had to wondering if it had more to do with just the fact they were on different sides when it came to mages.
“Are the two children going to behave themselves now?” Aveline asked Jordan. Fenris and Anders glared at her, but said nothing.
“I hope so.” Jordan gave each of them one more look before she focused on the door in front of her. It was dark out, and the DuPuis mansion looked even darker. It wasn't much of a surprise, considering Gascard DuPuis was a noble who preferred his privacy. He was rarely seen outside his home, and no one ever saw anyone besides DuPuis going in or out of the mansion, making his neighbors wonder how he lived if he had no servants. It was no shock to Jordan that Emeric had pinned him a suspect in the disappearances and murders of the missing women. With DuPuis' hermit-like nature, and knowing very little about him except that he was from Orlais, it did make Jordan ponder.
Taking a step toward the door, Jordan knocked but received no answer. Nothing that didn't surprise her, considering she wasn't even sure if DuPuis was home at the moment. Something then caught in the corner of her eye, a shadow moving amongst the bushes. When she turned her head, there was nothing there. She didn't linger, however, knowing the others were waiting, and believing what she might have seen was probably nothing.
“Maybe I should just pick the lock,” she said mostly to herself when she faced the door again.
“I would prefer you didn't,” said Aveline. “But seeing as we have little choice...”
Jordan took out her lockpicks and went to open the door but soon found there was no need. The door was already unlocked. Twisting the knob, she let the door swing open, revealing to them a dark and empty entrance hall.
At first, no one moved, not sure if they should enter. Slowly Jordan took the first steps, going into the dark home and looking around. She tried to get a feel for anything that might tell her what was going on. She could feel no magic in the air, yet there was something odd that she couldn't quite place.
“Hang on a second,” Jordan whispered as she stopped in the middle of the dark room. “Aveline, are you sure we're in the right house? This place looks awfully familiar. I could have sworn when I was in the Harimann house--”
“This is the correct address,” said Aveline, standing beside her. “Trust me, I checked. Plus I've been by this place so many times on my routes, it's hard to miss anymore.”
“Right...” Jordan said slowly. Although she still couldn't help but to feel she had been here before.
“There's definitely something odd going on here,” said Anders. “This house is too quiet.”
Aveline nodded. “I would have to agree. Most of the time when I pass this house, it's always this dark, except for one room.” She looked up the stairs, and Jordan knew that's where they needed to go.
Not really caring anymore about being quiet, Jordan ran up the stairs and told everyone to start searching the rooms. They would first listen before entering, and if they heard voices or something that told them someone might be in there, they would get the others before going in.
Jordan went into a far room on the right, finding inside a type of study. Around the room were shelves of books, ones Jordan couldn't read due to them being in Orlesian. They were dusty except for a few that appeared old and worn, as if someone had been constantly reading them. On the desk were a few papers, but nothing that jumped out at her. They were also in Orlesian, but one that was in the common tongue, caught Jordan's attention. She picked it up and began to read when she spotted who the writer of the letter was.

'Messere DuPuis,

Please accept my humble apologies for the recent events. The templar, Emeric, has been reprimanded for his wrongful accusations and for arousing suspicions within the city guard that led to the raid on your estate. I will see that he is restrained in the future.

Sincerely yours,
Knight-Commander Meredith.'

“Meredith, really?” Jordan said out loud. “He got the knight-commander to apologize to him? Damn, he's good.”
Leaving the study, Jordan went to the next room over, the one Aveline had went in to search around. Inside, Jordan found the guard-captain kneeling next to a chest, going through a pile of clothes.
“These are women's clothes,” she said, seeing Jordan come into the room. “And some of them have blood on them.” She stared up at her suspicious, and handed her a dress that was blood-stained and torn.
“Okay, so he's a collector of dresses that are ruined,” Jordan said as he examined the dress.
“Gascard DuPuis is a bachelor, and has no women living with him. What would be the point of having these if there's no one to wear them?”
“Come on, Aveline, there are explanations. Maybe he likes to take beaten up old things like these and fix them up and sell 'em. Or maybe he's a cross-dressers.”
Aveline glared at her.
