I wasn't born to this. No, but I was brought up with it from the very beginning.

Looking back on everything. I wouldn't change a thing. There is no better place for me than this city. This city of lost souls, city of blood. But I did not come here by chance.

The place in which I was born is a fuzzy memory to me. A small house on a green hill in a country and realm nothing like this one. To parents who may have loved me, but couldn't keep me.

At the tender age of three I was given away to an order of Priestess's. They were to raise me and teach me how to live. They taught me more than that.

The Hidden Order: They appear as normal men and women. Monks, priests and Priestess's. Their mission statement , says they serve a higher power. Many children come in to their hands. Children unwanted or un-needed. Children who live on the streets,children no more.

Children taken in and loved. It is a strange kind of love,but one you learn to embrace.

It was in their temples and gardens that I was raised. It was by steady and firm hands that I became a top rate student,teacher and killer. Yes, I am an assassin. I have known no other life since the day I turned sixteen. I would have no other life than this.

We who were lost were not brought up to hate. No, we are made to see there is a clear line. Good and evil, and the very gray area in-between. From a tender age we are taught the ways.

In combat you start as young as five or six. Hand to hand combat, no weapons but that which you were born with. Once that is done, you move on to magic. Oh magic is a grander thing still for even those not blessed with any quickly learn it.

After magic you are taught every thing about every weapon ever made. There is no barrier here, and you never stop growing.

At thirteen, you start going to classes, every hour of every day you learn. You learn of the world and your place in it.

We were never hit unless we disobeyed, we were never starved or kicked out. Only those worthy were kept on. There are more of us than you might think.

At sixteen your in it for life. You've taken your right of passage, the marks have started to show from battles won and lost. You take on your first true task. The first time you must take a life.

We set out to protect the innocent. But soon you learn there are few of those who are truly innocent. Everyone has a vice. Once you pass this stage you are given two things. Girls are given lessons in how to use their bodies to lure, as well as a fan blade, and a special pendant,it hold magic, it holds secrets.

Boys get different tools. But we all bare the marks. Every assassin bares tattoos. Some more than others, but we all bare the first mark. The mark of the Hidden Ones. This mark is done in black ink on ones right hip, it looks elven in design, buts its older than even elves.

You live where you are needed. You are sent on assignments.

Blood becomes your medium. Over time death bothers you little. Many of your comrades may die in the field,or over the years. Those who have trained you may die, but you do not mourn for them. They did what they came to do, and you must as well.

It is not by chance that I ended up here. This city smells so deeply of corrupt that one like me goes fairly unnoticed. In the days I have been here,I have seen many die. I did not come here with a mark in mind,nor any true duty to the Order.

But In time, a mission will reveal itself and I will set forth with one goal in mind. I am death

Only seconds passed, the rush and torrent of wind tore and grabbed and scraped at everything it might touch, howling wildly til one could hardly believe the forest could take much more. And something was particularly peculiar about the sudden onslaught, the complete quiet, the fair breezy weather beforehand had held no indication of the impending collision. Indeed, even the forest creatures, those who usually knew a storm's coming by the instinctual stirrings within their bones, had been taken completely by surprise by this strange coming.

She watched from cover as leaves were torn asunder, old dead branches cracking and falling with a muted thump upon the disrupted forest floor.

In a moment however the peculiarity came to a head, as she might see the wisps of what appeared to be smoke shifting before her eyes, a thin blue haze that seemed to coalesce and thicken towards its center, which stayed strangely tight and constrained in its structure despite the chaos of the winds about them that should instantly dissipate any smoke or fog that might have lingered in the balmy forest floor. And was it her mind playing tricks on her, or in the center of that bluish haze that darted with the force of the wind, was that a rather distinct though ephemeral humanoid figure hurtling in her direction'

Even as that image sunk in there came another noise in the chaos of whistling and howling winds, but more distinct and very different, a loud and angry chirping of sorts, a high pitched shrill and chaotic squeaking as of numberless little voices calling out asynchronously. That sound preceded by a moment what appeared to be a large black cloud, shifting and swirling after that strange humanoid haze, at times seeming to reach it, then once more fall behind, so that it followed right upon the haze's wispy tail. The sky was completely darkened in a moment as the rushing clouds came upon her where she lay hidden.

