(Nyxalinth)
"I'm dead."
My voice echoed strangely in my ears. It was if I were speaking from the bottom of a deep, dry well.
Could the dead speak? Apparently they could. Then I became aware of a most delightful sensation. Someone was covering my throat and cleavage with light, warm kisses. 'Apparently, the dead can feel as well,' I thought with a grin.
Occasionally the kisses were accompanied by sharp teeth gently scraping my flesh, sending shivers all through me. The combined sensations were maddening!
I groaned softly, revelling in the pleasure being given me. "I've died and gone to Paradise," I sighed. "Whoever you are, keep going!"
Warm breath caressed my ear, raising Goosebumps all over. "Our pleasure, lovey!"
I gasped in horror, my eyes flew open at the sound of that all too familiar voice. "You!" I screamed upon seeing Red and Blackie on either side of me.
I tried to sit up, but they'd bound me in their webbing. I was helpless to their whims...and very naked. "why are you here?" I cried. "I'm inside a soul gem! I know, because I Rathine told me!" I'd heard his words to me--I'd been unconscious, but I'd heard it all. The ritual to secure my soul, the death screams of Red and Blackie. "You were cast into the Darkness!" I cried, struggling all the more. It amused them greatly.
Red caressed my lips with one long finger. My mind immediately went somewhere with the idea of the crimson-haired spider Daedra's fingers--and other parts--but I pounced on that and killed it. "I always did enjoy watching you squirm in our webbing." He stroked his lips with his tongue. "It makes you bounce in a most interesting way!" Both brothers laughed.
I spat in Red's smug face. "Vile bastards!" I snarled. "Helspawn! Leave me alone!"
Blackie favoured me with a stinging slap. "Shut up," he growled. "You're in plenty of trouble already, lovey." He grinned wickedly. "To answer your question, though, you are not in a Soul Gem."
I grinned mirthlessly around the tears of pain stinging my eyes. "Oh. I see. Then where, pray tell, am I?"
He leaned in close, so close our noses nearly touched. "You, my beauty, are in the Darkness."
I laughed. "Yes, of course. Well, that would explain why it looks like a foggy night in Vanshire around here." Which it did. "But you're lying and you both know it!"
Red began to leisurely fondle my breasts. I bit my lip, holding back a soft moan. Damn, even in death, they were talented! Blackie moved to stand between my outspread legs. Smiling wickedly, he stroked my inner thigh before kissing it.
"Hardly," Red whispered. "This is the Darkness. You are here, with us. And you know why."
Yes, I did know why! But I could hardly tell them the truth of my nature! "I have no idea-" I gasped suddenly. Their hands felt so very good... "What you are talking about."
"Yes, you do," Blackie taunted. "We suspected, as did Lord Vex, for a long time. And now we know for sure. It's what makes you so afraid of us, and this." Slowly he ran his tongue--warm and silken--from my knee to my hip. I shuddered, barely restraining a cry.
Red laughed softly. His fingers teased lightly at my nipples until I moaned. "You're afraid that if you gave yourself willingly, you would cease to be human...that your other half would come out. Let it."
Blackie's hand cupped the heat between my legs. I groaned, and he said, "Who wants to be half human anyway? Be who you are, lovey." His fingers teased me.
"I can't be--any more--Elven...than I am," I gasped out. They laughed harshly. Red leaned down into my face, purring, "Drop the charade, lovey. We know what you are. Your mother was human, yes..."
Blackie kept teasing me, lightly, slowly. "...but your father is--"
"Let the lady go, boys."
As one we turned to face the speaker. At first I took him to be an exotically handsome dark elf. His long hair was thick and silver-white against the deep midnight blue of his skin. His eyes were lambent orange. They narrowed dangerously as he eyed my tormentors. He wore Daedric armour that had been battered and scorched in battle, perhaps. A Daedric Dai-Katana was strapped to his broad back.
My first thought was that mayhap this was Balefire himself. I'd never seen the dark elf Warmage, but my imagination is great. Then I saw the small, black horns above each eyebrow.
A Daedra Lord.
From his colouring and demeanour, I knew him to be of Shade Perilous. He grinned wolfishly, exposing sharp teeth of his own. "Back off. Now." Still grinning, he drew the massive blade.
Red laughed. Blackie joined him. "You can't kill us," he hissed. "We're already dead, you idiot!"
The Lord laughed. "So you are. But that doesn't mean you can't feel pain, much as you inflict pleasure on the lady against her will."
That did it. Red backed up several steps. Blackie removed his fingers and did likewise. I could tell he wanted to taste them, but didn't dare. The massive Lord had him cowed.
"Very good. Now I trust that you won't object to me freeing the lady."
"N-not at all, M'lord," Blackie whispered.
The Lord spoke a single word of Magicka, dispelling my bonds. I cried out, startled, but he caught me. I looked into his face...he really was quite handsome, but I felt no draw to him. Something, some deep, primordial instinct perhaps, would not allow it.
Gently he set me upon my feet. He whipped off his battle-ragged cloak and wrapped it around me. "Are you all right?"
"As well as I can be."
He nodded, then glowered at Red and Blackie. "Get thee out of earshot. I would speak with her alone." They did as they were told.
The Lord studied me for a long time. I met his gaze boldly. Finally, he smiled. this time, it was a smile of genuine warmth.
And pride.
"Your mother...would have been very proud of you. I know for certain that I am."
I gasped, eyes wide. "Oh...dear gods...you--you are..." I swallowed back the tears. I'd waited so long for this, ever since my parents...my *adoptive* parents, had told me who and what I was. "You are Shal'ir Kamaya."
He nodded, still smiling. "And know you what I am?"
I nodded. Joy, confusion, so many other emotions warred within.
"My father..."
Kriella, Rathine, Lishara and the army of Morphoids had returned to the castle as inconspicuously as an army can do. Kriella had been loath to create a Window for simple a task for, even though time was running out, if Vex should notice that they could open them again, he would undoubtedly put a stop to it - and they were a resource she did not want to lose. They had just entered the corridor, along which she had last seen the other group go. Kriella was leading, followed by Lishara, followed by Rathine, followed by the Morphoids. Kriella had momentarily considered sending Rathine back to help protect Nyx, but if Lishara decided to turn on her, she could not guarantee that she could defeat so many Morphoids by herself.