“Hey, I'm being serious,” Jordan said, handing her the dress to put back in the chest. “I'm here trying to think of real reasons why he has those clothes, and you're trying to use it to say he's the killer.”
“I'm not trying to say anything.” Aveline stood and stared more about the room. “It's just suspicious, is all. They might not mean anything, but I didn't read anywhere in the report from my guards about them finding women's clothes that were blood-stained. And that would be something my lieutenant would have added in the report.”
“Okay, well let's just keep going and see what else we might be able to find.”
Together they left the room and went into the last one before the hallway, leading to more rooms. This room was much bigger, a sitting room or sorts with a fireplace at the end. Anders and Fenris had come in here. When Jordan and Aveline entered, they saw the two men standing around a table. Fenris was reading a letter in his hands while Anders was examining some vials on the table.
“You two find anything?” Jordan asked.
“This letter might be something,” Fenris said as he handed it to her. “Apparently DuPuis was asking questions about escaped mages from Starkhaven.”
“Like the ones who escaped three years ago?” Jordan took the letter and began to read. She had nearly forgotten about Grace and Alain and the other mages who had escaped after the Circle in Starkhaven had burned down. When she had gone to help them, Alain had given himself up willingly, and had gone back to the Circle without any fuss. Grace, however, along with the other mages, Jordan had helped to let them escape from the templars hunting them down. Last Jordan had heard, though, was they were eventually captured and brought to the Gallows anyway.
“No,” said Fenris. “From the date, it looks as if that letter was written before the Circle was destroyed.”
“Okay, but why would he be asking about escaped mages in the first place?” Jordan read over the letter. The first enchanter had no information for him, nor would he give DuPuis any even if he did.
“I think the bigger question is, why does he have these?” said Anders.
Jordan looked up from the letter and at the vials before him. They were red in color, but Jordan couldn't tell if they were that color either from the glass, or from what might have been inside them. “What are they for?” she asked, timid.
“Blood magic. I can feel the remnants of it. Someones been naughty.”
“Blood magic? But... why?” It then came to Jordan suddenly, a reason why DuPuis might be as secluded as he was. And what might explain a few things they had found in the house. “He's a mage,” she spoke softly.
“You really think so?” said Aveline.
“Think about it. Why would he be so secluded? And the blood magic vials... I can't believe I didn't see it before! He's acting just as we would be if Bethany was still with us. Well... maybe not be as secluded as he's being, but that would explain why he went straight to the knight-commander to get Emeric off his back.”
“What are you talking about?” Anders asked.
Jordan took the letter she had found and handed it to them all so they could read it.
“DuPuis being a mage might explain a few things, but it still doesn't explain what those clothes are doing in that chest,” said Aveline.
“You found clothes?” said Fenris.
“Women's clothes. And most of them are stained and torn.”
Both Anders and Fenris pondered at this. Things were starting to tie together, but neither of them could still be sure. If DuPuis was really a mage, that would explain his seclusion and why he acted so strange. But the clothes, the letter asking about escaped mages, even the blood magic were still a mystery. Why would he have them and what was the purpose?
“Let's keep looking,” said Jordan. “I'm sure we'll find more.”
They followed her out of the room and back into the dark hall. Things were still quiet and eerie, even more so with some of the things they had found. Jordan peered about the hall, seeing towards the opposite end they had started, another doorway leading to the back of the house. She made her way to it, feeling this was the way they needed to go to find out more. She was about ready to cross the threshold when something clicked and exploded.
“Jordan!”
Maker, damn it, not again!
Jordan went flying back, but not from the explosion. Someone had grabbed her, pulling her back and away. When she looked up, she saw Anders in the doorway, his feet off the ground as a shade wrapped its fingers around his neck.
“Anders!” Jordan screamed as she went to get back on her feet. She scrambled up, only to flip back when a second shade made itself know. It went right after her, clawed hands outstretched to grab her.
“Hawke, move!” Fenris ran passed her, his sword swinging as he went to cleave the demon in two. He struck against its hand, the shade shrieking from the impact. The creature then lurched forward, desperate to grasp Fenris by the throat. The elf blocked its approach and shifted to the right before bringing his sword down on its back. The shade went down. Fenris then struck the demon again, raising his sword to cut across its belly and sever its spine.