The hurtling bluish haze in front passed just across her topped tree trunk, and in that moment she might clearly see the outlines of a man in its innermost features, a human figure formed of intersecting and whirling particles of misty vaporous, a face clearly visible though indistinct, and a pair of glowing white eyes that seemed for a moment to catch her own. It was followed by the rush and onslaught of that screeching black cloud, and as it blotted out the sky and treetops about her with its density, she could make out what it was finally, only to realize it was thousands upon thousands of tiny black bats, wings beating furiously at the unsteady air, darting haphazardly as they screamed savagely, tiny teeth gnashing or mouths agape.

The combined sound and heavy musky smell of the cloud was altogether overwhelming, filling the senses oppressively with its massive presence and fury.

Seconds had passed, three heart beats. But now things seemed all to unusual. The wind tore at that forest with a fury that shed never seen. Even at sea in high storms shed never seen it like this. She braced her back tot he old tree behind her hoping it would hold. Nothing had been prepared for this storm. How was that possible" She had not even felt it coming, in the wind nor felt it as she had long felt the weather in the deepness of her soul. This storm was no normal storm.

In the darkness any normal child would have been scared. They would have cried. But not Natalia. No the storm didn't scare her, nor the sound of the wind. The cry of the wolves.

A dead tree branch thudded to the ground not two feet from her. Leaves flew past her whipping along with the torrent of wind. There had been no lighting, no spark for fire, yet the smoke rose before her eyes. It was blue and thin like fog. Reaching her fingers down along her leg she pulled a dagger from her boot. What if the storm had been a ploy, some act of magic to get her trapped here in the forest with no where to run" This was a training exercise one of many she had to date. She had been trained to out wit fear, to out maneuver anything. But this was magic, this was her trainer pushing her limits.

She held the dagger in her hand,ready to toss it in to he gloom at anything that might come at her. Her eyes stayed on the smoke, that never wavered despite the wind around it. She kept her eyes keen on the smoke,on its steady form. She must be going crazy, there was someone,something there coming from the smoke, towards her now. She swore once and ducked to the right of the tree using it as cover,she would not be taken, and not be found.

The image was crisper slowly. The winds noise had been bearable. She could stand the howling of it in her ears. But the sudden high pitched chirping, that was so angry. It was as if a thousand little voices filled her sensitive ears she almost couldn't bare it, but not willing to drop her defenses or the dagger, she gritted her teeth and slid back against the tree a bit more. Things were just getting stranger by the moment, her eyes focused on the black cloud. It would be now,something would come at her,thinking she had been taken unaware. Even as the sky seemed to darken her eyes remained keen on that human like figure,on the smoke and black cloud. Everything else was forgotten the noise of the wind, the feeling of it as it dragged against her. All her senses were focused in front of her.

She hid there now nearly behind the old tree,looking out through the darkness and gloom. There was someone there, a man by its appearances. She winced against the onslaught against that screeching black cloud. All seemed to fall to darkness, the little light that had been there was gone now. The sky was filled with bats, tiny black bats that blotted out all light. She ducked lower against the tree pulling her hood all the tighter,the sound of them their look with mouths open, wings beating at the air, as terrifying. She held her breath as the musky smell met her . She wiled herself not to breath not to move.

This place was her cover, she had good cover and was ready to fight. She dared to look out to the magic that swilled beyond.

As soon as they smelled her they turned, only a few at first, hurtling past her, circling around and diving in to peck and nip at her cloak. In a moment she could sense the sudden shift of the cloud as more of them seemed to turn her way, a sudden swirl of black shapes encircling the tree under which she stood. Small black shapes hurtled and darted at her, beginning to close the swirling circle and descend upon their trapped prey. But before her there was a flash of blue light, a sizzle of burnt flesh as the first bat dropped from the sky, the second nearest her suddenly exploding with blue lightning before it could strike her. The haze had circled back, swirling and encircling her for a moment and she could feel its touch upon her skin like a heavy mist. It coalesced and gathered before her, the humanoid figure growing more distinct and suddenly fading into view completely.

