The figure turned to face her. He held the picture of Rathine up to his face. "An excellent likeness, no?" He cast back his hood and regarded her with cold violet eyes. "I am Dremora Rathine. I believe that you were expecting me."
"You would be the one Imago Storm has sent to help?" asked Kriella.
"Indeed. And if you have read this journal you will know that Nyxalinth and myself were once quite … close."
"Yes, I read about your 'closeness'. Why you?"
A worried look briefly flashed on his face, but it was gone so quickly that Kriella would not have sworn that it had ever been there. "I do not know," he replied finally. "The Prince Regent simply sent me. Mine is not to reason why. I assume it is because I am one that the Shadow Walker can trust and I have been known to hold a certain rivalry with Emerald Vex, her captor. Now it is my turn to ask a question. Exactly who are you?"
Kriella made her own worried look at this. Should she tell a Daedra about the Dreadarmies? Could she tell a Daedra about them? If he already knew that they existed then the knowledge that she was a Dreadmaster would not help him to trust her but if she lied then he would probably recognise her uniform. If he did not, then the old adage that ignorance is bliss would be suitable. She took a deep breath.
"I am Kriella Khan. I met Nyx in some caverns close by where we defeated a Spider Daedra. Nyx told me of her problems and I agreed to help her kill Red and Blackie – I assume you know of them." She took his nod as an affirmative. "As I said, I helped her kill Red and Blackie and then Vex took her. I am currently waiting for my husband to return from his quest so that I can go and rescue her."
"Interesting. Made even more so by the fact that the two Spider Daedra that you know as Red and Blackie are not actually dead."
"What? They have returned from the Darkness already?"
Rathine put on a pained expression at the mention of the Darkness. "No. They were never there. At least not recently. As Vex took Nyxalinth, in the same way he substituted Red and Blackie for two other Daedra – magically disguised of course."
"Could you take us to Oblivion?"
"Yes, and no."
"Yes and no?"
"Mostly no. You see, I could take you to the lands of the Dremora, but Vex will have taken Nyx to his land – a part of Sanguine's realm. I cannot take you there."
"Then we must still await Tenaka."
"What can this mortal do?"
Kriella worried again. She clearly could not mention that Tenaka, and indeed herself, were not mortal. Such comments would make him curious as to why. She would also have to be very careful about her explanation of how to visit Oblivion. She wracked her mind for a way to visit Oblivion that would not involve his being the Dreadlord. But she could not think of one. She decided to risk telling the truth.
"Rathine, this must go no farther than these four walls."
"Of course."
"My husband is the Dreadlord. He has been given certain powers by the God, Ebonarm. One of these is to go to places he has seen before. He has been to all the realms of Oblivion in the past and thus can take us there."
Kriella watched Rathine closely. His thoughts flickered quickly on his face, none visible for long enough to fully understand. First was surprise – probably that any mortal could visit Oblivion. Next came disbelief and then satisfaction. Finally was curiosity.
"Well then, Kriella. Perhaps we should become better acquainted."
"In what way?"
"In any way you choose."
"Very well. But remember that I have a husband, and he is perfectly capable of killing you. Have I made myself clear?"
"Ah yes, my dear. Very clear."
"Please," said Rathine. "Allow me to purchase you a beverage." As he spoke, the Daedra waved over one of the serving girls. Before Kriella could object, he had ordered her a drink and pressed something that looked like money into the young girls palm. Kriella did not know whether or not it was money – she had been taught that Daedra could not be trusted but Rathine had shown her already that he was no ordinary Daedra – and she did not intend to ask. They had left Skudge in Kriella's room. Joel had been forced to clean up Nyx's and allow someone else to take it.
Kriella looked over and saw the man who had taken Nyx's room. He was quite tall and seemed to like wearing green. Kriella had thought it ironic at first that someone who liked green should take a room emptied by Emerald Vex, but had given it no further thought since. She was growing tired of waiting for Tenaka to return, and she could not go back to Geddon without learning where he was. She had never been possessed of much in the way of patience, and it was really starting to show. Skudge didn't seem to realise, but she was sure that Rathine had. He was simply too polite to mention it.
She had thought of many things that she could do. Her first idea had been to contact the Great Lord, but she discarded that quickly. She had considered going to the Mages Guild, but she remembered Nyx telling her that they had been unable to help. One by one, she had ideas and then discarded them. The only thing left was to await Tenaka, but where he was, she did not have the faintest idea.