Jordan had no time to see if Fenris had finished the job. Her concern was on Anders, who was still grasped tightly within the shades fingers. He struggled to free himself, his hands glowing as he tried to use a spell, but seeming unsuccessful. Jordan looked around for Aveline, seeing the warrior was occupied with two other shades down the hall. She had been knocked down by the blast, and thrown to the other side of the hall. Aveline used her shield to keep one shade at bay while she dealt with the other. The one at her shield scratched and clawed, trying to get past her defenses, but unable. The one at her sword growled and struck, but was always met by cold steel. Aveline rammed her sword forward, sticking it in the shade's abdomen. She twisted the blade, creating a crunching and ripping sound and bringing the shade down. She then swung out her shield, hitting the second shade in the head and sending it backwards before she went after it.
A tremendous force caught Jordan's attention, and she turned yet again to Anders. He was fighting the shade with all he had, but the demon would not let go. Not even Justice, who was in control at the moment, seemed to be able to release the creature's firm hold. He struggled and spat, the shade moving out of the doorway and into the hall. Jordan acted quickly, knowing there was only one way she might be able to free him. She flung Edge, the blade rotating in the air before it embedded itself in the shade's chest. Instantly the demon let go, causing Justice to fall to the floor, holding his throat.
The shade quivered from the blade in its chest. Jordan went straight to it and ripped her blade out, completely opening the creature's front. With the shade down, she looked over at Justice, seeing he was fine as he stood, but not looking happy. He then stiffened and stared down the dark hallway, his face contorting in a snarl. Jordan took her focus to what he was staring at and her jaw dropped.
The hall suddenly lit as a demon came racing down. Its skin on fire, eyes as black as coals and cold despite the heat coming from its body. The rage demon burst through the doorway, almost taking Jordan out as it sent a fireball straight for her. Instantly the four of them were on it, circling and avoiding the demon as it attacked.
Fenris and Aveline struck at its right side, bringing its attention on them. The demon turned and shot more fire their way. Aveline blocked the demon with her shield. Fenris moved aside, then struck, slicing his greatsword across the demon's fiery skin. Aveline moved in and pierced its back. The demon roared from both assaults, followed by a release of more fire, pushing them back. It then brought its attention on Jordan and Justice, growling as it turned on the mage and rogue.
“Get back,” Justice said to Jordan through his teeth. “I will deal with this rage demon.”
“Excuse me?” Jordan said, but she was unable to say anymore when the demon shot another fireball at her. It was stopped by Justice as he shot ice from his staff, freezing the fire in the air. He then turned on the demon and sent out more ice and frozen air. The demon's feet turned cold, freezing it to the floor. Its fiery skin froze, solidifying in the shade of blue glass. The rage demon struggled against the the icy hold, glaring at Justice as the spirit then started to form a stone fist in the air before him. The demon didn't let him finish as it roared and sent more fire towards the spirit. The partial stone fist blocked most of the fire, but he still had to move to avoid the rest. Jordan used the opportunity to strike at the demon from the side, sticking both Edge and Fury in its frozen skin. The demon jerked from the blow, twisting its torso and hitting Jordan in the abdomen, sending her flying towards Justice. He caught her, but the impact sent both of them to the ground. The rage demon finally broke loose from its icy shackles and raced right for them, growling with hands clawed and yet another fireball forming at its fingertips. Jordan stared up at the creature, not sure what to do. It was too close, coming at them too fast. Justice was under her, struggling to stand, but even if she wasn't holding him down, he still wouldn't have been fast enough.
The demon raised its hands, ready to release the fireball, but it suddenly dispersed. A shockwave went through the room, first going through the demon, then hitting Jordan and Justice. It knocked them all back to the ground, Jordan hitting her head on the wall, while Justice laid unconscious beside her. When Jordan opened her eyes, she spotted the demon on the ground, its flames dulled and Fenris above it, giving the finally blow.
When it was over, Jordan looked around and saw Aveline on the other side, her hands outstretched and she soon realized what happened. She stood, despite the dizziness in her head and stared at the warrior, bewildered. “I thought you said Wesley didn't teach you anything?”