A hooded figure stood with its back to her, a black cloak encrusted with golden runic symbols upon every seem, billowing and shifting in the wind, which suddenly began to subside, the howling becoming a quiet moan to be replaced by the angry squeaking of thousands of bats. The figures hands darted upwards and where the cloak fell from the exposed hand and wrist she could see crackling blue lightning trace across the fingertips of the right hand, and a long red-hot tongue of flame engulfing the other, licking upwards as those fingers wiggled and snapped, weaving unknown patterns in the air before them.

They stepped back suddenly until they were very close to her, almost touching in that moment, glancing backwards she could just make out the outline of a male face, clean shaven and dark of skin with swirling blue-green eyes that darted upon her, the barest hint of a smile upon thin lips as he spoke firmly yet almost amused. No more than a glimpse, for he turned again, suddenly clapping his glowing hands together.

The instant his palms struck there was an explosion like thunder just upon them, and a sudden deep silence filled her senses as the air seemed to rush away in every direction, carrying with it an expanding sphere of dirt, wood, and thousands of bats, scattering like dry leaves in every direction. He ducked low, hands raised again as the maddening screeching returned once more, his fingertips blazing once more with eldritch energies, flicking them either direction to send alternate bolts of flame and bursts of lightning careening into the swarm before them, sizzling and crackling as blackened bodies fell by the hundreds about them.

The cloud gathered and rose together, parting from its circle to rise into a swirling tower for a moment before them even as the stranger pelted them with elemental blasts. They suddenly darted upon them, gathering as they fell in a line until they came together, in the indistinct mass one could barely make out the shape of a new creature as they gathered together, writhing black bodies forming together as they fell from the air upon them, and a moment before it was to strike the stranger one could distinguish the shape of an enormous wolf which plummeted upon him, replacing the deathly squeaks with a slavering bestial snarl nearly as deafening.

She pulled the hood of her cloak tighter around her. They dove at her and she held up her hand to shield her eyes as they nipped and pecked. She ducked lower still nearly now laying in the underbrush. She was trapped by bats, tiny little biting teeth,screeching voices and clipping wings. The flash of blue light was almost blinding, if her hands hadn't already been up they would have been in that moment. The blue light flashed off the blade of her dagger that she used to slash at any bat that got too close to her face. A bat fell from the space right before her eyes and the smell of burnt flesh, then she ducked as another exploded with a strike of blue lightning. She watched the haze and the bats and the man. The haze seemed to seep through her cloak and graced her skin closer than the bats had gone. Which was more pressing the bats or the hooded man"

She studied the back of his cloak those golden runic symbols. The wind was dying down, the howl of the wind was now replaced by the sound of the bats. She winced at the sound nearly dropping her dagger to cover her ears, but she dared not give up her only defense against the bats and cloaked man. She watched his hands as they moved from under the cloak, blue lighting traced across one hand while the other was suddenly writhed in flame. She watched the pattern they wove in the dark sky.

She could just make out his face dark skin, and blue-green eyes that settled upon her for a moment again. Was that smile"A smirk she saw in that moment' Those glowing hands clapped together and that drew her gaze. The explosion like thunder rocked her back to the forest floor. The silence was there all at once, it rushed away through the forest,everything seemed to scatter to the wind. There was that sound again a maddening screeching that pierced her ears and made her wince. She peered around the tree as she got to her knees to see his fingers were covered with that fire again. Bolts of lighting and flame darted out in to the bats. Then they fell by the hundreds around them, dying it seemed with the heavy scent of burned flesh.

The cloud rose gathering,one form seemed to be emitting the bats, the other fighting them,it was hard to keep track of everything with the falling bats around her. Now as the last of the bats fell dead she saw the form of a wolf. Its snarl was as bad no worse than the bats.

This magic was intense, such as it was for this training session. She had mastered the art of every weapons they had ever given to her. She had masters tracking and hunting, she had mastered every class and skill to date. She was still young, barely thirteen and they were testing her harder every day, now with magic more than with weapons.

She shook the dead bats off her back and rose to her feet. Looking between the wolf the man, and the deepening darkness. It seemed the likely route to take would be to run. Gain the high ground again. But she had never run from any fight. If she rushed the wolf it could turn on her,but shed go out fighting. And since she wasn't sure who was friend or foe, she would go for the magical being first. She slid her dagger in to her belt .Better to have her hands free. She was on her feet and moving around the tree now. The wolf was on top of the mystery man, and if he was friend or foe she didn't know. But shed figure that out later,facing a man would be easier than facing the wolf. But she went in any how,towards the wolf with fast footfalls that were light across the forest floor.