Suddenly, Kriella turned at hearing a noise from behind her. It seemed that a number of the Morphoids were holding Rathine and Lishara was searching him. Realisation struck suddenly. Kriella now knew why Lishara had agreed to join them. She did not want to destroy Vex - she had been instructed to retrieve the Soul Gem - and Nyx's soul with it!
It was at this moment that Lishara found what she was looking for. She held her hand up, triumphantly, and in her fist could be seen the green glow of the Emerald. The Morphoids were still holding Rathine in their grasp, and Kriella was struck with sudden indecision. Should she get Lishara and the gem, knowing that the Morphoids could kill Rathine as soon as she did, or should she save him, and worry about the gem later? She knew what Rathine would say, but she doubted that Nyx would want the death of a friend, even Rathine, on her behalf.
This indecision caused her choice. While she considered her options, Lishara ran at her and nimbly dodged aside to run down the corridor. She telepathically alerted Tenaka to what had occurred and then looked at saving Rathine - but he was no longer in danger. The Morphoids had been abandoned by their leader and were struck with indecision of their own. Rathine was easily able to break free. Kriella saw the look in his face briefly before he began to chase Lishara - it was a look of fury and a desire for revenge. Kriella glanced at the army of Morphoids, who know seemed to be fighting amongst themselves for the privilege of leading, and chased after Rathine. Lishara would be sorry if Rathine did not kill her.
***
Tenaka received the silent message from Kriella and glanced behind him. There was no sign of the Daedra yet, but that would probably soon change. He was about to inform the others of what was going on when the air shimmered before them, and the image of Vex appeared again. He silently called out to Kriella that she would have to handle Lishara herself.
The image of Vex looked over the three Dark Elves and the Scamp with a smile on his face. "I must congratulate you," he said. "You really are doing splendidly. It really is a shame that I must kill you. But that is not yet. For the moment, there are just a few things that I would like you to know."
The image looked at Zerith with a look of disgust on his face: "Why are you even bothering? And why do you others persist in this? You claim to love Nyxalinth, but you can't keep yourself in your pants to save your life. It will be your undoing, and do you think they will want to help if they knew how much she enjoys my company? Or Red and Blackie's for that matter."
The Daedra Count next turned his gaze to Balefire: "Don't tell me you're here to rescue a fair damsel out of the goodness of your heart. I will never understand why a man with a perfectly lovely woman keeps adding to his little Harem. Which brings me to Mea. How a woman who spends so much time on her back or her knees finds any time to serve her god is beyond me. And you want to add my Nyxalinth to that little group. Too bad you'll never know the pleasure of swithing her yourself."
The grim Warmage's expression changed not a whit, but a perceptive observer could have seen his nostrils widening in anger and his knuckles whitening as he gripped his claymore's well-worn hilt.
Emerald Vex turned his gaze to Tenaka: "And here we have the other Ebonheart brother, Dreadlord Khan. Your wife is also very beautiful, Dreadlord. I can think of any number of bordellos that would enjoy having Dreadmaster Kriella Khan as their star attraction--after I enjoy her myself, of course."
Balefire resisted the impulse to shift his gaze from the image of Vex to his brother, but his iron control failed to prevent the muscles in his jaw from tightening. His crimson eyes narrowed, and his visage began to resemble the last thing the sheep sees before it is taken by the wolf.
Finally, he allowed his gaze to float over all three of them. "She belongs here with me, you know," he said, tauntingly. "I mean, you do realise what she is, don't you?" The two Ebonheart brothers assumed a look of misunderstanding, but Zerith looked suddenly shocked. "Ah, Zerith," responded Vex. "I see that you do. Perhaps you should explain to your friends."
The three men were almost brimming over with anger, but all realised that there was nothing they could do against the image. Vex gave a final piercing laugh and vanished.
***
Kriella received the message with a feeling of dread. She wasn't sure whether or not they could catch up to Lishara. Then she had an idea. She ran as fast as she could, relieved with the realisation that she did not need to catch her - only get within sight range of her.
The two of them rounded a corner and there she was - only a few feet ahead. Kriella concentrated on the place just before Lishara and the location directly behind herself. As she ran, she opened the Window and saw one half of it open in front of the Daedra, sure in the knowledge that the other half had opened behind her. Lishara was going too quickly to stop and she flew into the Window.
Kriella turned and stopped, just in time to see Lishara run out of the Window behind her. She left it open and a few moments later, Rathine emerged behind her. Still she left the Windows open. Even if Lishara managed to get past one of them, she could not leave this corridor. Rathine grabbed her from behind, and Kriella searched her, finally relieving her of the Soul Gem.
Lishara looked at the Dreadmaster with venom in her eyes. "Lishara," said Kriella. "We need to talk."
Tenaka remained silent, but gave a slight start as his sharp hearing picked up a most unusual sound nearby. Darting a glance at his brother, he realized that the scarred mercenary was grinding his teeth together. Astonished, he started to speak. "Balefire..."
The horrid sound stopped as quickly as it had started, and Tenaka nearly recoiled from the look of unholy glee suddenly suffusing his brother's scarred face. He looked at none of his companions, but gazed down the corridor, a predatory longing in his bloodred eyes that was not good to see.
"I care not for yon fool's comments any more than I have interest in starting a harem. Friends, lovers, foes...I would have all live free, as I do myself, and die free if it comes to that." Balefire's rasping growl was a whetstone in the silence, sliding over his steely tones. "His taunts prove him desperate, as well he might be. Zerith," he raised his voice a trifle, but continued to look at something none of the others could see, "I need no explanation. I suspect I know what Vex meant, and it matters as little as the rest of his empty mouthing. Our talkative enemy has made a bad tactical error, for he has underestimated my command of the Art, perhaps thinking himself unassailable in his own castle. As his image talked, I cast a spell...a simple spell, to trace the origin of a projected illusion,
but it shall contribute to his undoing. I now know *exactly* where Vex can be found. 'Tis not far, and his doom is come upon him. Come, let us end this."