“I lied.” Aveline lowered her hands. “Sort of.”
“Okay... And why would you do something like that? We could have really used that talent, especially when we were fighting the blood mages.”
“I know,” Aveline said as she looked away from Jordan. “But I didn't want either Merrill of Bethany to think differently of me. Or to give another reason for Anders to hate me.”
“Oh... I guess that would be a reason.” Jordan looked over and saw that Anders was still unconscious, and back to himself.
“Plus it takes a lot out of me. More than it would a normal templar.” Aveline sat herself down for a moment as she suddenly became pale.
Jordan made her way over to Anders and gently rolled him over. “Hey... Anders,” she said, shaking him a little. “Come on, wake up.”
“Hrm.” Anders began to moan as he slowly came to. “What...?” He opened his eyes and blinked at her a few times. “Jordan...? Why does it feel like I just got smited?”
“Because you did. Or at least you were hit by the aftershock. Aveline wasn't really aiming for you.”
“Aveline?” He sat up slowly with Jordan's help and glared over at the guard-captain. “Should've known with a templar husband. But I thought she said--”
“Didn't want to upset anyone,” Jordan answered. “And as you can see... I don't think she's going to be using it again anytime soon.”
“Be grateful that she knew something, mage,” Fenris glowered. “Otherwise you might not be here right now.”
Anders grimaced as he looked away, realizing that Fenris was probably right. He then groaned when he felt something might be broken. He went to heal himself, but found he couldn't.
“Easy now, Anders,” Jordan said as she helped him in a better position.
“Hey, that's my line,” Anders grinned at her.
“Yeah, and I'm usually in your position, but not this time. Now take it slow. Even though it wasn't on purpose, you were still hit pretty hard by a holy smite.”
“Right. Do you think you could reach in my satchel and hand me some lyrium, please?”
Jordan did so, going in his satchel and pulling out a small vial of lyrium and handing it to him. Anders drank the vial down and shook his head. He then went about healing himself before he and Jordan stood.
Even though he was still resentful towards Aveline, after taking in a few more vials, Anders went over to her and looked her over. She wasn't hurt, just exhausted.
“I would never use it on you, Anders,” Aveline said as he restored some of her energy. He stared at her, not quite sure if he believed her or not. “Not unless I was really forced to,” she added.
“And Merrill?” he asked.
“It's not something I like to do. Nor is it very pleasant. Wesley only taught me just in case. I was going to be fighting darkspawn, after all. And emissaries can be just as deadly as malificar.”
When he was done with her, Anders then turned to Jordan and Fenris. Jordan was fine, and Fenris, even if he was hurt, wouldn't have let Anders help him anyway.
“Alright, so what does that tell us?” Jordan asked once everyone was settled.
“That people lie,” said Anders as he glared over at Aveline.
“Of course people lie,” Jordan said, rolling her eyes. “Everybody lies, we all knew that already. I'm talking about with the whole demon thing!”
“That you may be better at setting off traps than I am,” said Fenris.
Jordan glared over at him. “That one's also a given, but it's still not what I mean.”
“It means DuPuis has something to hide,” Aveline answered. “Why else would he put up something like that? I say whatever it is he's hiding, we'll find down that hallway.”
“Exactly,” Jordan nodded.
Suddenly they heard a woman scream, a loud shriek that echoed throughout the whole mansion. It made each of them cringe, but also know they needed to hurry.
***
They raced down the hall, following the screams as they continued. When they reached the room at the end of the hall, Jordan burst through the door first, coming to the scene of a man standing over a woman on the ground.
The woman was screaming, panic in her eyes as she stared up at the man, horrified. When she noticed Jordan in the room, she reached out her hand. “Help me! Please!”
The man turned to see what she was pleading to, giving Jordan a full few of his face. Even though she had only seen him a few times, and mostly from a distance as he hurriedly made his way through Hightown, Jordan knew it was Gascard DuPuis she was staring at. His long, dark blonde hair, and red Orlesian tunic that seemed to be the only thing he ever wore. He widened his hazel eyes upon seeing her, something he more than likely wasn't expecting.
