Lucie had expected fear. 

She had expected terror in the eyes. When those who thought themselves untouchable suddenly came face to face, with their own mortality, it always brought forth a little kid trying to get away. But Isabeau... Isabeau was different. She didn't start blabbering, she didn't stumble or try to run, nor did she make any attempts at bargaining. And though there [i]was[/i] fear - a widening of the eyes, a moment of immobilizing indecision - it was momentary, replaced by a smile within far too short a time. 

Lucie remained motionless, her smile fell and her eyes narrowed. This woman shouldn't be confident. She had no right to be. She had been running for her life before, something people only ever did if they knew their time was short, so [i]why[/i] was she smiling now that she had been caught? The answer was simple, she had some kind of trump card. 

[i]"Guess What? I can see you now."[/i]

The answer to why presented itself with those words, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, forcing her eyes to droop and her posture to slacken. Thinking became difficult, as though wading through the sludge of a swamp. 

Her entire posture slumped, muscles that had been tensed to act at a moment's notice slackening and leaving her open, flat footed. Lucie blinked, lifting her head to look around. What had happened? Why... why was she here again? She wanted to rest. It would be so easy, to just lie down and let time pass. But didn't she have something she wanted to do? 

That wasn't important. If it was there would be no reason to lie down. 

But she was... where was she? Out in the forest, yes. She wouldn't be here for no reason. 

That was true, but even then there were a lot of trees to lean up against as she rested. 

[i]"That was true."[/i] Those words meant something. It was true that she was here for a reason, a reason that her own mind was trying to convince her was no longer important. Her fingers twitched, eyes blinked, and a little bit of clarity returned. 

What had she been doing up until now? She had felt drowsy, wanting to rest... but why? She was here for a reason, 
[i]why[/i] was she like this? It wasn't like her, had never been. She was - another blink, another twitch - not someone who would act like this. Why? Why! [i]Why why why?![/i] 

From the back of her mind, slowly and muddy as if seen through a dirty window, came a name. A name that answered her question; a name that told her the reason she was here, what she was doing and - finally - an answer for [i]Why.[/i] 

Isabeau.

[i]I am not like this,[/i] Lucie told herself, a kernel of anger flaring in her mind, pushing back the fog. [i]I am not some weakling that can be beaten by drugs.[/i] She parted her lips, fingers clenching. [i]I am[/i] not [i]so easily defeated. I-[/i] she bit down on her tongue, the pain flaring in her mind and shattered the bonds on her mind, vaporizing the fog and bringing clarity back to her "-Am Lucie Ružička, Baroness of Thieves and Princess of the Underground. You have no power over me, Witch!" 

Like the pain, her anger flared, and with with a flash of movement and steel, she had drawn a dagger from her belt and flung it at Isabeau, still within range. Still, the effects of Isabeau's talent lingered, throwing off her aim. It only grazed her, leaving a shallow cut in her arm. Annoyance replaced her anger, followed by another flash of steel as her second dagger as thrown, this one aimed at Isabeau's calves. Adeleia had given her no orders as to whether or not to take Isabeau alive, but she wasn't one to kill. Didn't like it. If Adeleia wanted her dead, she would have to deal the killing blow herself. Lucie was content to inflict pain and render her unable to fight back. 

"Your cheap tricks won't work again, Isabeau," Lucie said - promised - and threw a third dagger.