Chapter 2 group Post

Eliane nodded at Rose's suggestion, not bothering to say ‘thank you’ because the kintalpax was back on its tentacles, and fighting ferociously again. She would thank the dragoness later. Now, she dragged Rayne away from the battle, under a tree, and went to fetch some water. She, too, saw Liara's limp body, but didn't do more than stop for a quick moment. She could see that she was breathing regularly, and it wouldn't help anything to try to wake her again, for the mysterious power might wake up, as well.1

Returning to Rayne's side, she saw her groaning, trying to sit up. ‘No, Rayne. You'll just make it worse.’ Eliane said gently, as she gently eased her half-sister back to the ground, giving her water and nursing the wounds. Once, she glanced over her shoulder at the furious battle. Rose was fighting bravely, as were Eyrion and Vannolyn. This horrible klintalpax was putting up an awesome fight, and all three warriors now had deep wounds to prove it. Marin and Liana were still lying on the grass where they fell during the bought with the lizard warriors. She thought that Marin was probably concious, and able to fight, but too much a coward to move. Liana, though, she was concerned about.2

Then, she turned back to the task at hand. Once she was sure that her sister was stable, she unsheathed her sword, swung aboard her filly, and raced back into battle to relieve her companions.3

Rose swung at the beast again with her tail and then bit off one of it's tentacles with her sharp teeth. It screeched in agony and she swung at it again, knocking it down once more. She liked the wound to her side while she had time. She would have to look at herself, along with the others before her, after this best had been vanquished.4

Eyrion cut off another one of it's tentacles after it fell, still quite shocked to see the Dragon helping them. He had no idea where it had come from, but he was grateful for his or her help. He was in bad shape after all, along with Vannolyn. He had a gash on his forehead and one of his legs were wounded. However, there were only three fighters, which meant that they had to hold on.5

Vannolyn fought on silently as well, never saying a word and only concentrating on the battle. The best had cut a deep wound into his left arm and was now unable to use it, but he kept fighting.6

When the last tentacle had finally been severed, which was by Eliane, Rose turned towards the others and studied them all. Rayne was in the worst shape. Then it was Eyrion and Vannolyn. After those three, it was herself and then she'd have to see if Liara was alright.7

Rose sighed and transformed back into her halfling form. She walked over to Rayne and took a look at her wound. She put her hands over the wound, thought didn't touch it, and a red light emanated from them, almost completely healing the wound. There was only the scar from the cut.8

After that was done, she saw that Rayne still laid unconscious so she stood up and walked over to Eyrion. He stared at her in disbelief. She could tell that he had not noticed her change into her Dragon form. She stopped in front of, waiting silently.9

Eyrion stared at her, unable to believe that Rose had turned into a Dragon. He had no idea that she had such power, nor did he know it had been her in the first place. He didn't get a chance to speak before she answered his unasked question.10

‘I did say that I was part Dragon. Of course I have a Dragon form. My father was a powerful Demon with Dragon blood in his veins. He passed the power unto me...Anyway...’ She raised a hand in front of the gash on his forehead and healed it the same way she had healed Rayne, except that this wound fully healed. She then proceeded to heal his leg, though not fully as it was deep like Rayne's wound. She then stood up and looked at him. ‘Be careful. It isn't fully healed and could open again.’11

Eyrion nodded, his lips parted slightly in bewilderment. He merely nodded. ‘Thank you.’12

Rose nodded to him and then turned her attention to Vannolyn. ‘Do you need healing, or would you rather handle it yourself?’ 13

‘I would like some help’ Vannolyn nodded. Rose placed her hand over Vannolyn’s wounds and healed them the bright red light lit the air and then vanished. Eyrion was still shocked he placed his sword back into its hilt and turned from the others, he looked as he was about to leave. Then he quickly jolted his head backwards, his eyes peering into the dark.14

‘That sound’ Eyrion walked to where the dead beast lay. ‘It’s a song of the dwarves’ He continued. Finally a shadow came into the light. It was small and carried something on its back, it looked like a weapon. Slowly it walked closer to them, and Eyrion could make out a character. ‘You have been gone for some while.’ He laughed standing straight. ‘Marin my friend we could have used you’ He finished as Marin walked up to him and shook his hand. 15