"Don't you want your drink?" asked Rathine. As always, he was being the perfect gentleman, which only served to infuriate Kriella more. Ever since she walked from the Labyrinth with Tenaka, she had been taught that Daedra were evil, untrustworthy and generally unpleasant. Rathine was none of these things, or at least he seemed that way. She remembered the argument that had arisen between the Dremora and Skudge earlier. It seemed that Skudge remembered Nyx's encounter with Rathine none too fondly. In fact, he seemed very angry about what Rathine had made Nyx do. It had been quite funny to see the little scamp so irate. Eventually Kriella had had to quiet them.
"I am not in the mood," she replied. "I am going to my room. I need to laugh again. Skudge should be able to make me do that."
Rathine rose and held out his arm for Kriella to hold. The Dreadmaster smiled. She knew now that the Dremora had no romantic interest in her. He was simply trying to annoy her. She took his arm and allowed him to escort her to her room. As she was walking up the stairs, the thought occurred to her that before meeting Rathine, she would not have trusted a Daedra to escort her anywhere. But what with meeting Skudge who was perfectly harmless and Rathine who seemed almost noble, she was beginning to change her views.
She opened the door and walked in with Rathine. As she closed the door and locked it, Skudge emerged from the wardrobe. She threw a small piece of bread and cheese in his direction and he hungrily caught it and began to eat. He gave Kriella a big, toothy grin. As expected, she laughed.
"I hope you two can be civil today," she said.
"Civil! With a Scamp!" said Rathine. He sounded as if the very idea offended him, but he was still smiling. Kriella knew that he was joking, but she doubted that Skudge would.
"Civil!" replied Skudge. "Skudge not civil. Dremora horny bastard."
Kriella burst out laughing and Rathine smiled. Skudge, not realising that they were laughing at him joined in. Suddenly, they stopped as Kriella heard a knock at the door. Skudge ran to the wardrobe and Kriella waited until he was hidden before opening the door. Outside was the man who had taken Nyx's room.
"Yes," said Kriella.
"Hello," replied the man. "I found something in my room, and Joel said that it might have been Nyx's. He suggested that I give it to you."
"Oh. Come in."
The man came in and a worried look crossed his face when his gaze met Rathine's. It was almost recognition, but nothing passed the Dremora's features. Kriella was briefly surprised but then thought no more of it. How could the man know Rathine. Mortals were not usually in the habit of knowing Daedra personally. She turned her back on the man to close the door and then felt the tell tale signals of magic being used behind her.
"Kriella," shouted Skudge's high voice. "Look out!"
Kriella turned and saw a sight that almost made her faint. Where the man had stood only moments ago, there now stood a strange beast. It was a deep, blood red colour, with horns and a sharply pointed tail. As she stood, transfixed by the sight, Rathine leapt to his feet and, dipping his shoulder, charged into the back of the crimson fiend. It stumbled slightly, but soon regained its balance, throwing out an arm to send the Dremora to the other end of the room.
Kriella drew her dual Katanas and raised one of them to point at the monster. It smiled and walked towards her, slowly and deliberately. The Dreadmaster charged, twin blades slicing. The creature stood tall and attacked. Kriella knew there was no real hope of beating it alone but still she went slowly towards it, Katanas in hand. She lunged and slashed, but the creature beat back her every attack. Suddenly, she stepped back and delivered a stunning riposte, but still she could not breach the beast's defences. Rathine was still slumped in the corner. It must have hit him quite hard – she knew that the Dremora was not weak.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the wardrobe door slowly open. She looked over and saw the beast preparing to attack again, but instead of advancing, it seemed to be withdrawing. She watched it, curious now. As it reached the far wall, it flung its hands out before it and Kriella stood in surprise at the fireball that flew towards her. Moving quickly, she dodged it and turned so as to make the creature stand with its back to the wardrobe. She smiled and raised her swords again. The creature advanced and she saw the door open again. As the creature attacked, Skudge walked out of the wardrobe, holding his long, steel spear. As the creature prepared its attack, the little Scamp ran forward and impaled it on his spear. It straightened and then fell to the ground, ripping the weapon from Skudge's hands.
