Firiona Vie Everquest

Nearby,,,, many eyes watch. Ever watching, ever preying on them as they disappear one by one under the waters surface.

Tajer noted his fear, but she also felt fear at the unknown so it was to be expected.

"It won't hurt..." she said softly as she took his head in her hands and kissed his forehead. "You will die, but when you wake you will be my son, be like me..."

Moving one hand down to his shoulder she moved in, sending one final thought to Stormfollower; Forgive me. Her teeth pierced his skin, causing a sharp pain, but then ecstasy soared through his veins as she released endorphins into his bloodstream. He experienced an incredible high as she drank of him, his body like putty in her hands but her strong grip held him upright.

For her the experience was not so good. Thousands of images flashed across her minds eye, his childhood, his training, his thoughts. Things he had done, both in dream and in waking, and what he planned to do in the future. She saw it all, and even she was appalled by some of it.

But underneath the visions was an undercurrent of pain. He was far gone by now, and with a shock she realised the pain was inside her. The lingering remains of Jetamio's infusion was now searing her insides. Her knees buckled, taking Remis down with her, but still she drank. His pulse flickered weakly as his heart tried to move what little blood remained until it finally stopped. Then she let go, for to drink from the dead was just as dangerous to her. She lay him down even as she began to shake violently and fumbled with a dagger on her belt. Blood red tears streamed down her face as she clutched at her own body.

Then she heard the sound of stone grinding on stone and looked up at the party that had arrived.

"He is still warm... maybe you can save him, but I doubt it. You'd need...my...blood..." she held out her dagger towards them. "Or you can tha..." her voice gave in to her pain, and she dropped the dagger as she slumped to the dusty ground.

D`Narr quickly sprang to the Sanguine holding the tip of her sword at the creature's throat.

"I should kill this creature but she holds your son's life in her hands."

"I can revive him," Gilliadson said, "Stormfollower but we must quickly get a small amount of Radha's Blood infused into him, since they are twins, so the Revival Prayer will have something to work with." Gilliadson muttered a quick prayer and a blue aura surrounded his hands. The wounds on Remis' neck closed quickly as the aura touched them. "As far as his spiritual and mental health P`Nala and Myrikel may still be able to help there. At least it is worth the attempt."

Having never seen this type of scene before Mujbura hesitated at the doorway for a moment, the water from their previous swim causing echoed drops down the corridor. She was unsure who was the attacker and who was the victim. Following Gillaidson’s lead she rushed past the others kneeling beside him placing a gentle hand on Remis.

Closing her eyes softly whispered prayers float to the heavens where her Goddess replies with the warm touch of measured replenishment upon Remis. She looks up at Gilliadson, her voice nearly inaudible to avoid interruptions to her prayers, “I can sustain, if you can ensure to catch up where my prayers do not.” She flashes a brief, albeit forced, smile through her worry before closing her eyes resuming her prayers to her Goddess.

Whereas a door is opened to allow her blessings out, the same path lay open for the reverse. She flinches slightly as her infusions path collides with something dark that pushed back towards her. Closing her eyes tighter her Goddess hears silent cries alternating between strength for herself and the young man and and replenishment of purity for the unconscious son of her dear friend.

(Moonshadow, Cure Corruption Rk. II, Pure Life Rk. II.)

"No," Tajer moaned, ignoring the blade at her throat. "He said he had to die...he will destroy you all. I saw it..." she trailed off, suddenly realising that maybe Stormfollower had set this trap for her as well as for his son. Kill two birds with one stone, he couldn't kill Remis himself so let her do the deed, and now he could claim she was the monster for killing the one who was a far bigger threat than she had ever been.

Feeling even more defeated she lowered her head, her chin ending up resting on the blade, and closed her eyes.

The Huntress looked at Stormfollower. "Her fate is in your hands. She could be lying."

Gilliadson spoke up.

"Stay your hand, Lady D`Narr. I can perceive that she believes what she is saying is true and I for one will not condone the killing of one who has submitted."