‘I lost my axe I couldn’t find it. Then I finally spotted it and it was atop a canapé of the meat merchant. I don’t know how it ever got up there’ He laughed.16

Rose had noticed Eyrion's look and wondered what he was thinking. However, she had no time to worry about that of the dwarf either. She walked over to Liara and placed her hand on her head, trying to contact her mind and summon her to wake. She stared at the Wolvic's face for a long time, silently calling to her through brain waves, ignoring everything and everyone else.17

The great silver-grey Wolvic made no movement, though Rose was sure she heard Liara call back to her from somewhere deep inside. She figured that Liara was too weak to come back on her own, and was about to help her out, when suddenly an evil laugh rolled across the forest. It came from nowhere, yet, at the same time, it came from everywhere.18

‘Bravo! Bravo!’ The voice mocked, and Rose felt Liara's body shiver slightly under her hands. ‘Great show, I love blood! Though I'm so sad that none of you were hurt more seriously.’ The voice had a horrible menace in it, and Rose lept to her feet, scanning the territory for this faceless enemy. There seemed to be a darkness gathering around the battlefield. Rose thought of the newcomer, and glanced over at him to see if he knew anything. But he had a look of terror on his face, and a quick scan of his mind proved his innocence.19

The boisterous laugh came again, but this time it seemed to come from the opposite side of the clearing, and when he spoke again, everyone was sure. ‘My dear Rose, you think I have allies in the dwarves? Ha! I think not! Too many of them have hearts of gold.’ He seemed to spit that last word out. And then, they saw him. All the darkness that had been gathering seemed to be drawn to his being, and he walked not on the ground, but on air. His black, tattered cloak seemed to be made of the darkness that glowed around him. He advanced. ‘Ah, too bad,’ his tone of mockery sent shivers up Rose's spine, ‘My lovely Rayne is out cold, so I can't speak with her.’ He seemed to be pretending to pout, but he kept coming. He was within shooting range, now, and Eliane pulled out her bow, and sent an arrow flying. He didn't stop; he didn't even flinch, as the arrow went straight through his heart, and dropped to the ground on the other side. That terrifying laugh emanated again, and he threw back his head in mirth, revealing his ghost of a face, and black eyes that pierce the soul with one look.20

‘My love, Eliane, you cannot kill me. I'm a ghost, remember? Though, if I wished, I could kill you right now.’ his white lips made of ash smiled mercilessly. Here, he stopped, stretching out his hand toward Eliane, with bones for fingers, and made a fist. Immediately, the girl screamed in pain, and fell to the ground, writhing about. Eyrion rushed to her side, as the monster dropped his arm, and laughed loudly.21

Rose leapt out in front of the group, and called his attention, ‘Stop this instant! Stop your madness or I will make you to be no more!’ The ghost of a beast stopped his laughing, and stared at her with those piercing black eyes, ‘and what would you do, love? You cannot kill me. I'm already dead,’ That ashen smile curled his lips again, as he said, ‘But I did not come here to discuss my immortality, no. I came to collect my things. And I have them, now. Thanks so very much to your inattentiveness.’22

To Rose's horror, she turned around to see Liara was gone. Completely vanished. And what's more, Rayne was gone, as well. She turned back to the monster in fury. ‘What have you done with them? Beast!’ He only laughed that horrendous laugh again, and the darkness turned to a black mist that swirled around him. ‘No fear, my lovely. They are in good hands. I shall leave you now, my dears, but we shall meet again. And I will take great joy in annihilating each of you.’ And then, he was gone. Like Liara and Rayne, simply gone. The darkness turned to clouds, and a bolt of lightening split the sky and lit the little clearing that now held a stunned and shocked little band of people. 23

Rose closed her eyes. She knew that laugh. She knew that expression. She knew it. And he was dead. She hadn't known who killed him till now, but she wasn't worried about that. What she was worried about was how he had come back and why. What did he want with Liara and Rayne?24

She tried to reach out to Liara one last time. However, her power was limited in her Dragoness body and so she moved away from the others and transformed once more. She tried again, using every ounce of mind power she had.25

Meanwhile, Eyrion was staring at her again, but Rose was too occupied to feel his gaze. She had to contact Liara, if it was possible.26