Kriella walked over to Rathine, sheathing her swords as she went. He was beginning to awaken and Kriella knelt beside him. "What was it?" she asked.
"Morphoid," he answered. "Another thing that Vex likes to use. He must be worried. Those things do not come cheap."
"So Emerald Vex is worried is he?" said Kriella. "Rightly so."
In the end, Vex had his way with me, as always. And as always, I thought and struggled until his skills and endurance won out over my sense of morality and self respect.
I slept for a short time, then awoke. I stretched gingerly, wincing a little. The Daedra lord had been quite vigorous, and my body showed it. In his own way, he had missed me, and he'd made up for lost time with great abandon.
I sat up and looked down at the Daedra lord lying next to me. His green hair was spread out over the bed in vivid contrast to the black silk sheets. He was gorgeous, immensely superb in bed, but he was evil. And he would never have me completely. Emerald Vex would pay, oh yes, but in the meantime, I would keep him amused, for my sake and Zerith's.
Vex wasn't sleeping. He was in a deep, meditative trance that Daedra entered to regain lost energies. If I'd had a suitable weapon, I could've slain him, for Daedra were at their most vulnerable in this state. The fact that he could lay there so peacefully next to me was meant to mock my helplessness against him.
'If Kriella and her husband are on the way, now would be the perfect time,' I thought wryly. 'He's far more powerful than she--or anyone--gives him credit for.'
I knew about the Morphoid Daedra Vex had sent. He'd sent the thing merely to test out his foes, and they had beaten it. Next time, he would send a frost or fire Daedra...or worse. What I had found out only recently, and what Kriella didn't know, was that Emerald Vex was no mere Lord, but a Daedra Count, the worst of a nasty lot.
Sighing, I climbed out of bed. There was no going back to sleep for me now. I wanted a bath, and to relax. I picked up one of the sheets that had fallen to the floor during our--ahem--activities and wrapped it around myself.
As I bathed, I thought about what had happened back at Battlespire. 'Gods help me if Vex finds out about my tryst with Rathine,' I thought. 'I can't even begin to imagine what would happen to me.' Emerald Vex often gleefully gave me to Red and Blackie, either to punish me or to reward them. He'd even let me see Zerith on occasion. But Rathine was an old rival, and knowing that he'd had me wouldn't sit well with Emerald Vex. I shuddered in spite of the warm water.
I'd had my reasons for sleeping with the Dremora, and it wasn't because of his striking good looks--which he had in abundance--or for personal gain. I'd done it to save Skudge, whom Rathine had captured, and to gain one of the cogs I needed. It wasn't like I'd had a choice--Rathine had knocked me unconscious and rendered me helpless.
Not that the tryst had been entirely unpleasant.
And Rathine had kept his word. After Mara only knew how many hours, the Dremora gave me Skudge (whole and well, and ornery as ever), a pat on the rump, and the cog I needed.
I missed Skudge terribly, though. "Zerith would like Skudge, I think."
"Indeed? You can tell Zerith all about your little adventures at Battlespire at dinner."
Startled, I looked up to see Emerald Vex. He'd gotten dressed, and was wearing a king's ransom in finery and jewels.
"Come, it's time to dress, my dear." He looked me over, his emerald eyes darkening with desire. "Though if you wish to dine naked I'll not object."
Blushing, I got out of the pool. I dressed in the garments I was given--an incredibly gorgeous robe of royal blue cut velvet. Vex draped a diamond and sapphire necklace, earrings, and bracelet on me. The earrings alone could probably feed a family for three years. And it was all going with me when I left.
"You look beautiful," he told me in that husky purr I knew so well. "Now to dinner, and a great event."
My blood turned to frost. "What event?"
The Daedra Lord--Count--smiled cruelly. "You will be soul bonded to me this night. I know what your friends have planned, you see. And once we are soul bound, there will be no escape for you. If I die, you die as well."
"Kriella! Come quick!" shouted a voice.
The Dreadmaster turned away from Joel and saw Skudge running down the stairs towards her. She sighed. Ever since the battle with the Morphoid, the little Scamp had decided that he would not stay hidden. He had taken the credit for killing the thing, and now felt that he could do anything. Nobody currently in the Porcupine recognised him as a Daedra – the regular set of adventurers were apparently out saving the world somewhere – and so it had not been too difficult to persuade people that Skudge was as mortal as they were. She didn't know what they thought he was, but as long as they did not know the truth, ignorance was probably bliss.