He raised his sword as he started away, and the light glinted keenly from the blade, the color of fresh-spilt blood.
"Hold a moment, friends."
"What is it, Zerith? Is there another trap?" Tenaka asked him.
"If so, Skudge turn off again!"
Zerith smiled a little at the scamp, but his expression became serious once more. "What you may have surmised from Vex's not so subtle
inference is true," Zerith said with a sigh. "Nyxalinth ...well..."
Tenaka laid a gauntleted hand on the erstwhile mage-scholar's shoulder. "You need not explain. I am sure my brother will agree--a person's actions mean more than her bloodlines." Balefire nodded in agreement.
Zerith sighed. "Thank you. But I know Nyx well enough to know that she'd want the truth known. Nyx's true parents were a Shadow Walker named Kylea Starblade, and one of Nocturnal's highest lieutenants, Shal'ir Kamaya, a Daedra Lord. It was a great love, something almost unheard of between mortal and Daedra."
'Obviously he hasn't seen the look in Rathine's eyes when he speaks of Nyx,' Tenaka thought, but said nothing.
"Nyx was the obvious result. A few months after she was born, Shade Perilous went to war with Mephala's Daedra--the Night Mistress and theWeb Spinner have been mortal enemies for eons. Nyx's parents were slain in battle. "Nocturnal felt that Shade Perilous was no place for a baby, even a half Daedric one. So she searched far and wide until she found a couple who could have no children of their own, a couple she knew would be open minded enough to love the child, but strong willed enough to raise her properly. And so Nyx was placed with the High Elf Archmage Kellis De'Vries, and his wife, a Nord bard named Jagarda Eriksdottir. And as far as I am concerned...they did a fine job of it."
"So Nyx is half-Daedra. I suspected as much. And it is a matter of utter indifference to me." Balefire's wrath was evident in his expression, in his voice, in his very way of standing. "We will soon see how well Vex speaks taunts from a new mouth. A red one which I shall give him, where his throat used to be. Let us go, and quickly. I would not keep him waiting any longer." The blueblack flaming nimbus surrounding the Sword of the Dawn vied with the molten glow in
the Warmage's eyes as he turned away and strode off.
'I never knew how cold brown eyes could be until now,' Kriella thought as she stared at Lishara.
The female Daedra looked boldly back. She said, "We have nothing to discuss, Dreadmaster Khan."
"You are wrong," Rathine said softly, though his voice was menacing. "We have a great deal to discuss with you."
"Lord Vex has sent me to retrieve the gem you stole from him," she growled. "And I will! He has promised me--he has promised me much," she finished, glaring at them defiantly.
Rathine's voice was surprisingly gentle as he said, "Emerald Vex is using you, Lishara. Think about it. You are not a stupid female, I think, but you allow your feelings for him to cloud your judgement."
Lishara bit at one pouty lip as she considered. "It is not possible," she said stubbornly.
"Think, Lishara," Kriella coaxed. "Nyxalinth is not only his consort, she is soul bound to him. You could destroy the gem, of course...but then, he would hardly be pleased."
"But you will kill him," she said softly. She considered this a moment.
"Rathine jumped in saying, "Yes. He will die. But we will remove Nyx from this realm. And when he does return, Nyx will be too old to hold his interest--possibly even long dead." 'But if what I suspect of Nyx's true nature is correct, the there is little chance of either. But Lishara doesn't need to know that.'
The dark haired Daedra pondered this. at last she said, "very well. I take your point. But I want your word that you will get that worthless bitch out of my hair!" Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. "But if I act against Vex...then his wrath fall upon me!"
Kriella knew exactly what to say. Lishara wasn't stupid, but she wasn't very bright either, and she was easily led by the promise of sensual pleasures. Smiling a trifle wickedly, she murmured, "Could that be such an awful thing? From what my friend Nyxalinth has told me, Vex's wrath is less to be feared than... anticipated."
Lishara smiled, her eyes glazed a little as she considered it. Ah, the possibilities...Her smile turned cruel. "He is as adept at giving pain as he is pleasure." The smile widened. "I do hope your precious Nyxalinth has known both from him," she taunted Rathine.
Rathine glared at her viciously, but said nothing. Kriella, her mouth in a grim line, held out a gauntleted hand. "Then we are agreed?"
Lishara placed her hand atop Kriella's. "Yes. Let it be known that I give my word before all the Great Powers. I swear on my soul's name."
Rathine's brows rose. That was a great oath, indeed. He placed his hand atop Lishara's. "So mote it be!"
Lishara nodded. "I will rally my Morphoids, and we will be ready." She stalked off. Rathine and Kriella walked a few paces behind; close enough to keep
an eye on her, but far enough to keep out of earshot.
"Do you trust her?" Kriella asked the Dremora.
"Barely. She swore a major oath, but I am still uncertain."
Kriella nodded. Rathine went on. "Nyxalinth told me a story back at Battlespire to illustrate why she didn't fully trust Clan Dremora."
"Tell me," Kriella said, keeping an eye on Lishara.
"It was about an otter and a scorpion. The scorpion was on a riverbank, and he wished to cross. But of course, he could not swim.
"A short time later, he found an otter playing on the riverbank. He asked her if she would carry him on her back to the other side.
"'Of course not!' cried the otter. 'If I get anywhere near you, you'll sting me!'"
"The scorpion said, 'Don't fear me, for I know better. If I sting you, we'd both drown!' The otter considered this and at last agreed. The scorpion climbed onto her back, and she began to swim.
"They had almost made it all the way across when the scorpion stung the otter. Before they both drowned the otter cried, 'You promised!'
And the scorpion said, "I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. It's my nature.'"
Kriella nodded once more. "I agree, we must be careful, but not overly so, lest we make it self-fulfilling. I can only hope that you're wrong."
"As can I."
(Zerith)
I gave only the briefest glance to the doors Balefire was admiring. They were far too ornate for my simple tastes--as far as I cared, they were his. Even so, My gaze was drawn back to the erotic tableau upon them again and again.