She rammed in to it on the side,using all her body weigh and strength . She was no weakling,she could haul boards and carry heavy weight, and though slight of form she had power behind her.

The gathered cloud had joined to form together into the black haired enormous beast. Silver fangs glistened in its gaping jaw as it snapped down upon him instantly, giving the figure only time to bring his arm up as a guard, protected only by the arms of his black rune encrusted cloak, those slavering jaws locking onto his arm instantly as the full weight of the beast's pounce drove them both into a pile upon the ground. The wolf stayed locked in a death grip upon that arm atop the dark man who lay struggling vainly beneath its weight as he attempted to work his other hand free to a strike.

Even as the mage gathered the flickering eldritch energies to his fingertips to cast a spell, the wolf raised one huge brutally taloned paw readying itself strike fatally at his exposed face. At that moment the stranger struck the beast from the side, the force of her blow sending his body rolling to one side with her, jaws still locked tightly upon the hooded figure who tumbled along with them.

The wolf landed first with a heavy thud, the two other bodies landing heavily against him. His jaws snapped open in a gasp at that moment of surprise so that that arm jerked free. The wizard rose in a flash, hitting the ground in a roll, he reached out instantly even as she rolled past him, arm slipping deftly about her waist to pull her against him, away from the wolf at as he thrust his hand toward the beast where it rose snarling ready to pounce once more, those flickering energies that had been charging between his fingertips discharged in an instant, a torrent of flame coursing outwards to rain upon the unfortunate lupine. A moment too late though, as the beast leaped backwards, its skin boiling and bubbling strangely before it suddenly exploded outwards in every direction, thousands of bats darting in every which way throughout the forest, deftly weaving through tree branches and many straight up, arching into the sky to escape as fast as possible their flaming demise.

In only a matter of moments the forest lay completely silent once more, save for the soft crackle of grass fires where they burnt slowly out, the result of stray fire in the exchange which had so suddenly come to an end. It left them standing alone suddenly, his arm still unconsciously tight about her waist, the other raised before him in a warding position, energies seeming to spark and crackle about his palm, then fade and dissipate into nonexistence.

The wizard rose in a flash even as she passed him, reaching his wounded arm out

She rolled to the ground the wolf rolling with its jaw locked around the mans arm. They rolled all as one. Its fangs were glistening sliver against his upraised arm. A moment later and that massive paw would have left a massive wound on the mans face.

The wolf landed with a thud. Trapped against them both for a moment before its jaw let go of the mystery mans arm. Now it was free to lash out at her, damn it for leaving her dagger at her belt. She rolled moving to go past the man and wolf but the man pulled her towards him to his side with a swift move she should have seen coming. But she was amazed in the moment the wolf lashed out towards them both. The magic flung from the mystery man hit the wolf as it set to spring upon them. That torrent of flame that raced around the strange beast. It looked like it was too late. The wolf jumped back, its skin was boiling then suddenly it was gone in a explosion that sent out waves of energy through the forest. Those bats were there again darting away through the forest fleeing the torrent of flames.

It was silent again. She pulled herself away now. As the forest was quiet save for the left over crackling of the wild grasses and dead leaves caught up in fire, they were burring out leaving behind the scent of burnt forest to mask the scent of burnt flesh that seemed to linger. She had broken away to stand two steps from him as his wounded arm was upraised before him warding and protecting himself still. His wound was bleeding she could see the marks the wolves teeth had left in his dusky skin. She took another step back, her fingers tracing the handle of her dagger.

The figure bowed and was gone.

"Very nice." Came a voice, though where it was from only the wise could tell. She bowed her head then to one knee. "Thank you."

"You proved that you can defend,attack and sense the magic. You knew your object was to protect the man though you knew him not, and to do what you had to to slay the demon wolf. You did well. You pass this day Talia. " Natalia didn't look up even when she saw white booted feet before her.

"Rise,out stretch your hand"

She rose but did not meet her trainers gaze. She reached out her hand palm up.