While Rose was concentrating on Liara, in the back of her mind, she wondered if she had put on a good enough act to have people believing that she knew nothing of the man who had just appeared and disappeared with two of the group members. She hoped she had. She wasn't ready to be discriminated because of the secret she held if they found out what it was. She definitely couldn't afford to lose their trust. 27

Liara heard Rose calling for her in the distance, but she could not open her eyes to see where she was. She didn't dare, either, for she could feel HIS presence somewhere nearby. But then again, she could not give Rose any information if she did not. Liara gathered her strength to open her eyes just slightly, and found herself flying through the cold air on a black carpet of magic. Fortunately, she was facing in the direction they were going. Then, her body's strength was finished, and her eyes shut again. But it was enough. She gathered all her mind capacity to send a last telepathic message to Rose.28

Meanwhile, Rose stood, concentrating harder than she had in years, and caught a drift of Liara's voice in her head. It must be very far away, for the message was broken with a static of sorts. ‘... Taking me.... .... Mount Slas... ...ayne that th.. ... Door is .... Don’t try ... .. Must ...arak path.’ 29

Rose opened her eyes and looked up into the sky. She tranformed back into her Dragoness form and sat where she had stood. She closed her eyes, almost too tired to speak from so much energy she had used. She mustered the last of her strength to tell Eyrion, who, she noticed, was staring at her, about Liara's message.30

‘I telepathically reached Liara and tried to find out where she was. I got an image of a mountain and she said Mount Slas-something. She said something about a door and don't try to something. Probably don't try to follow. And something Arak path. That's all I caught...’31

After giving Eyrion the information, she lay down from her exhaustion and went into a deep sleep. 32

As rose slept peacefully, Vannolyn walked forth still healing from his wounds. Something had happened; Rose was reaching out to someone telepathically. He had remained silent for quite some time, but he had been silent long enough. Vannolyn was uncomfortable in the presence of others because for so many years he had traveled alone in the darkness, sharing nothing with no one except the pain of death with countless enemies.33

He did not feel close with this company of beings, but Rayne had requested his help. He would deny her the help that he had to offer, but still he felt out of place. His silence kept him apart from the others. Though Eyrion was an elf, a distant cousin in kinship, maybe one of his kind could be fully trusted without question.34

Vannolyn whispered, ‘What has transpired, what has happened to Liara?’35

Startling Eyrion she answered, ‘We have lost her, Rose was reaching out to her in her thoughts but only received bits of the message. I'm afraid she has been lost to us...’36

He replied dryly, ‘I could feel the psychic energy, it is my nature. Tell me what you know.’37

‘All I know is that she has been trapped in a distant mountain that goes by the name of Slas-something and that she is trapped behind a door I believe ... and then there was something about arak path -’ Eyrion explained38

‘What?!’ Vannolyn interrupted, and then continued in a hushed tone. ‘Listen to me closely this path you speak of leads to a home of one of the great Wraith Lords -’39

‘Whoa, what was that?’ Eyrion blurted out of astonishment.40

‘Let me finish.’ Vannolyn answered in a hushed but angered tone. ‘Understand this, she has entered a dark realm for which many do not return ... at least not alive. Gather the others as soon as possible so that I may share more. We haven't much time. Go now, quickly!’41

Eyrion left at once. The Dark elf had much to warn them about. For the land that they now sought to enter belonged to the evil spirits of this world. There was little hope for Liara, but he would not let her fall to such a demon. In a moments time Vannolyn was gone within the shadows, and Rose was left sleeping soundly. The next morning would hold dark prophecies for their journey ahead.42

The next morning, Rose awoke completely refreshed from her work yesterday and looked around. No one was in sight at that moment, but she didn't really care. She lay back on the grass and looked into the sky for a moment before closing her eyes. She wondered about the man who had taken Rayne and Liara. What had happened, why he was so interested in them, how the two had even met him.43

She opened her eyes and sat up. She would eventually find the answers to her questions, but was she willing to answer in return? She wasn't sure. It had been a long time and he may have changed so much from what she remembered. However, it still might be useful, though she was quarreling with herself about it. She sighed and fell back again. She closed her eyes and waited for the sound of others; Friend or foe. 44

Rayne could hear the echoing voices about her. They were quite dark and cold as they seemed to slither over her like so many oily slugs. Her eyes seemed too heavy to open and her arms too heavy to move. Her hearing, though, was getting quite good as she slowly grew more conscious of what was going on about her.45