"What manner of beast carries such huge quantities of ivory, think you?" The Warmage asked. Had I the mood, I would have gladly told him--though my profession seemed to be changing, I was still a scholar. But this wasn't the time or place for lectures in offworld biology.
The doors swung open just as Balefire was prepared to smash them open. I knew Vex well enough to agree with the Warmage's statement--the Daedra Count did indeed wish to keep his treasures unharmed. Skudge and I followed the Warmage and the Dreadlord into the throne room.
I wasn't at all surprised by Vex's use of varying shades of green coupled with black. Nor was I surprised by the erotic art adorning the chamber--even a frankly obscene mosaic along one wall portraying spider Daedra romping with voluptuous nymphs. 'There's a match made in Paradise,' I thought wryly. 'The two horniest creatures on the face of Tamriel.' Nor was I at all amazed by the silken, abstract tapestries woven by Red and Blackie. They were abstract until viewed on the oblique; doing so showed the viewer any number of sensual images.
What did shock and surprise me was an exquisite statue wrought of emerald matrix. It was nearly life sized and incredibly detailed.
It was almost like staring right at my Ki'Raith.
The true surprise was in how tastefully executed it was. The sculpture portrayed Nyxalinth nude, yes, but a flowing carved sheet draped her, showing only a curve of her breast and a rounded section of hip. She lay partially on her side--she was sleeping, her eyes closed, a small smile on her face.
I stared in awe. Emerald Vex usually hoarded any and all emeralds for his personal use in jewellery or decorations on his clothing. The fact that he had consigned such a huge--and flawless--piece of emerald matrix to a single work of magnificent art, and that it portrayed her in such an innocent air--was mute testimony to how much he loved her.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the coming conflict. It would prove even more difficult than any of us had guessed--I knew that now.
"Greetings Vex," boomed Balefire as we approached the throne. "We bring you a gift. The gift of Death!"
(Emerald Vex)
Smiling, I arched a brow at the approaching heroes. "My, how very generous of you!" I purred, giving my most dazzling smile. A small shudder rippled down Zerith's spine--he'd seen that smile on my face often enough. The Brothers Ebonheart remained unimpressed. Well, they would learn the error of their arrogance soon enough.
I stretched languidly, then stood--Zerith's eyes were glued to my every move. Excellent. Let him admire me one last time. "It's not even my birthday! However, I'm sure you could come up with something far more befitting me if you but put your heads together!" My grin turned evil as I raised my hands, gathering my magicka for a spell.
"Come, Brothers Ebonheart. Let us have a meeting of the minds!" I brought my hands--clad in green dragonhide gauntlets--together with great force.
That force was exceeded only by the force of Balefire's and Tenaka Khan's heads being slammed together by my Telekinetic Force casting. I laughed as the brothers collapsed to the floor, stunned.
(Zerith)
I gasped in horror as the powerful brothers reeled, stunned into senselessness. They collapsed to the floor--even their Daedric helmets couldn't save them from being knocked out cold.
Before I could stop him, Skudge charged past the ranks of Chosen (what few were left) and frost Daedra to strike at Vex with his steel spear. "Horny green bastard!" Skudge screamed, hate in his reddish-brown eyes. "You hurt Nyx! You hurt big friends! You die now!" He stabbed at the Daedra count viciously.
Emerald Vex laughed cruelly as Skudge's little spear shattered against the Count's ornate ebony armour. As Skudge stared in dismay at the remains of his favoured weapon, Vex glared down at him, growling, "Insipid little pest!" He laughed again. "Weak little worm! You couldn't possibly hope to damage me!"
Skudge said something in a small voice that I couldn't catch. His voice grew even smaller as Vex's eyes suddenly flared an even more brilliant green.
At that moment, a great commotion arose from behind me. Expecting more foes, I whirled to see a huge mob of Morphoids led by Kriella and Rathine charge into the room...followed by Lishara.
The Dreadmaster was too well trained to betray any emotions at the sight of her husband lying on the floor. I looked to her questioningly, but she only gave a brief nod--Tenaka was fine, for now.
I drew my blade--whatever mental fugue I'd experienced from Vex had passed. Before I could assault any of the Chosen or Frost Daedra myself, Vex suddenly snarled, "Treacherous bitch! You will die for your perfidy!" His beautiful face contorted in rage, he hurled a jewelled dagger at Lishara. The weapon caught the lovely Morphoid commander right in the throat. Gurgling in pain as blood poured from the wound, Lishara vanished into the Darkness.
Rathine shouted orders to the stunned Morphoids that I couldn't quite catch--they charged into the frost Daedra and Chosen. Kriella gave her battle cry, and likewise attacked.
"Ki'Raith!" I shouted, and the battle was joined at long last.
(Emerald Vex)
I smiled wickedly at the battle raging around me. A quick thought sent Skudge into the fray--to fight against his comrades, not with them.
The Scamp had been more of a challenge than I'd guessed. Indeed, the little creature was far more intelligent than I had expected him to be. It would be a pity to have to destroy him in the end--he could be quite useful. But I didn't need Nyxalinth plotting against me with anyone else, ever again.
I would deal with my consort as only I could. And when I finished, I would let Red and Blackie have her for a while. Returning them from the Darkness would be a small matter once I'd achieved my new rank...By now, I knew for truth what she was And I knew that it wasn't the fact that Red and Blackie were spider Daedra that repulsed her--it was who they were, not what they were. I knew of her dalliance with the Shadow Walker known as Izdreth in Shade Perilous--she would pay for that, too.
I loved her, yes. But she would learn to obey, or suffer the consequences.
Grinning wickedly, I directed Skudge to strike at Zerith.
(Skudge)
As the party entered the disgustingly gaudy throne room of Emerald Vex, I repressed a shudder. No sense, yet, in my friends knowing the true scope and breadth of my mind, crippled as I am in my verbal expression. I've never had a chance to discuss this abberation with someone more learned. I suspect that it's a quirk of my incomplete education in the common language of Tamriel. In any case, incomplete language or no, we proceeded across the smoothly polished floor, our feet sliding on the frost painted across the tiles.
