January 11th, Evening

Preparations and plans had been made in advance with Hector- tonight was the night everything would be executed. She had learned from previous mistakes and outings with Mason to know anything large scale was likely to end in a disaster. One or two people simply wasn't enough for such things, so for the moment at least, she was sticking to very small scale rescues. It wouldn't do if anyone ended up dead- friend, foe or herself- or if she were caught. The law wasn't quite on her side, not yet, but she hoped that if Matthew Simon was elected, or even G, they could put the law on her side. An official declaration of slavery being made illegal, or even that they were to be set friend might not seem to do much, but it would give an advantage to vigilante types.

At the moment Lydia was awaiting Hector's arrival in an alley not too far from their intended target. A small warehouse that acted as a location for small deliveries and exchanges of 'cargo' to be had. They'd only be helping a small number, but the chances of getting caught or overpowered weren't very likely, as security was pretty low.

Well aware of the fact green hair and eyes lacking pupils would stand out a bit too much Lydia had disguised her appearance much like before when she did this with Mason. A temporary dye was used to color her hair and eyebrows black, and contacts were in place to make her eyes look as if they did have pupils. The bruising on her face she acquired days before was nearly gone, but a touch of makeup was in place to hide it completely. Long sleeves hid the bruises on arms and shoulders, but fading purple was still visible around her knees. A simple grey long sleeved tunic dress was worn with shorts beneath it so she could move easily. Knives were tucked away in boots and for added protection she had crafted some leather bracers and shin guards.

Hearing the sounds of footsteps at the end of the alley, Lydia straightened from her lean against the wall as she looked that way. The first thing that caught her attention were the shoulder holsters the man who stood there wore- guns of course inside those holsters. Lips pursed, she narrowed her eyes at them, remembering the last time she had done this and how awry things went when Mason had shot and killed another... "Are those really necessary Hector?"

"I don't work without them. But I don't use them unless I need to, and considering what we're going up against tonight I'm fairly certain I won't need them." He looked Lydia over then, one brow arching at her appearance. "You weren't kidding when you said I wouldn't recognize you were you...?"

She shrugged as she absently ran her hand through her hair. "There's more girls around here with black hair than green, yeah?" Lydia started walking further down the alley then, ready to set off towards their destination. "I'd just rather not stand out when we do this and get identified later..." With little to say in response, Hector made a non-committal sound as he moved along with her.

Her legs burned as she ran, but she didn't stop, nor did the ones running with her. Lydia and Hector had managed to save three from the warehouse, and though she wasn't sure she trusted Hector entirely she had little choice but to leave him behind to hold back any that might follow her or the others. Three others to be exact - one man and two girls. They were all young, in their early to mid twenties. They wore dirty clothes, were entirely too skinny, and looked as if they had been neglected for quite some time. It was amazing they were still running really, but something more powerful than physical strength kept them going at this point.

"Here!" Lydia sprinted to her left suddenly, to merge from one alley to another. Her destination wasn't much farther now... As the other three obliged and turned to follow, her hand slipped into a pocket and grasped about frantically.Taking hold of the key there, she held it tight within a fist. "We're almost there!" Approaching the end of the alley she paused just long enough to look around and make sure all was clear. Seeing that it was she sprinted forward and moved past a couple houses until she came to the back of the one that was her destination.

Waiting a few moments for the others to catch up, Lydia gestured for them to follow as she rounded the house, keeping close to the walls. A porch railing was ducked as she climbed upon it and moved towards the door, key poised to unlock it. As soon as the click sounded she threw the door open and motioned for the other three to file in, and so they did with little hesitancy. Pale blues darted about one last time before she moved in behind them, closing the door. Siegfried did not want her telling the casual person of The Undertown, no, but after much discussion with him and Von they were open to the idea of her sending... certain people there, should they need the sanctuary.