‘She was not meant to be harmed...’ A voice like cheap china tinkled.46

‘It was not my intent,’ The familiar voice made Rayne cringe though her body would not respond.47

‘The Wolfic and child must recovery soon...’ the strange voice clattered again.48

‘I will see to it personally,’ he answered.49

Rayne felt her body lifted. She could feel the cold wisps of magic as it enveloped her. Fire seemed to burn through out her body. ‘Stop it!’ hissed another voice. It sounded like crackling fire.50

She tumbled back onto the bed almost instantly. One arm flopped off the side and hit the cold stone ground. ‘My lord,’ he squeaked, ‘I didn't know you had returned.’51

The newest voice grumbled in its strangely deep thunder, ‘If you heal this child you will kill her. Leave her be to me.’52

‘Yes, my lord, anything you say, my lord...’53

Rayne could heard a gust of wind and a door shudder as it was blown shut. The two voices spoke again, but they were hushed. ‘She may arouse any moment,’ tinkled the first.54

‘I will deal with them as I see fit,’ Rayne could feel her consciousness slipping again. She tried to concentrate as the dark voice whispered on, ‘They are the only....’55

Darkness enveloped her once again. 56

Rose awoke with a start. She had not planned on falling asleep again, but this had brought a vision. A vision where she had watched Rayne and to shadows talking about her. She sat up and then heard people approaching. She stood up and looked towards Eyrion and Vannolyn.57

When they were close enough, she told Eyrion what she had seen and waited for a reaction58

Eyrion was shocked by her motion so he just pondered in his head what she wanted from him. It couldn’t possibly be anything simple like food or if she wanted o talk to him alone. So he calmly walked to where she now stood and waited for her reply to him. 59

‘So, I told you about the vision...Rayne is definitely in trouble. I don't know about Liara. I never saw her...I hope that isn't a bad sign...’ Rose said, looking at the ground.60

After a moment, she raised her head. ‘You know, I've been feeling an air about you lately that's strange. You've been watching me an awful lot ever since I transformed. Is there a problem?’ 61

‘No, nothing is wrong.’ Eyrion grinned a dangerous grin. He picked his head up and sniffed the air... 62

Rose raised an eyebrow. She could tell that something was definitely up with him. She watched him for a while as he continued to seemingly sniff the air, his eyes closed. His blue hair was in his eyes and he stood perfectly still.63

Rose turned away and walked in the other direction. She would not let her petty little fancies get the best of her. She pushed down her feelings and walked over towards where Liara had been lying last and sat there. She could still feel her lingering presence and it calmed her for some reason. She drew her knees up under her chin and closed her eyes. What would she do if the group started to turn on her? She didn't want to kill them, but would she have any choice if they wanted to kill her? Then what would happen to the world, Rayne and Liara?64

Rose opened her eyes. She wondered why she felt such attachment to the wolfic. Maybe it was someone she longed to spend time with, as they were so much alike and could understand one another. She sighed. 'I should've never let her out of my sight...' she thought to herself. 'I should've known that he would take the weakest first...' 65

Liara slowly came around, with her head pounding like Chista drums. Her eyes seemed to be throbbing behind her eyelids, and they stung. She heard nothing except the crackling of a nearby fire, and some sort of cloth, maybe canvas from a tent, flapping in the breeze. She opened her mind, searching for others in the area without showing signs of being awake. The effort made her dizzy, like she had just drunk ten tons of red whine, but by concentrating, and ignoring the nauseating dizziness; she was able to find that there was no one around. At least, no one that was awake.66

Cautiously, she opened her eyes, and saw that she was lying outside on the ground, and it was dark out. The light from the fire, though it was small and weak, sent what felt like painful slivers into her eyes, making them moist with tears. Once again, she scanned what she could see of the area with her eyes, being careful not to move her body. Not seeing any sign of life, except for the fire and a large, canvas tent to her right, Liara lifted her head with considerable effort to gaze around at the campsite.67

She found that most of her energy had been drained out of her, and her head felt heavier than sixty horses. She herself was not tied down or confined in any way, but she could see why. She couldn't even gather enough strength to stand up, much less fly away. She found that she was toward the outskirts of some kind of castle, black and deathly as it was, and she was inside the castle walls, laying almost right up against the cold, grey stones. About twenty yards to her right was the large, black gate, and from her angle, she could see that the walls were probably several yards thick.68

