Red and Blackie favored me with twin leers as they moved forward to
claim me.  If I said I wasn't at all afraid, friends, well, I'd be lying.
I knew what they'd do with me, and I also realized that they would have
plenty of time to work their wicked will on me if I didn't have my timing
eactly right.  I sent silent prayers to both Nocturnal and the Great Lord
that I did, then smiled wickedly at the brothers.
    "You change your tune quickly, sweet one," Blackie purred.  He trailed
his slender fingers lightly over my throat, then down into the v of the
silken robes I wore.  I didn't hold back the gasp I made--it would add to
my performance.
    "One might think that you were up to something," Red breathed in my
ear.  He nipped at it, getting his point across quite well.
    "Well," I said softly.  "Let's just say...I know where I need to be,
boys.  I belong with Lord Vex...and you."
    "What of Zerith?" Blackie asked me.  He unfastened on of the tiny
diamond buttons holding my robe closed.  It terrified me to think that my
modesty was armored by a turquoise silk robe.  Where was a suit of daedric
platemail when you needed it?
    I shrugged, 'accidently' pushing my bosom against Blackie's hands.
"What of him?  Besides,what makes you think he'd want me anymore?"  I
wrapped an arm around both of their necks.  "And why not have a
little...get together before they come storming in here?"
    With those words, I wrapped my fingers into their long hair...
    ...and forecfully gave them a meeting of the minds.
    While the brothers were howling in agony and clutching their
foreheads, I dove into Red's shadow...
    ...seconds later, I appeared next to the table, and the torch holder.
Quickly, I scooped it up, whirled, and swung.
    Apperently, either the god or the daedra princess heard my prayers,
for the torch holder caught Blackie square in the shoulder.  He screamed
in agony, cluthing his shattered limb, then his legs gave out and he
collapsed, moaning.
    Maybe you wonder why I waited all this time to strike against them...
    I did it because I knew in my heart that Zerith had gone to meet his
fate at Emerald Vex's hands.  And I wanted everyone to know that whether
they were victorious or not, I went down fighting as well.
    Pain exploded in my own shoulder.  I cired out, the torch holder
dropping from my nerveless hand--my shoulder had been dislocated.  I
turned to see Red, a look of feral hate in his stormcloud eyes.  He
scooped upthe torch holder and brandished it at me.  "Bitch!"  he hissed.
"You will pay for striking my brother!"
    He swung again, catching my collarbone and shattering it.  Had I not
dodged, he would have smashed it into my face instead.
    Weaponless but not defenseless, I formed my good hand into a claw and
raked my nails down the side of his face.  It took all of my will to do
so--the pain from my collarbone was excruciating.  Red screeched, howling
vile and obscene threats of my punishment to come.
    The world swirled and became a gray vortex, swallowing me up.  The
last thing I heard was Kriella calling to me, but I couldn't make out the
words.  Then the door burst open, just as the darkness enfolded me in ebon
wings.