"These values of yours Paladin will one day cost you your life." Said D`Narr

"Perhaps so but I shall leave this world with a clear conscience."

D`Narr scowled but lowered her blade.

Stormfollower knelt and held his sons head in his hands for a moment. Then he reached over to Tajer, gently rolling her over and placing her head to rest on his thigh beside Remis. He held both of their heads now and gently rocked back and forth tears flowing freely down his otherwise stoic face.

Remis lay motionless while the two healers tried to revive him, and as Rhada stepped forward to offer her blood Stormfollower stopped her.

"No Rhada. We must let him go." his voice was distant and his eyes glazed with grief.

He slowly lowered his sons head to the cold stone floor and kissed him on the forehead. Then he turned his attention to Tajer. He held her head with both hands and began to rock with greater motion than before. His eyes closed he began to sing.

She felt strong arms move her but still did not open her eyes. Surely they would just be dragging her somewhere to execute her. But instead she was rocked and held gently, but still she did not dare believe. Her body still ached with pain, and while she knew she'd survive, she was sure it was going to be a while til she was back to her old self.

When she heard Stormfollower's deep resonating voice she finally opened her eyes again and stared up at him with a mixture of wariness and wonder.

Stormfollower stopped singing and looked down into Tajers eyes. Carefully he helped her to a sitting position and bowed his head briefly.

"Thank you spirit, for doing what I asked of you." His words were directed at Tajer and they seemed sincere.

Darkness pushes ever forward while light pushes back to protect the creature within whom it resides. Feeling the darkness pushing further than she can control, Mujbura quickly withdraws her hands sitting back wiping the sweat from her brows.

Her eyes sting as she watches Stormfollower mourn over his sons body. Her heart filling with sadness and guilt that she could not revive him. Then, curiously, he moves towards that who Mujbura considered the attacker and cries over her, thanking her for what she had done. Confusion clouds Mujbura’s mind as she tilts her head furrowing her brows. She was so confused she just remain silent, unsure exactly what was going on.

The look of relief on Tajer's face was obvious to all. She wasn't in trouble, she had done right. Her arms trembled with the effort of trying to hold herself up, and she had no idea how long the effects would last, but she had never felt so vulnerable in all her life. Even if they had all come at her, she could not have mustered the strength to fight them off. She was completely at their mercy right now and she hated that.

She glanced at Remis's still form, then back at Stormfollower. "You should cremate him...only then is he safe from wandering spirits. As for me, I think I need to see your wife..." her voice trailed off as she lay back down and finally gave in, her eyes closed and body relaxed although still twitching occasionally from whatever Jetamio's magic was doing to her inside.

“Now.” the whispered order came out and the Enchanter had summoned his own power mesmerizing everyone in the room. Cerissa grinned wickedly as she passed them easily extending a hand towards Remis’ still body.

“You shall not escape so easily, darling.” she states as she harshly rips his spirit from his body. Long, dark streaks begin rising from the near-dead corpse rising to greet its new Mistress. A long, deeply inhaled breath brings the disinclined, but ever faithful, spirit upwards still. Surrounding her hand crawling it’s way upwards until it is absorbed with effortless skill into a broach.

Turning she nods to her Mercenaries then fades while the caster once again covers the group in majick causing them to forget this group of darkness was ever here. Using their own majicks, the Mercenaries fade away as Cerissa disappears into nothingness porting herself, and her newly claimed toy, to a nondescript location. Only echoes of demonic whispers surrounding a young girls hate-filled giggles and a lifeless body are left as the group inside the room are released from the mesmerizing Enchanters spell.

((Is this done by agreement that I am not aware of or are we doing a little god-moding here? There is an enchantress in the party as well as a couple who have been brought up with Enchanters... Namely P`Nala, D`Narr and Sineliniel.))

(( It is not my intention to God-mode anything, Cerissa merely took his spirit with her, as any Necro would want to do. In any case, if the addition to the story is considered as such, simply delete it from the story. No offense was intended, and none has/will be taken. ))