“Who...? Wait, you're not him!” he said. “Shit.” He looked down at the woman, then back at Jordan, who was now joined by her companions. He shook his head and held up his hands. “I... know what this looks like, but I didn't hurt her!”
“You didn't?” Jordan said, suspicious. “So her screaming bloody murder was just for show?”
“You don't understand,” he said in his slightly diluted Orlesian accent. “Someone is after her. I had to keep her safe! I don't know why you're here, but there's a killer out there, and I think he's playing us both! Just... just let me explain!”
Jordan looked down at the woman. She had a few bruises on her, but otherwise didn't appear to be hurt any worse. Either they had arrived just in time, or DuPuis was speaking the truth. The tears in the woman's eyes proved otherwise, but Jordan figured there was nothing wrong with letting DuPuis explain. “All right, we'll see if you can talk yourself out of this.”
DuPuis sighed and turned himself fully to face her. The woman below him then slowly started to crawl away, seeing her opportunity for escape. “Several years ago, my sister was murdered. The bastard's now in Kirkwall, killing again, the same way he killed my sister,” DuPuis explained. “It starts with a bouquet of white lilies. He sends them to each new victim. Alessa was going to be next. I took her so he'd have to come to me. I was finally going to face my sister's killer, but then you showed up...”
“Are you saying there's a killer out there targeting women?” said Aveline.
DuPuis nodded.
“He's lying!” Alessa, the woman on the ground, spoke as she made her way closer to Jordan. “He... hurt me!”
“I've explained this!” he said to her, although he made no movement to try and bring her back to him. “I needed your blood to track you down if he took you. It was for your protection!”
“No!” she screamed. Standing, Alessa fled the room, running past Fenris and Anders who were standing next to the door.
“Merde!” DuPuis cursed. “Why did you let her go? She'll run straight to the guard!”
“Did you happen to notice the guard's already here?” Jordan said, gesturing to Aveline.
“Exactly,” said Aveline. “And if you know something about a murderer in Kirkwall, why didn't you say anything to us in the first place?”
“Why?” DuPuis smirked at her. “I didn't because I don't want him arrested. This isn't about justice, I need to be the one to bleed him dry.”
Aveline shook her head in disgust. “Selfish little shit. How many have you risked by keeping this to yourself?”
“Perhaps too many, but it'll be worth it when I catch him.”
“So let me guess,” Jordan said as she examined him. “Not only are you a mage, but a blood mage too? Is that why you needed Alessa's blood?”
DuPuis eyed her. “Yes, I've used blood magic and lyrium to augment my powers. Also to track women who I believe to be his next victims. I'm not proud of what I've done, but I had to. He took my sister from me.”
“That doesn't mean you should go straight to blood magic,” said Anders. “There are other ways.”
“There might be, but only blood magic will give me what I need in order to defeat him.”
“Then tell us about him,” Jordan chimed in. “Tell us about this killer.”
“He's a powerful and experienced blood mage. I believe he uses the women for some ritual. His victims are attractive, healthy women with few social ties.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Jordan could tell Anders was looking at her, although she couldn't quite read his face. “Okay,” Jordan said slowly. “That might be true and all, but how do we know you're telling the truth? You could just be saying this to lead us off your trail. You could be the killer. Just like Emeric suspected.”
DuPuis was not happy with her accusation. “I admit, there really isn't anything I can say or give you that would prove I'm not the killer. But I can assure you, I'm not. I have been looking for him, just as the templar has. Our paths crossed, and from all my suspicious behavior, I can't blame him for thinking it was me.”
“Yes, because kidnapping people makes you look innocent,” Fenris glared.
Sighing, DuPuis looked to Jordan. “Please, I know what I've done is wrong, but can you let me go? I'm close to finding him, I just need to track Alessa and watch her. And I'll do it from a distance,” he added, seeing Aveline's hard eyes. “Otherwise, if I lose her, then months of searching will be for naught!”
Jordan had to think carefully about this. She turned to her companions, seeing neither of them were happy with the thought of just letting him go. Especially Aveline, who gave Jordan her usual disapproving stare. Even if DuPuis wasn't the killer, he had still kidnapped Alessa, and had possibly tortured her. Not to mention the blood magic, and he was an apostate. But Jordan threw those out of the equation. If she added them into her reasons, then she'd be a hypocrite.