Then suddenly a very familiar whiff of a smell came to her nostrils. Rayne? Could it be? She tried her memory, but could not find an explanation to why Rayne would be here without the others. In fact, Liara had no clue why she herself was here. The last thing she remembered was that she had been flying over the group, looking for Vannolyn. How long ago was that? Days? Weeks? She must have hit her head very hard not to remember. She felt sure that she had been captured, or kidnapped by someone, though who she could not remember. She thought she remembered a struggle with herself, and an impending danger, but it was so fuzzy and unreal that she felt like it was a dream.69

Then her strength ended. Her neck turned to jelly, and her head hit the ground with a quiet ‘Thuck’. She closed her eyes, and rested; though something about the strange place made her stay at least half awake. 70

‘I thought I heard arguing, is there a problem?’ Vannolyn said from out of the shadow of a towering oak. Rose and Eyrion looking startled.71

‘No, we were just ... talking ... about certain things.’ Rose replied is somewhat distant tone. It seemed that her mind was in a different place. Vannolyn nodded in a silent reply.72

‘Tell me all that you know, for there is much I have to tell you about what lies ahead.’ Vannolyn wasted no time with pleasantries.73

The three of them gathered about, Rose took a deep breath and began to share the whole extent of what she knew. 74

When she was finished telling them about her many visions and about the brief message Liara had sent her, she waited for one of them to speak. 75

Vannolyn was speechless, how could these things come to pass. The dark elf had seen many evil things in the many years that he traveled, but few things that had ever struck fear into his heart. What Rose spoke of made him go cold and he almost forgot to respond. He didn't know what to say. He looked over at Eyrion, seeing that he was just as speechless as he. It seemed as though this dragon-human held many things within that kept he and his distant kin in a state of wonder.76

‘It was just as I feared, if this is all that you know then I must warn you what lies ahead and what might come to pass...’ Vannolyn began in hushed tone.77

Rose and Eyrion listened closely, not worrying about where the others were at that very moment. Of course, Rose didn't really care all that much anyway, as she hardly knew any of them.78

Vannolyn continued from where he left off. ‘There have been legends of a great evil that would return to the earth from death and destroy that which gives this planet life, using two who are linked to it all. The legends do not say who they are, but according to your vision, Rose, I have a feeling that the Demon, the evil one who has risen from death, has taken Rayne and Liara, thinking that they are the ones linked to the tree of our planet's life. However, since you and Eyrion have been having visions of that place, with only the two of you there, I think you arethe ones linked to it. This means that the both of you most keep from getting captured at all costs. And I suppose we must save Rayne and Liara as well.’79

Rose thought this over quietly to herself. It all made sense, but she didn't think that the Demon was that stupid...She knew him better than any of them and she thought it might be because Rayne and Liara had defeated him so long ago and wanted revenge. However, she wasn't quite sure. It could be both her idea and Vannolyn's.80

Eyrion was silent through all of this. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, and yet he had to. It all made perfect sense. 81

Eyrion now moved and turned around not facing anything but the night. He smirked and the turned back around ‘Capture me!’ He laughed cockily. ‘Nothing could capture us’ He continued, ‘This is only one of those evils right? Or is the other here? Waiting for this one to die to attack when we are at our weekend point’ He asked, now he began to become worried. He worried that only one of the evils was waiting for them and if it was as strong as he is told that they will have trouble defeating it. 82

Rose narrowed her eyes. ‘Don't get too cocky. This Demon maybe a little smarter and more powerful that what you may think he is.’ She hoped that no one would catch on to her secrets by her saying that. 83

‘Know this now, there are three paths that we can take from here forth, it is up to you to choose which one you wish to take ...’ Vannolyn spoke in a hushed tone.84

It seemed that he was always speaking in such a way. It was a great mystery to them why he was so secretive. Always speaking in whispers, it was as if he was afraid some distant spirit was listening. Such cryptic actions left the group in a timid wonder. But despite his suspicious actions, they listened intently.85

‘One path is through the Forest of the Dead. The second is through The Dark Mountains or the evil Dragon clans that cause havoc on Humans even though a truce had been made...The other path is through The Misty Lands...It is up to the both of you to decide. After that, we should gather the others and head off come morning's light.’86