"What is it?" she asked when his little legs had carried him over to her.
"Rathine! Something wrong with Rathine!" the Scamp replied. Kriella made her goodbyes to Joel and followed Skudge back up to her room. She had only gone down for a few minutes to apologise to Joel for emptying the room again, and already there was trouble. Daedra! You couldn't leave them alone for a few minutes. At least they had refrained from killing each other.
When she entered her room she saw that Skudge was right. There was clearly something wrong with Rathine. The Dremora was sitting on his bed, simply staring at the wall before him. Kriella approached him and noticed that his breathing was shallow and his eyes did not follow her movements. She raised his arm and let it fall again – no resistance. She had no idea what was wrong with him. And therein lay the main problem. It was probably something inherent to Daedra that afflicted him, and she could not simply go out and find a Daedra Doctor.
Just as she was considering what to do about this dilemma, the Dremora suddenly shuddered and turned around to look at her. "Hello," he said simply.
Kriella opened her mouth to answer but Skudge beat her to it. "What happen? What happen?" he shouted.
Rathine ignored the Scamp and answered Kriella's unasked question. "I was merely in a trance," he replied. "My Prince, Imago Storm desired to speak with me and so I entered the trance so that he could do."
"What did he tell you?" Kriella asked.
"There is good news and bad news."
"Give me the bad news."
"We have a new problem. Tonight, Vex intends to Soul Bond with Nyxalinth."
"And this is bad?"
"This is very bad. If he goes through with this, killing him will also result in Nyx's death." It was a sign of his worry that he did not use Nyx's full name.
"So what is the good news?"
"We have a solution."
"And that is?"
"This." Rathine held out his fist and then opened his hand. In it lay a deep green soul gem. It slowly pulsed with a soft green glow.
"A Soul Gem?"
"Hours of fun for all the family. The possibilities are limitless."
"For example?"
"There are two main possibilities in our current dilemma. We can either Trap Vex, or we can Trap Nyx, thus protecting her whilst we kill Vex."
"And which do you recommend?"
"Personally, I would quite like to kill Vex."
"Trap Nyx then?"
"Yes. It would be a simple matter to release her. This Gem is made so that the soul is released when it is broken – not destroyed."
"Making it easy to release Vex too?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"So which do we do?"
"I leave that decision, my dear, to you."
(Nyxalinth)
"What are you thinking, sweetness?" Emerald Vex asked me as he escorted me to dinner.
I studied his beautiful profile through narrowed eyes. 'I'm thinking of how much I'd love to cut out your black heart with a wooden knife and sell it to an alchemist! I'd trade my victory over Mehrunes Dagon in Battlespire for your death and my freedom!' But of course, I said none of those things. I only said, "I'm looking forward to seeing Zerith again, my lord. I trust he is well?"
The Daedra Count looked momentarily...vexed, but he only smiled. "He is well enough. I assure you that nothing will change. You will still be permitted to see him now and again as a reward for proper conduct, even after our bonding." His emerald gaze slid over me. "And should you misbehave..."
"Red and Blackie will deal with me."
He smiled cruelly. "Just so, my lady. You must admit that it is a most effective deterrent."
I nodded stiffly. "It is, my lord Vex." In fact, I might not have hated him so fiercely had he not allowed the two spider Daedra to indulge in their lust for me, a lust I didn't fully understand. Even now, garbed in the finest clothing and jewels, I saw myself as little more than average looking. I was far from beautiful, and yet all three Daedra seemed to desire no other.
Emerald Vex opened the door to the dining room for me, then stood aside so that I might enter.
Zerith sat in a chair to the right of an ornate, darkly beautiful seat that was more throne than chair. Seeing me, he stood and stared as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
And oh, gods, he was so beautiful.
His coppery auburn hair was loose and wavy against his shoulders. His sleeveless robes were deepest violet, a vivid contrast to his hair and dusky skin. The dark elf was as festooned with jewellery as I was, though his was purple sapphires set in red gold.
"Nyx," he breathed, awed. "Oh gods! My love!"