“Go,” she finally said, facing him. She knew the others would disapprove, but at the moment she didn't care. They would get over it.
“Thank you,” DuPuis nodded. “If you happen to learn anything new about the killer, or need me for anything, then look for me in Darktown. That's where I'll be.” With another nod, he left the room, more slowly than Alessa had.
“Did you seriously just do that?” Fenris asked once DuPuis was gone.
“Yes, I did, and you can live with it,” Jordan said stern. She made her way past him and back into the hallway. “Now come on, you three. Once the sun starts to rise, we're heading for the Gallows. I need to tell Emeric this.”
***
The sun was beginning to rise by the time they reached the docks and were about ready to board the ferry that would take them to the Gallows. They would be the first ones to cross the channel that day, or at least from this side. As they waited for the ferry to approach, Jordan could see there was already someone in it.
“Hawke!” Emeric cried from the boat as he stood to see her. “Hawke, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“Me?” Jordan questioned. “What are you doing, Emeric?”
Emeric waited until the boat was at the dock before he jumped out, thanked the boatman, then faced Jordan proper. “I was on my way to meet you. Why are you here?”
“Meet me? What are you talking about?”
“Just a few hours ago I received your letter.” He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “It said you found out something about the murders and needed to meet with me urgently. I would have left sooner, except the boatman who drives the ferry the templars use has been ill.”
“Wait,” Jordan said as she went over the letter. “I didn't write this.” She looked over the handwriting, which was a lot neater than her own, as well as the signature, which was way off.
“You didn't?” Emeric took back the letter. “Are you sure?”
“I think I would know my own handwriting, and if I sent a letter to you.”
“So if you didn't send me this letter... who did?”
This made Jordan smile. “I don't know, but I have an idea on how we can find out. How about you lead the way to where the letter says to meet 'me,' and we'll follow at a distance. What do ya say?”
“I think it's risky, but all right.” Emeric nodded and began making his way down the docks. Jordan waited a moment before she started to follow.
“Are you thinking the same thing as me?” Aveline asked Jordan in a whisper.
“That whoever wrote that letter is the killer?” Jordan whispered back. “Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. And I'm also thinking this will be a good way to capture him.”
Aveline nodded, although Jordan could tell she was probably wishing she had her guards with her at the moment.
As they followed Emeric through the Docks and into Lowtown, he took them to a secluded back alley where barely anyone lived. Jordan had to wonder what the templar was thinking when he first read the letter. Shouldn't it have sent red flags if she had asked him to come to a place like this? Jordan never would have asked him to come here. She would have either told him herself at the Gallows, or asked him to meet her at a more occupied location, like the Hanged Man.
When Emeric entered the alley, he went allow. Jordan had herself and the others hide at the entrance. She wasn't sure if the killer would show himself if he saw Emeric wasn't alone. They needed to keep that illusion.
For awhile Emeric stood in the middle of the alley, looking around. He was nervous, but that was understandable. “Hawke!” he called, keeping to the illusion he was there to still meet her. “Hawke, where are you? I'm here!” There was silence after his announcement, and after waiting a few more minutes, Emeric appeared as if he was about to head back to where he knew Jordan was waiting. Just before he was about to take a step, something caught his eye. He looked to his left and peered. Jordan tired to see what he was staring at, but she couldn't see around the building. “Hawke?” he spoke, but there was no answer except for a sudden blast of malicious energy that struck him in the heart. Emeric went flying, then crashed into the side of one of the buildings.
“Emeric!” Jordan shouted as she jumped from her hiding place and ran straight to him. Something went whizzing through the air. Jordan rolled to the front, narrowly avoiding the same dark energy that had struck Emeric. When she came to her knees, Jordan turned in the direction the blood magic was coming from, Edge out in front of her. There she saw a quick glimpse of a man hidden in shadow, or at least that's what she thought. The figure disappeared before she could get a good enough view, then was replaced with something that made her heart freeze.