The three now ex-slaves looked about with confusion and uncertainty on their faces, almost as if they were having second thoughts of following the black haired elf with peculiarly light blue eyes... Lydia didn't feel there was time to explain however. Not yet. She was sure they were safe by this point, but one could never be too certain of things could they? She moved past them towards the corner where the stairway to the tunnels lead. "It's just down here... there's a place for you to stay and..." Catching their hesitation her words trailed off. "Don't tell me you're going to start doubting me now... come on!" Her tone took on a rare authoritative tone, almost harsh, and one she regretted taking with them, considering where they were coming from. But.. it was necessary. At least that's what she told herself. Old habits died hard, and the three were quick to do as told and moved over to start a slow trek down those stairs.

Sighing to herself, Lydia shook off feelings of regret and doubt and started following along behind them.

January 16th, Pre-dawn

By the time Lydia had made it to her house, inky locks had faded back to celadon. Staggering through the door in exhaustion, she closed it behind her before she ambled towards her living room's stove, working quickly to light it and get some heat in the house. Since she still hadn't bothered with furniture she leaned back on her heels on the floor, remaining close to the stove as she wrapped arms around herself. She was so tired, it wouldn't take much for her to lay down and drift away.. but she had work in just a couple hours and couldn't do that. If she slept there wouldn't be waking up in time for it, and really, she was a bit too nervous to sleep.

She messed up tonight.

Lydia had made a couple more runs with Hector to get slaves out of warehouses since the first, and all had gone smoothly, even if there was the occasional detail that cropped up she didn't like. Tonight however? A slaver had been in pursuit and was closing in on the group. She hadn't even a chance to use her magic before Hector took him by surprise and struck a blow to his head. She had thought he had killed him, but they all moved on as if nothing had happened. Well, all except for. In a moment of carelessness and sympathy she stayed behind with the slaver to try to rouse him from unconsciousness. He hadn't died, and did wake up.. but as a result? He saw her face, clear as day.

The thought caused Lydia to groan a bit as she hung her head. Her hair though, her eyes... Her hair had been black, her eyes had looked normal. Perhaps she was over thinking things. Worrying a bit too much about it. He was out of it at the time anyways, so even if in the off chance he saw her again... No. She wouldn't worry about this. There was already too much on her mind, too much to do. She didn't need this burden as well.

January 22nd, Pre-Dawn
The Undertown: Central

The night Lydia experienced was certainly.. not what she had expected. It had started out well enough, but took a peculiar curve and landed her in a dueling ring with Anubis Karos. Anubis.. the one who took Erin and enslaved her not all that long ago. There was still much anger there, but she wasn't foolish enough to act against him in such an open manner. Most of the time she chose to ignore him, but when he touched Hodge.. what else was she supposed to do? She lost the match, though it didn't really feel like she did. Her face was bruised, her stomach bruised, and her legs ached, but he limped away from it all, and deep down inside, to inflict pain on him and draw blood? It did feel a little good. But she wouldn't do the same to Erin, no, not physically, no matter how hard the englishwoman tried to push her into it with her verbal assaults against the elf. Lydia had attacked back verbally, but she didn't want to become the type of person who felt better by inflicting pain on another. She wasn't that type of person before, so why was it such a struggle now?

Sighing, she leaned back on the bench she sat upon, gaze idly moving over passerbys and children at play; drawing and playing with dolls. Dolls she had crafted herself. The children always seemed to enjoy when she brought them toys and treats, since those were rare in The Undertown. Whatever nifty thing she could get her hands on, she'd bring with her on her visits, not just for children either, for adults as well. It was usually appreciated.

Tilting her head back, she looked up at the nothingness that loomed over her and the rest of The Undertown. In just a couple hours the sun would rise on the surface, but not there. It could be considered gloomy where she was, but it didn't feel that way. She was more at peace there than above. Lydia closed her eyes, trying to drown out the words in her mind - the words Erin had spewed at her earlier that night in her bait tactics. She needed to rest for the next night, and she had little care for actually going in to work. Really, Erin was the last person she wanted to see at the moment - even if she was the only thing she could hear in her mind...

It was confusion Lydia felt most of all at Hector's words. Brows furrowed momentarily as she turned away from the stony wall ahead to look back towards Hector, still a good distance away but slowly approaching. "A fool...? What are you talking about?"