Uh-oh. My mind spun, throwing images of everything cold-based the Darkness could have vomited out at us, none of it good.. My gaze roved about, trying for some sighting of the creatures, whatever they were. I spotted a gleam in the darkness, off to the left, and reached out to tap Balefire on the shoulder with my spear.
"Balefire!" I hissed. "Bad men to the left!" was my plaintive cry. Inwardly, I winced, then there was little time for self recrimination, as Balefire stormed up to Vex, oblivious of my warning.
I drew back, placing myself against one of the cold walls, and saw a round dozen, perhaps more, of these fleshy Morphoids being rallied against the slightly shorter, although more bulky, frost creatures. The person doing the rallying was familiar to me, and I eventually pegged her as Lishara, one of the minions of Vex we had faced outside the castle. I suppose she was attractive in the Tamrellian mode, though I could not say for sure.
Lishara cracked a whip at the back of the Morphoid force, driving them into the opposition.
I looked for Balefire's and Tenaka's forms, expecting fiery explosions of Magical power, or equally impressive expert weaponsplay.. what I see is, a pile of red armour, black skin, and a confusion of limbs. Balefire and Tenaka had fallen, without any apparent blows being thrown by either.
I'll never be sure what happened next. As near as I can tell, a frost Daedra was thrown into the wall near me, startling me out of the relative safety of the spot I had taken. I spun my way through the battle towards Rathine, and as I grasped his outstretched hand, I saw Vex. Pulling on Rathine's arm as hard as I could, I flung myself across the intervening space. Screaming something I remember not, I hit Vex as hard as I could with my spear, shattering it.
Vex glared down at me, the broken shaft of my spear laying between me and him. as a first blow in a major battle, it had been nothing short of useless, but I had to strike at this bastard however possible, preventing his underhanded action.
"Weak little worm." Vex rumbled "You couldn't possibly hope to damage me!"
"Skudge not weak!" I cried. Vex levelled his gaze at me, and his eyes flared an even more brilliant green, if that were possible. I felt a pressure in my head, as if my brain were trying to rend itself in two. "Skudge.. just small." I managed to mutter in a quiet, despairing voice, as my flesh body fell completely limp, and my mind was drawn into the vastness that is Vex.
Have you ever fallen? I don't mean that pathetic tripping sensation you get when you stumble over your spear, I mean the sensation of helplessness you get flying through the air unexpectedly, like I got when a floor fell out from under me in Battlespire.
But I digress. I'm helpless, falling through the open air towards a hideously twisted palace. Almost an extension of the palace my body was in, minarets and towers seeming to hold each other up simply out of spite. I fell further, fear flowing through me like the wind that flew past my body. It may have only been my mind's way of handling Vex's actions, but it certainly felt real!
As I fell further, I noticed the palace rising before me, much faster than I felt perspective should have allowed. I realised it was falling through the air also, as I drew level with where the drawbridge would have been. A pair of eyes opened, and another, and another, and I was looking into the deformed, monstrously twisted visage of Emerald Vex.
"By Nocturnal!" I shouted. "you're one ugly bastard, even in a dream!"
Vex opened his colossal mouth, and roared, and I felt myself being shaken and battered. I survived unscathed, though, and Vex levelled a baleful glare at me.
"You may prick at me with your feeble wit, Scamp, but it will do you even less good than your pathetic spear did! look, now, and see what your body does, under my control, while your mind is trapped here inside Me!" Vex trailed off into laughter, and a window seemed to open before me, showing.. showing my undersized frame battering at Zerith's back, one-armed, with one of the halves of my spear, while the other half was held in a hand gripped by Rathine, who was able to only pin one of my arms. A very respectable showing for my body, given Rathine's considerable strength.
I turned back to Vex, his twisted form leering at me as he watched my torment. I was trapped, here, Forced to watch my friends defend themselves against myself, while this bastard ran the whole damn show. I swallowed my bile, and watched helplessly as Rathine managed to get my body in a chokehold, and render it unconscious, sealing the deed with a long duration sleep spell, and sliding me headlong out the door. I smiled then, turning to Vex.
Yes, like this, as above....
"You know, bastard." I remarked conversationally. "You don't stand a chance. Balefire and Tenaka are going to be awake soon, and _you_ are gonna be going to sleep for a _long_ time." I finished, grinning smugly. Vex didn't react pleasantly, roaring fit to burst, buffeting my mental form with a power such that I had never felt in real life.. again leaving me unharmed, because I had figured something out. If this was a mental plane, my health here was linked to my health on the physical, and my body was in a crumpled ball against a wall outside the throne room, unharmed and unconscious.
I glanced at Vex, and found him floating in our mutual dreamworld silently, his eyes closed, apparently concentrating totally on the outside world. I shrugged, and returned to the window, finding that it would 'view' what I wished. I saw Zerith confront the lead Ice Daedra, who had somehow absorbed some of the substance of its fallen comrade, growing to quite a large size. Vex had again disappeared from the room, though..
I'm not one for blow-by blow descriptions of battles. Suffice it to say, that Zerith learned what it means to be a Warmage this day. It was as if I could see the flows and weaves of Magicka gathering around him, as he blew fireball after fireball at the Ice Daedra, not fazing him a whit..
Then he seemed to understand, and his next attack had flows of spirit, and lightning, and searing fire, and pure magicka.. but it was primarily acid, deadlier and more powerful than any Zerith had had cause to use before. He gathered it until I could see his hands shaking from holding in the power, and the Ice Daedra seemed to be able to see it too. At the last moment, Zerith screamed his battlecry, and let loose.
Tenaka raised his head from the floor and looked over at the battle that continued around him and his also wakening brother. Over to one side, he could see Zerith and Kriella fighting a couple of Frost Daedra and the Morphoids taking on the rest. Lishara's body could be seen lying on the floor - he had not seen her die. Even Skudge was taking his part with Rathine to keep the Frost Daedra away.
The Dreadlord looked over to where Vex stood and saw that the Count was merely watching the melee with a wicked smile on his face. Tenaka looked over to Balefire and saw that the Warmage's gaze mirrored his own. He crawled over to his brother.