'We shall make way through the misty lands, and from there make our way to the dark mountains' Eyrion answered snappishly. The two of them looked at him shocked for his decision. 'You have got some serious issues with your anger' Vannolyn joked. 'I tried getting help but they all got a short drop and a sudden stop. Really a shame they were all good men' Eyrion smirked and then started to laugh... 87

Rose raised an eyebrow, but decided not to say anything. She thought he was acting quite cocky and she didn't like it. She wondered why he had suddenly changed attitudes. He seemed to have some kind of change that she felt she had to keep a watch to. It could make trouble. 88

'You look at me as if I were a murderer?' Eyrion stared deep into the eyes of Rose. 'I only kill what I must to survive. This life we live is full of choices, and being who I’m I choose the one most fitting for me. Killing is a way of life, for some people it comes easy to take some one's life, others need help' He explained to her with out blinking or moving any muscle. 'But we need not to celebrate the ability to kill every chance we get' Rose turned and walked away... 89

She walked a long time and didn't bother to look back. ‘And people call me the murderer? I didn't even accuse him of anything...He just outright admitted that he somewhat has the taste for blood. I'm a vampires, and not even I kill because of blood thirst...’ Rose closed her eyes and stopped. She heard footsteps behind her. From the feel of the cold, dark aura, she guessed that it was Vannolyn.90

She turned around and looked at him. She didn't know where they were. She had not paid attention to where she was going. She looked solemnly into the Dark Elf's eyes. ‘Any reason why you decided to follow me?’ 91

Constant rain splattered onto the cobblestone flooring. Rayne could hear it drumming in her ears. It echoed down the hallway that must be outside the doorway. Her wounds had healed strangely well. Like they had never happened, in fact. Her head was a little light, but nothing that a little water and time wouldn't heal. She stared about her for the umpteenth time.92

The room was about two, maybe three hundred cubic feet with a gigantic window for one wall and dull black marble for all the others. The cobblestone flooring was slate grey and the ceiling matched it as well. There were fresh rushes and dried spices strewn across the floor and the bed she was in was elegant to say the least. Everything was either black or dark grey. Even the strange gown she awoke in.93

Some how, Rayne knew exactly where she was, Trudoc Castle. The stronghold of many a dark spirit and warrior. Rayne didn't know why it was, but she knew exactly where she was. She felt like it was where she was always meant to be. It was strangely...home.94

Footsteps echoed outside the doorway. She turned to look, but frowned because she knew that she would not be able to see anyone with the thick iron door closed as it was. It startled her when it screeched open. Rayne stared for a long while. ‘...Mother????’ 95

Rose shook her head. ‘You've only the right to kill those who threaten you. That's what I believe. That, or for food, as I must. I didn't know some elves were so bloodthirsty. Even more so sometimes than vampires!’ her pointed teeth gleamed as she spat out the words.96

She suddenly felt somewhat alone, though she had no idea how the feeling had left her before. She thought she always felt alone, but for some reason, while she was with the others early on, she hadn't. Perhaps it had been Liara that had swept the feeling away.97

Rose looked at Vannolyn, her barrier of mistrust and survival completely covering her from those she dared to call allies. Maybe not admit it, but she had trusted them enough to let most of her guards down, which she now realized was a mistake. She could smell the new blood that would be spilt already. She wondered just how long it would be till they could finally move on and start on the quest of saving Rayne and Liara.98

‘I'm going to sleep for the night. Do whatever you want, but I'll warn you now, just in case you have any thoughts that might concern my well being. I am a very light sleeper. My ears pick up everything around me and you will not be able to take me down without a fight. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you. Just thought I'd let you know.’ 99

Liara heard the rain deep in the seeming abyss of her muddled mind several minutes before she awoke. Opening her eyes, she felt the earth tip beneath her, and watched as a dizzy world cavorted around her head. Eventually the mad dash stopped, and she found herself lying inside a canvas tent that barely covered her big body. She realized that her tail was hanging out the door, cold and wet, and immediately pulled it inside. She stared numbly at her beautiful pride of a tail, drenched and muddy, looking for all the world like something the cat dragged in.100