"A fool." Quietly spoken, he reiterated his words. "I do admit that your explanation and excuse were better than his ever were. Sometimes he'd not even try. He'd outright refuse to tell me a damn thing." Still confused, Lydia felt a twinge of nausea stirring up inside. Something was most definitely wrong... "Do you really think that I, doing what I do, haven't heard about Undertown?"

The nauseating feeling increased when Hector spoke the word 'Undertown'. He knew? And the one he spoke of - was it Mason? Lydia settled a hand to her abdomen, still bruised and sore from the blow she took from Anubis. "Hector.. I.. I don't know what you're talking about."

The words had barely escaped her before he bellowed out. "You lie!" She winced, as he was standing a bit close now. However Hector didn't stop walking, he simply walked past her. Lydia kept her gaze ahead and her back to Hector. "I know you know something of it... he knew. Surely he would have told you about it. I thought there was a chance before, that you didn't know... But your involvement in all of this now... and taking slaves away and vanishing without a trace? Your secrecy even from me? You go to no inn or warehouse - you're taking them to Undertown." She didn't move, didn't speak. He knew some things, but it didn't sound as if he knew everything. She couldn't understand why he was so... angry about it all though. "I want to know where it is." His words had become quiet again, calm and even.

So he didn't know... a few pieces were starting to fit together now. "Why didn't Mason ever tell you about it Hector...? You two were close. I mean, if you two were doing the same thing..." That confusion was starting to resurface.

"I'll be damned if I know." He spoke with annoyance. "It's not as if it matters now. I do wish you'd tell me Lydia - you're young. You have your entire life ahead of you, if you'd just wash your hands of all of this." Goosebumps prickled over her flesh as a cold wave washed over her body, despite being untouched by winds outside the alley. "Don't make his mistake. Just tell me how to get to Undertown, and you can walk out this alley and get back to your life."

Lydia was alarmed, naturally. It was a threat after all, even if a bit shocking to her... Perhaps in another circumstance she'd run, teleport, get away by any means necessary. But there were four words that kept her rooted right where she was at. Don't make his mistake. Just what did Hector mean by that? "...why is it so important to you?" Her voice came shakily, a sense of dread building as things started making sense. Just not in any way she wanted them to...

"I hardly think that information is of any importance to you, nor is it any of your business." Hector's reply was curt. "This is a situation where it's in your best interest to come clean with what you know, not ask pointless questions. I did not hesitate to make Mason pay Lydia... I'll not do you any favors either."

The nausea was nearly overwhelming and her legs shook beneath her; it was a wonder Lydia didn't collapse to the ground right then and there. "Oh gods..." Still, she looked ahead at nothing... she couldn't turn to face Hector. "...you didn't. Hector.. gods, don't.. don't tell me you're the one..." Tears clouded her vision as she lowered her gaze. "He was your friend.. he trusted you and.. gods... Mason." Her voice was so quiet, not much more than a cloudy breath in the cold air. "You couldn't have..." The silence that followed was deafening, almost. She didn't cry aloud, but tears continued to fall, trailing over the makeup in place that hid the purple coloring of her skin. Hector's next statement was brief, straight to the point.

"I won't ask again."

Lydia was flooded with fury. It was Hector that had killed Mason, who now threatened her, and who most likely posed a threat to those of The Undertown. Thoughts didn't make sense, there was nothing of rationale in her mind. Only pain and anger, a need to lash out, and the overwhelming desire to bring justice to her fallen friend... Her eyes went ablaze with a piercing light, and hands curled into fists as she whipped about to face Hector. "You're not going t-" Her statement met an early demise - cut off not only by the gunshot that sounded but by the bullet that pierced through her body. The pain that ripped through her was sudden, foreign; unlike anything she had ever experienced. Lydia struggled to speak, but she couldn't get her voice to work. It was a sickening gurgle that came instead, along with the taste of something coppery filling her mouth. No breath came either. She felt as if she was drowning and suffocating, and it wasn't long before she fell backwards, crumpling to the icy ground beneath her.

It was the sky that filled her vision then, now blurring and fading so she couldn't make out the pinpricks of stars above. Pale blues, now lacking in light and life settled upon the moon that grew darker and darker with every passing moment. Her mind wandered roads of bittersweet memories, clinging desperately to each and every one of them, but like everything else, they faded away...