"Balefire," he said. "He is too powerful - we cannot defeat him individually."
"Albeit it pains me to say it, it may be that in his own palace either you or I individually would seem to risk killing him only at the cost of our own lives. So be it. please see that the others return safely, brother, and tell them I died well," replied the Warmage.
"I have an idea, but be warned that it may not be pleasant."
"May not?"
"I have never tried this before. But if it does work, it is likely that it will work for us."
"You are not filling me with confidence, brother, but do it!"
"Brace yourself!"
Tenaka first used his magic to cover the two of them in a web of illusion so that Vex would not notice what was happening. The Daedra would feel the magic flows, but he would believe them to be of Daedric origin. That done, Tenaka knelt in front of and facing his brother. Silently, he sent a message to Kriella, to warn her of what he planned. He felt her concern, but he calmed her, only moments before he began the procedure.
Tenaka could feel the raging might of the Antilight within, awaiting its chance to escape like never before. An extension of the user, it also knew his plan, and knew that it would be instrumental in bringing it about. The Dreadlord had gotten used to the constant battle over his ultimate weapon and usually the combat was subconscious, but for the first time since he re-entered Tamriel all those weeks before, he felt it strive for release.
Tenaka release a tiny amount of the Antilight - only enough to cover himself and Balefire. It was carefully controlled so that it would not drain the Warmage, but again, it fought to draw the Warmage's strength into itself. Tenaka struggled to stop it from doing so. He knew now that he had to hurry - Vex would know that the Antilight was not Daedric - indeed the weapon had first been created to be used against Daedra, and soon he would notice that it was there.
Tenaka concentrated on his body and spirit, allowing each to take up a half of his mind. With the utmost concentration, he allowed his spirit to leave his body, and with the main part of his strength gone, the Antilight surged into Balefire. The Warmage threw back his head and roared in pain, but still the Antilight drew his strength from within his very self. Tenaka's spirit form saw Balefire's strength within the Antilight, felt it, and wondered that anyone could be so strong. But
without a conscious mind within it, his body could not draw the strength into itself. Instead he threw himself into the blackness of the Antilight and for the first time, felt himself be drained.
The small patch of Antilight was not strong enough to contain the strength of the two Ebonheart brothers, and so it adapted. It slowly grew until it had taken on a humanoid shape. The Antilight took on a form that would appear to any looking to be Dark Elven, but this form contained the mind, strength and spirit of two of the strongest warriors that ever lived. As the illusion that Tenaka had created finally dissipated, the beast that was made of Antilight, Tenaka and Balefire,
raised its arms above it, threw back its head and roared - but not this time a roar of pain, but of anger. Anger at Emerald Vex.
It looked Vex directly in the eye and took pleasure in the worried expression on his face. It spoke quietly, but everyone could hear it. It said simply, "I AM EBONHEART."
Balefire felt suspended in time, and in that timeless moment the Warmage's mind staggered and pounced, dodged and reeled, battered by thoughts and sensations beyond his experience.
An accomplished scholar for all of his warlike mercenary ways, the archmage had read of the Antilight, but had never imagined he would encounter it at such close -- intimately close -- range. At the first surge of pain, Balefire had been surprised at the intensity, but almost immediately his mage's intellect had focused on the dramatic difference inherent in the Antilight. In the course of a long mercenary career, the dark elf Warmage had been the target of countless magical attacks. Indeed, he had but recently survived -- and that barely -- a magical duel of literally epic proportions. But this sensation was of an entirely different order and kind.
The Antilight felt nothing like a standard magic assault, seeking to burn, or shock, or twist, or destroy. It felt more like something vampiric, seeking more to drain or absorb his magic and his strength. For a Warmage who had lived a life steeped in magic and who relied on his strength in the Art as much as in his arms, the experience was a harrowing one. He marvelled at the control that his brother must be exerting, for Balefire felt -- instinctively but beyond doubt -- that should the Antilight be allowed free rein, it would expand uncontrollably, absorbing and absorbing with inconceivable result.
Even as the Warmage's instincts recoiled from the potential threat, his attention was captured by what his brother was doing, and by the unique sensation of merging and growing he felt as the bizarre force grew and stretched, encompassing and enclosing and permeating, interpenetrating with the fabric of his being and that of Tenaka, leaving him his identity and consciousness but giving him a new and not entirely unpleasant feeling of power and of having become at once more and less than he had been.
He was no longer completely alone in his self, no longer entirely a discrete entity. He felt that his brother and he had become one in a way that was literally indescribable, and that they in turn had become both part and the whole of a greater Thing, a Power, an Entity, a Beast which was made of the two brothers and the Antilight, and which combined and multiplied their innate power with the force that was the perilously controlled Antilight. A small part of the Warmage's mind mourned the loss -- however temporary -- of a part of his identity, while much of him revelled in the incredible power of the thing of which he now was a part.
It was at once him and not which looked at Vex and said, "I AM EBONHEART."
(Emerald Vex)
"I AM EBONHEART."
The words, spoken in a chilling bass rumble, sent a shudder through me. I had not thought the mortals to be capable of such power. Against the Warmage and the Dreadlord as separate entities, I would have prevailed.
But against this...this thing, made of the Dreadlord's vile Antilight standing here in my throne room, I could not prevail alone. Still, there was no reason to show them the horror I felt.
Smirking, I mockingly applauded Ebonheart even as it stalked towards me. "Bravo. Very nice. Now I may destroy two incredibly annoying pests with a single blow. Very well. Come forth and meet your doom, obscenity."
I drew my Orcish Dai-Katana--the nightmare before me would only absorb my powerful magicka. Before I could join in battle with it, however,
Icerax dashed forward.
"Stay your hand, monster!" Icerax bellowed. "None may strike against Lord Vex and live!"
The entity paused long enough to regard the Frost Daedra Lord. Obviously it was trying to determine who the greater threat was at the moment. Well, I would show it--its hesitation was the last mistake it would ever make.