Suddenly she felt the burn in her throat. It had been there all along, but she just hadn't noticed it. Thirst. ‘Yes,’ she thought, ‘Dehydration was probably the source of my dizziness.’ She felt no pain elsewhere. With a little effort, she stood to her feet, knocking her head on the pole at the top of the tent, and crawled outside to drink up the sky.101

Consequently, Liara found herself surrounded by and handful of fearful-looking mercenaries pointing sharp spears at her belly. She glanced, unconcerned, at them, and then lifted her head, and opened her mouth to allow the rain to quench her thirst. When at last some of the parchment in her throat had left, she saw that most of the men had left, and that she stood without any chains or restrictions of any sort. Now she recognized where she was. Trudoc Castle. Her brain told her to get out immediately, but in her heart she felt almost comfortable to be here, drenched in the rain, in the very homeland of darkness.102

Then she remembered. She had smelt Rayne somewhere around here. Maybe she could find her... 103

She traveled around for a bit looking for Rayne. She had heard foot steps behind her the whole time. She took a turn down a long hall way and then quickly hid inside a door. Liara left the door open ajar and watched a shady character appear out side it. ‘Do you need help?’ It asked staring down the hall way. ‘Yes?’ She answered wondering how he knew where she was. ‘Come out then don't hide’ the man said turning towards the door. She creped out and then stood straight in front of the man. ‘Eyrion?’ She asked; the man had a cloak covering him she only saw his eyes. ‘Yes, let's try getting out of this maze’ He smiled uncovering his face. 104

Liara was shocked. How could Eyrion have gotten here? The last place she remembered them being was days from Trudoc castle. But, then again, anything could have happened between then and now. Liara didn't even have any idea how long it had been.105

‘But, wait, elf. We can't forget Rayne. I smelt her in here, somewhere. What if she's hurt? I need to find her.’106

‘Don't worry about her,’ Eyrion answered confidently. ‘She's being taken care of. We need to get out of here.’ 107

‘What do you mean she is being taken care of?’ Liara asked confused. ‘She was hurt I helped her, she is now out side waiting for us. Listen if we don't hurry we will die here. There is darkness even night it self is scared of in here.’ A shock shot Down Eyrion’s back as he rushed around the corner. 108

Liara smelt Eyrion's fear, and without having to search his mind, she knew that this surge of dread was not because of simply nothing. She still could not remember what it was to be afraid of, and she couldn't smell anything that was familiar to her, but she bounded after Eyrion, anyway.109

Together, they wound through the maze of stone tunnels which Liara had entered while tracking Rayne. Here, the walls were wide, and the ceiling tall, but it was still a tight space for the Wolvic. Finally, they bounded out of an open doorway, the dim light of dusk and rain-cloud covering the escape. It was not the same entrance that Liara had taken to get in, but she didn't care, for there in front of them stood Rayne.110

Liara purred with delight and relief, and bounded to greet Rayne. But something inside her made her stop. Something wasn't right. Rayne didn't smell like Rayne. Of course, it could be that the water that still cascaded from the sky had washed away the scent, but still... 111

‘Understand this now Rose,’ Vannolyn sighed very heavily. ‘I have lived a life in the shadows where killing is the way of life. It is not that I wish to kill, it has become my nature, what I was raised learning.’112

‘That still doesn't give you any right to kill at will!’ Rose yelled.113

‘Then help me vampires,’ Vannolyn replied softly and paused. ‘Help me... so that I may not be something you fear, and be someone you trust.’114

There was a long silence, and then Vannolyn broke the silence once more. ‘By the way... what is happening with Eyrion, my instincts tell me something is not right, something has changed within him.’115

Rose stood silent as the Dark Elf stared deep into her eyes to find the truth of what had become of the blue-haired elf. Rose sighed, it seemed as though she was about to speak. 116

She was quite speechless; unable to grasp that the Dark Elf wanted her help and Eyrion...She felt that he had turned for the worst. She looked at him silently for a moment.117

She closed her eyes and spoke her mind. ‘It seems that Eyrion has taken a turn for the worst. Like his heart was corrupted...You, on the other hand, have asked for my assistance, which quite surprises me. You are sure you are willing to trust someone you barely know? I understand the killing...I need to do it for survival, as I suppose you have as well. However, we have different reasons...I would never just kill...There's sometimes another way...I actually don't like killing that much since...things. Anyway, we will have to stick together in this and keep watch over the other members of the group.’118