And then we were in each other's arms, kissing over and over. The sapphire and diamond pins fell out and clattered to the floor, and I didn't care at all. Tears of joy poured down my face and the dark elf held me so tightly I feared my ribs would break. I didn't care. "It's me, Zerith," I told him, gently stroking his cheek. "I came back for you."
"That will be quite enough."
I turned, expecting to see Emerald Vex. I gasped to see Red and Blackie leering at me--at us.
Blackie nudged his brother. "The wench never kisses us like that, does she, Red?" He pretended to pout.
"No she doesn't, my brother. We have to keep at her for a while to get response." He smiled cruelly. Red, as ever, was the more sadistic of the pair, and didn't limit himself to physical cruelty. Blackie was the more aggressive and dominant brother. Red's smile widened. "And we always do."
"What are you doing here?" I demanded. Zerith's arms tightened protectively around me. I was grateful for his concern, but I knew how to deal with these bastards.
Blackie tossed back his mane of night black hair, a wicked little smile on his face. As always, I marvelled at their striking looks. Nature--and the supernatural--could be quite perverse in handing out beauty, and many spider Daedra had good looks in abundance--provided you ignored the spider bodies. "We're guests, of course," he told me. "Lord Vex wished us to be present at the bonding." His deep blue eyes took me in. "I wouldn't mind being bonded to you myself. Of course, you'd be bonded to Red, too, since we share everything."
"Keep dreaming, spider boy!"
Emerald Vex laughed. "Your long absence has not dulled your sharp tongue," he noted wryly. He gently but firmly pulled me away from Zerith. My soul cried out, but I refused to let him see my pain.
As for the dark elf, he struggled to keep from glaring at Vex and failed. The Daedra count returned his stare. "Sit down, pet. I will tolerate no nonsense from you." His tone was silken soft, always a dangerous sign. "Unless, of course, you'd enjoy being corrected." His eyes moved to Red and Blackie.
Zerith turned a trifle pale. "Of course not, my lord." He sat down, yet the glare was still in his eyes.
I was only mildly surprised by Vex's threat. I knew of his...unusual proclivities. As to Red and Blackie, half-bloods or no, they were, after all, spider Daedra.
The Daedra count pulled out my chair for me. "Do sit down, my dear Nyxalinth." When he made certain that I was seated, he took the seat at the head of the table.
Red and Blackie took a position behind their lord. Emerald Vex made an idle gesture, and Morphoid Daedra dressed as servants--six in all--came to serve the meal.
The two spider Daedra enjoyed leering at me over their lord's broad shoulders, making it difficult for me to eat any of the wonderful food before me. Finally, I put my fork down. "Must you keep staring at me?" I demanded. "Don't you two have your own dinner to eat?"
"We ate earlier," Red explained with a wicked grin. "We just enjoy looking at our dessert."
Blackie chuckled. "You wouldn't want to see us having dinner." He licked his fangs. It occurred to me that their venom served a purpose other than immobilising playmates for their amorous pursuits.
They used it to feed, as well.
I shuddered and turned back to my dinner. I'd quite lost my appetite, but Vex would be annoyed if I didn't eat. "I don't want to see either of you at any time," I shot back.
They only laughed. Emerald Vex smiled. Zerith grinned, pleased by my wit. I gently toed him under the table with one gilt-sandled foot, a gesture he returned.
"Mouthy minx, aren't we?" Blackie asked. He grinned wickedly. "I know how to shut that mouth."
"So do I," Red leered. "But then we wouldn't hear her say--"
"Enough," Vex said mildly. "This is neither the time nor the place. Besides, I'm sure we're all very well acquainted with what the lady says while in passion's embrace."
I wanted to die right there and then. I settled for imagining the battle that would ensue when my friends caught up with me. 'Too bad a Daedra's entire body vanishes when killed,' I thought. "I'd love to put all their heads on pikes!'
Zerith toed me under the table again, and I smiled, glad to know someone loved me, and didn't merely lust to possess me.
At last dinner was over. I trembled madly, for I knew what was next. Zerith saw my terror and turned to Emerald Vex. "Please, my lord. If you have to punish someone for Nyx's escape, punish me. It was my fault." His eyes pleaded with words he was too proud to speak.
Emerald Vex shook his head. "Bonding myself with Nyxalinth is hardly a punishment." He took my hand and kissed it. "It is an honour for her, for I have quite fallen in love with the minx."