I raised my Dai-Katana over my shoulder. Ebonheart had just begun to turn back to face me when I struck the beast a hard blow across the chest.
(Zerith)
"No!" I shouted, having seen Vex strike at Ebonheart. "I will *not* allow it!" I shoved the suddenly berserk Skudge aside--apparently he'd decided that my armoured knees were some sort of foe to be vanquished--and rushed over to confront Icerax before he could assist his Count.
A lesser frost daedra jumped into my path, axe raised to strike. I parried his blow with the ebony Longsword I carried then returned it twofold, possessed of a strength I hadn't known until I'd confronted that frog-thing hours before. I severed the Daedra's head from his icy body; the Daedra vanished silently into the Darkness.
A pair of wood elves--brother and sister twins--charged me with death in their brown eyes. Shalara and Elidyrr--two of Vex's last remaining Chosen.
"You killed Red and Blackie!" screamed Shalara. I'd done no such thing--that had been Betrayal and Kriella--but it didn't really matter, for I was the one dodging her scimitar.
"You bastard!" cried her brother, his eyes dark with murder.
I grinned wolfishly. "if you miss them so, then you may join them!" I swung my blade in a wide arc, severing his sword arm from his shoulder.
Elidyrr screamed in agony as blood sprayed from his ruined shoulder. "Shalara..." he sobbed to his sister, then slumped against the sculpture of Nyx and died.
The elfwoman stared at her dead brother--and lover--in horror. "Elidyrr!" she screamed, her beautiful face contorted in agony and rage. She whirled to confront me. "Bastard!" she snarled, and leaped at me.
"Time to die, you depraved whore," I said, the grin never leaving my face. She and her brother had propositioned Nyx for a threesome. Now, my Nyx is a very open-minded lass, (else she would never have been able to accept my liking of male companionship as well as female) but she had no real desire to engage in such shenanigans with two of Vex's Chosen. She'd politely refused.
The Chosen hadn't taken her rejection well. They'd bided their time, and when she'd least expected, they ambushed her. After using her themselves, they'd given her to Red and Blackie...and watched. Nyx had wanted to die of shame...and nearly had.
The bitch before me swung her blade, catching me in the ribs. The ebony armour I'd taken from one of the Chosen caught most of the blow, but my ribs were sprained nonetheless.
Gasping in pain, I drew what breath I could and raised my sword. I allowed my mind to fill with images of what Nyx had told me--things I'd suppressed for months. How I'd gone to her chambers later and found her covered in her own blood. The scars on her wrists. Nyx would never remember what had happened--she thought it to be an attempt after Nightshade had died. Vex had taken the memory of what had happened from her; I had supplied the new one. It was one of the rare times I'd seen him show remorse...and it was then I knew he loved her.
But *I* remembered.
"For Nyxalinth!" I screamed, slashing out at the bitch before me. The blade caught her in her midsection, cutting her in half, her blood joining her vile brother's on my armour. I was careful not to slip in her stinking guts as I ran to confront Icerax.
(Nyxalinth)
"My father," I repeated, too awed to say much else. Shal'ir nodded once again. He seemed about to say something else, but instead embraced me.
"I hoped long for the day I would see you, Nyxalinth," he said, his voice ragged with emotions. "That day your mother and I went into battle--we knew we'd not return alive. She wept for you--as did I. If only she could see you..."
My own tears flowed freely. "Would that this could be under better circumstances," I said, voice choked with tears.
We didn't speak for the longest time, only held each other. Finally, he said, "Before long, Nyxalinth, your friends will have defeated Vex, and return you to your body."
I shook my head. "I don't want to go back, Father. I want to stay with you."
*********
(At the Porcupine)
Izdreth still stared moodily into the flames. The woman known as Mea and her companion had departed some time ago. Izdreth was still quite irritated at having been attacked...attacked and unable to defend himself without jeopardising why he was here. He'd thought to enjoy a lovely woman's company while awaiting the woman who really mattered, but it was not to be, no.
"Well? Are you going to join us, Magician? Or will you brood all night long?"
Izdreth turned. His iridescent black eyes beheld a familiar elf mage-scholar: Kellis De'Vries, Nyxalinth's adoptive father. With him was an imposing Redguard man, a bttalemage from the look of him. This, then, was Josian Kaid, Nyxalinth's adopted brother, and her reason for being at Battlespire in the first place.
"Join us, please," Josian said with a smile. In a lower voice, he added, "Your secret is safe with us, Izdreth, Master of the Shadow Mages."
Izdreth nodded then stood up and went to their table. "It has been a long time, yes," he said to Kellis, his eyes warm. "And I am honoured to meet Nyxalinth's little brother." He chuckled at Josian's scowl.
"Indeed. It must grate on you terribly to have let that oaf beat on you," Josian said, his scowl replaced by a teasing grin. They were even now.
"There was no choice, no. I could have dealt with him...but Nyxalinth is more important that assuaging my wounded pride."
Kellis nodded. "It is good to see you again, Izdreth. It's been how long? Thirty years?"
The Shadow Master nodded. "Yes. When I came to see how Nyxalinth was faring amongst mortals." His eyes sparkled. "I must say that Nocturnal chose well in giving Nyx to you and Jagarda. All of Shade Perilous mourned with you when she died, yes."
Kellis nodded. "Thank you." He sighed with the memories. Even fifteen years later, the loss still ached within him. "Would you care for a drink?"
***********
"You cannot stay here," Shal'ir said firmly.
"Father, I've waited all this time to meet you! And finally, here we are, and I want to stay!" I looked away, my eyes drawn to Red and Blackie, who were still watching us. "You're worth whatever trouble those two make for me."
My father's orange-scarlet eyes flared. "Am I worth making all the efforts of your friends and loved ones for naught?"
I didn't answer, at least not fully. "If I stay, then Zerith is free to have whomever he wants."
"He wants you, my daughter. Never doubt this. Yes, he enjoys attractive company. But you have a hold on his heart. And what of Izdreth? Would you let your friendship--and love--go to naught?" His tones softened. "I know you two love each other. There is a place for all three of you--but you will never know it unless you return!"