The desire demon lunged from the shadows, arms outstretched with tight claws and a viscous snarl. It went right for her, its feet barely touching the ground. Jordan moved, but wasn't fast enough as the desire demon nearly had her. What kept the demon from fully reaching her was a strike of lightning that hit the creature in the side, sending it across the alley. Anders ran past her, followed by Fenris and Aveline. Only Aveline stopped to help Jordan from the ground, and to check on Emeric. Jordan left her to see about the templar, while also leaving Anders and Fenris to deal with the desire demon. She instead ran to the area she had seen the figure, hoping it was still there. She didn't see any other way out, yet when she rounded the corner, no one was there. She cursed to herself, trying to figure out how the figure had got away. She then spotted the manhole cover and cursed again.
“Damn it. Maybe I shouldn't have let DuPuis get away.”
There was a familiar magical signature in the air. One she remembered feeling before, three years ago, back in the foundry where they had discovered Ninette's ring and the bones. She didn't find it a coincidence, nor did she find it a coincidence that this was happening right after speaking with DuPuis. She still couldn't be sure if he was the killer, but he had to be more involved than he was leading on.
She exited the area and spotted Fenris and Anders working together to defeat the desire demon. Fenris was attacking it from the side while Anders distracted it with lightning and fire. The demon preferred ice, using it to strike at Fenris and keep him at bay while then going after Anders with a heated gaze. Anders flung a fireball, the desire demon batting it away with part of it almost hitting Fenris. The elf glared at Anders, but only for a brief second before renewing his attack on the demon. He struck her hard on the side, his sword cutting right through her scaly hide. The demon screamed, then rounded on him, nearly taking off his face with her claws. Anders then struck her in the back with a stone fist followed by an arcane bolt. The demon screamed yet again, but it was Edge driving itself into the creature's skull that finished it off.
Jordan didn't go to retrieve her dagger, instead went to where Aveline was, knelt next to the fallen templar. “How is he?” she asked.
Aveline stared up at her and shook her head slowly. “He's gone.”
Jordan was bewildered. “H-How can that be?”
“He was old, and possibly unprepared. It looks like whatever hit him stopped his heart.”
“Anders!” Jordan cried as he and Fenris came to her and Aveline. “Is there anything you can do?”
Anders handed Jordan Edge before he knelt next to Emeric. He examined the templar, but just as Aveline had, when he was done, he shook his head slowly. “I'm afraid he's gone.”
“That's just perfect,” Jordan heaved. “And we're no where closer than we were before!”
“We sort of are,” said Aveline as she stood. “Emeric was on to something. DuPuis proves that.”
“Yeah, that there really is a killer out there targeting women. But why? And how do we stop him?”
“This, you'll leave to the guard,” Aveline said stern. “I'll go back to the barracks and inform them about what's going on, tell them to be on the lookout. I'll also have them find Alessa and keep an eye on her. If DuPuis' right, then she could be in danger.”
“You'll also need to find him,” said Anders. “I have a funny suspicion that he knows more than he's letting on.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Jordan agreed.
“And that you'll leave to us as well,” Aveline emphasized. “I've already put you in enough danger, Jordan. If I had known it was going to turn out like this, I would've taken the case myself. In fact, I think I might.”
“Aren't you still on vacation?”
“After the events of last night and today, I don't think I could finish my vacation even if I wanted to.” She then looked down at Emeric and frowned. “At the moment, however, I believe we should take him back to the Gallows, at least. He doesn't deserve to be left here.”
“Of course,” said Jordan. “Fenris, can you help? And Anders...”
Fenris had nodded and began to help Aveline lift Emeric's body from the ground. Anders, however, stared at Jordan with a look of confusion.
“I want you to go and warn the others,” she told him. “Especially Merrill and Isabela. I know they can probably take care of themselves, but I'll be damned if any of my friends get caught up in this.”
“I know what you mean.” He appeared as if he didn't want to leave, but eventually nodded and went out the alley before Aveline and Fenris. Jordan followed behind the two as they carried the templar. She stopped briefly and stared back into the alley, hoping she might get to catch a glimpse of the figure again, but nothing within the alley moved. Soon she turned back and ran after the others.
I hate to admit it, but maybe it's best that Bethany is in the Gallows after all.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age 2
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Blood Promise