She opened her eyes and looked into Vannolyn's eyes. She saw the hidden compassion deep in his heart. Perhaps tainted with betrayal and blood, but it was there and that meant that there was hope. ‘I will try to help you. Maybe we can both make up for the blood on our hands.’ 119

Eyrion sat on a stone now whistling and then paused ‘If you guys have seen what I have than you would like to kill. This future of ours only brings more blood shed. I didn't want to enjoy taking some one's life, but i saw what would happen if I had not killed. Fire would cover this land, and darkness would settle here’ He now continued to whistle a gentle tune that would calm their souls. 120

Rose and Vannolyn watched him for a while before they settled down to the night watch. They would not be able to move until dawn anyway. The night was coming swifter and evil grew in such times as these.121

Rose looked up as the raindrops tumbled from above. Even the dragons had disappeared from the skies. Perhaps that was an omen... Marin's loud and boisterous chatter echoed from where Eliane was trying to make a fire. The young child's legs were now a single fin and several fish-like qualities were slowly appearing. Perhaps Rayne's sister would help them in finding her. Rose smiled quietly as she followed both Eyrion and Vannolyn towards the others.122

A thought struck her just outside of the soggy huddle. What if, just perhaps, Eyrion's mood was somehow linked to Rayne's presence? He had seemed cheerful and somewhat more trustworthy whilst she was about...Rose shook her head, surely it couldn't be that! That would mean that Rayne had some sort of benevolent power in her. It would also mean that Rose hadn't sensed it in the beginning, and Rose didn't want to believe that... 123

She watched Eyrion closely, not knowing what to think. She had known the joys of killing and knew what it was like to have to kill for survival. However, she didn't want to become another spawn of evil. She didn't want to be heartless towards everyone and thing.124

That's why she learned from one of the only people who understood her completely. However, she was a long way from her former home and hadn't seen her friends in so long...Especially that one friend who had taught her so much.125

Rose wondered if saving Rayne would put Eyrion back in his right mind. She also wondered if her suspicions were correct about Rayne. If she was, then perhaps the world would not be lost. She pondered the entire night, sitting with Vannolyn on the watch.126

Her thoughts crossed to him as well. Did he feel the same as Eyrion or was he just a typical Dark Elf? Did he really desire her help? If so, for what reason? He had no reason to trust her, so why did he even ask. She took a glance at him and took in his appearance. Long white hair, dark clothing, slender and tall. As tall as maybe six feet or more.127

Rose rested her chin on her knees. 'I will not allow myself to grow infatuations for people...It is my only weakness besides the love I have for so few far away...' she thought to herself while staring into the fire.128

She wondered if Vannolyn could sense her thoughts. It wouldn't matter anyway. It would be quite hard to get through to her mind. Only special people with special skills could do so. Liara was one exception...So was two or three other friends. She had long grown stronger, so maybe only Liara and her best friend could do so now. In any case, it mattered not, unless they were to travel days towards a place that had nothing to do with what was going on. Her friend would not enter the story. They would not be traveling in the opposite direction.129

The night went on for many hours and whether or not Vannolyn noticed Rose's deep and troubled thoughts or not was unknown to the Dragoness. They sat in silence, waiting for anything that might come. The mere crackling of the fire was the only thing that broke the silence that night, until a scream was heard and fierce laughter of enjoyment... They rushed to where they heard the scream to find Rayne floating in the air and Eyrion on the ground. ‘You got me that time’ HE laughed and helped him self off the ground. Vannolyn walked to where his friend was standing, ‘You ok’ He asked concerned. ‘I will be fine’ Eyrion laughed. ‘She flew up behind me and grabbed onto my arm lifting me into the air’ He explained with a smirk still on his face. ‘Get some sleep you two’ Rose said quietly than walked into the dark. ‘She needs to get that checked’ a voice said form behind them. ‘Get what checked?’ Vannolyn asked the voice. ‘Her problems’ the voice answered back. They could now see a shadow that walked slowly into the fires light. It was their old friend Marin. ‘What are you doing here?’ Rayne asked confused.... 130

Rose herself was very confused as to what was going on and kept to herself. She was too preoccupied with her thoughts to even ponder on that, but she didn't believe that Rayne had escaped all by herself and she didn't know where that voice was coming from. She also didn't know about Eyrion. She stayed silent and watched131