I was about to reply when Red called out, "By all means, stay lovey! We'll have all kinds of fun, because Lord Vex will bring us back when he takes care of your friends!"
Blackie's grin was cruel as he added, "Remember all the good times we shared? Well, it's going to get even worse for you!"
My father's eyes narrowed as he smiled coldly. "Excuse me a moment, my dear." Drawing his Daedric blade, he stalked towards the two spider Daedra. He couldn't kill them...but he could hurt them.
(Emerald Vex)
Ebonheart staggered backward under the power of my blow. A fine silvery mist--the brothers' life force--seeped slowly from the wound. The thing roared in pain.
I narrowed my eyes at the monstrosity before me. It looked exactly like the brothers it had come from, right down to the scar running down Balefire's face--which certainly did nothing to enhance either Ebonheart or the original.
"No! I will not allow it!"
Zerith's voice cut through the din of battle around me. He charged right for me, hate in his beautiful indigo eyes. I mentally sent a command to Icerax to intercept and destroy him. I couldn't defeat Ebonheart alone, but I could certainly keep him distracted. Besides, it wouldn't take long for my lieutenant to destroy the dark elf mage scholar, however he might play at being a Warmage.
'Pity,' I thought, admiring the handsome young elf one last time. 'You were most enjoyable, pet. No doubt Nyxalinth will attempt to destroy herself once more." I ached at the memory. Confronted with nearly losing her had made me realise the depths of my love for her all those months ago.
"for Nyxalinth!" Zerith screamed. I glanced away from the recovering travesty before me in time to see the dark elf cleave Shalara neatly in two.
I mourned neither her nor her brother. After what they had done (and I'd made sure that they'd suffered horribly for it--a ring of regeneration can be used to torture as well as to heal) I'd come to detest them. I'd allowed them to live because death was not a punishment, it was a release. As for those I was battling, they were far too dangerous to be allowed to live at all. As for Red and Blackie, I'd punished them as well, though not as severely--they were only following
their natures.
I parried Ebonheart's attack barely in time. "You'll not take her from me!" I roared. I lifted my blade once more. Mayhap I would not prevail, but I would fight nonetheless.
(Zerith)
"You'll not pass me so long as I live, mortal," Icerax informed me coldly. He gripped his two-handed sword before him. Waves of intense cold radiated from his icy body, making my teeth chatter.
"You are wrong, Icerax," I told him with frigid politeness. "This ends now."
He nodded, the ghost of a smile touching his face. "Very well. You fight bravely, and with honour. I bow to you." He did so.
I returned the gesture. "To the death, then."
Icerax wasted no time. He conjured a freezing sphere of ice crystals into his hands, then lobbed it at me. I dodged, and the ice impacted against the far wall. It destroyed the obscene mosaic there, sending bits of nymphs and spider Daedra everywhere.
"You missed," I taunted him, darting in with my blade. It cut a deep groove in his icy flesh. Bluish-grey blood oozed out, freezing when it touched the air.
Icerax snarled in pain, clutching his side. "I won't miss again, mortal!" This time, freezing darts caught me square in the chest, further damaging my already sprained ribs.
Wheezing in pain that I'd nearly forgotten, I called to mind a fiery lance. With a thought, I hurled it towards my opponent.
It struck Icerax with a hiss of steam and a sizzle. The frost Daedra growled in pain. Even so, it didn't have the effect I'd hoped for. Fire was supposed to be deadly for frost Daedra, but mayhap not for frost Daedra lords.
Icerax laughed and lifted his blade. "Your life is over, mortal."
I parried his sword just in time.. "I think not," I wheezed, but in truth, the battle was wearing on me. I struck out, but was in turn parried.
Strike. Parry. Feint. Thrust. This would only get me killed. Both of us were wounded, but Icerax was bigger and stronger. My only advantage was that he'd used most of his mana on fighting the Morphoids.
I backed up, increasing the distance between us, all the while calling to mind my most dangerous--and costly--spell.
Icerax rushed forward, sword raised. I hurriedly parried his blow, only to have the blade knocked from my hand.
The frost Daedra lord could have had me. His attack had disrupted my course of thought as well as knocking the sword from my hand. It clattered in a corner across the room. He could have gutted me easily.
Instead, he tossed aside his own blade. I gaped in astonishment. "I will fight, and mayhap die, with honour," he told me. He swung at me with one icy fist.
I dodged him once again. There was no way I could fight him hand to hand and hope to win. My using magicka would not be dishonourable--it would put me on equal footing with the Frost Lord.
This time, I didn't bother with backing up. Firstly, I cast a spell to protect myself from the effects of the spell I would be casting. Icerax didn't notice-- he was too busy punching at me again.
I gathered all my remaining magicka. It wasn't really enough--the protective spell had cost me a great deal. I could feel my mind straining as I gathered my power. If I succeeded or no, there was a very good chance that I could die. Such were the risks of casting a spell beyond my power.
The magicka surged at my brain. I was vaguely aware of something warm and wet trickling from my nose.
"KI'RAITH!" I screamed, and unleashed the Acid Storm at Icerax. And laughed while I did it.
The last thing I saw before the darkness enveloped me was Icerax melting into a pile of acidic slush and dissolving metal. I grinned wolfishly,
and fainted.
(Emerald Vex)
"KI'RAITH!" Zerith screamed. There was an answering scream, this one of agony, from Icerax.
I looked over to see both of them enveloped in a swirling, caustic green cloud. Acrid vapours stung my nose. Icerax went on screaming in agony as the acid melted him into icy sludge. But Zerith wasn't screaming.
Zerith was laughing.
He collapsed, grinning a grin to give one nightmares as the Acid Storm slowly dissipated.
"Nooo!" I shouted. Icerax had been my friend and loyal minion for millenia. In my grief, I noticed too late the shadow falling over me.
Speaking of nightmares...
Ebonheart sported a grin equal to Zerith's. "YOUR DOOM," he rumbled as he raised his weapon to strike.
I stood my ground. I would not sully my friend's honour by behaving dishonourably myself. "I love you, Nyxalinth," was all I said as I raised my blade to parry the monster's blow.