"Your reward." In to her hand was placed a small silver necklace,it looked old, older than time itself. Its runes upon it were in elvish, and it held magic and many other secrets. "Put it on, wear it till the day of your death, you are one of us now, and until that day."

She did so placing the necklace over her head.

"Go receive the last of your markings." Natalia still did not look her trainer in the eye as she took steps backwards and away, out of the trees back to the temple to get the last of her tattoos.

She'd gone a long time alone. Avowing most people and places. Going and coming from towns as quick as shadow. A coin earned here and there,as a hired hand,a highway men, or earned by killing some high headed man who found her rather pretty. She had not let herself be with any man,a kiss here or there,a flirtation , and the arousal were all parts of a game she could play, as assassin as a woman who knew what she wanted. No man touched her unless she wanted him to.

Death was her only true lover. His name sake written in blood. She had slain her first assignment when she was barely eighteen. Before that she had run simple missions, recon, tracking, bait and switch.

The days had been long. The years longer. ~~~ The days passed quickly. From the beginning. The day she left the temple was the last she had there as a stay on student. She live din the wild. Her missions sent to her by the old ways.

Over the years that passed she would return to the temple to teach and learn more. She outlived many of her fellow breathern. She was there the day the elder passed, and the new elder was named. She was there for the next six elders. Years passed, decades. Centuries.

The world changed, the tools of the trade changed with it, but the missions were always the same. Blood. It paid well. She could live any where she wanted, in any manner she wished. But the Order was all she knew.

Four hundred years later, after many students and many elder had passed through he temple she was a teacher and trainer herself, a marksmen, and smith for them. She even gained the talent for the marks. There were only three she had known in her childhood who still were alive, one was an elf like her, he was one of their best at stave's. The other was near death now, a mix breed on her last breath.

She had done every mission, never strayed and never believed in anything more than The Way and The Order.

~~~~~

Two hundred years later, she was alone. The last of the class of her time. An elder in all respects yet she did not look it. Age would never grace her like it did the others. She sent students out now, trained them,watched them grow.

Six hundred years and the world had changed. But The Order and Way remained.

~~~~

It had been over a month now. And she had settled easily in to the abandoned home within the woods of Rhydin.

The night had gone over very well.

What a better place to make herself known than a masquerade ball?

She abidded by the rules. She would harm no one, but there was more than one way to skin a cat. To put a little fear in to her newest foes.

So with stolen coin she bought a fine dress, mask and shoes. She had her hair done and went to the ball.

The bulk of the night she stayed unseen. Wandering with ease in the shadows while couples danced. She had not come to kill, though she was much better with the edge of a knife than with most recon jobs.

But still she did not harm anyone. Though later she found out that not everyone followed her example. When the local guard came rushing in at dawn to the great hall,s he knew much more was a miss than her little coo.

Oh it had been simple,a waiter paid off to send a message, not written only spoken to those she knew to be The Sisters of this highly ordained good order. "There will be no Peace."

She had left her mask behind tied with the crimson ribbon known to them, with the message written in blood on simple note within it.

Simple, direct.

Though the slaying of a few good cooks and pantry help would likely do more to speak what of peace someone else thought.

She had watched the morning unfold for many roof tops down. The dead did not speak, it was a clear message. Blood would run the street and all hell of things would arise.

She couldn't blame whom ever had left much more of a message. She liked being more subtle, playing things low key till she knew mu of her enemy. The missive had been clear, they were her target, and by subtle ways or by the edge of a knife they would be ended.

He could have been considered handsome. With his tanned skin, and keen blue eyes. His body was like a rapier. Long lithe and quick. He did not have the overly muscle features of some men, his face in the right light could look angular, almost elven, almost female as well.

His hair was long, dark a mix of brown and black. His ears were not pointed in the traditional elven way, but then nor were man elves so easily seen.

Magic was about him, it resonated within his bones.

He was a thief, a robber, a rogue. He was on the run, for who or what she did not know a the time. But he offered her a way to a life outside of The Way. And she took it.

She recalled the night they met, or rather met again. For she had seen him before and he had seen her. But they had not known the other.

She had saved people. People who did not need to die. In those days, not everyone was worth the price of blood. She held on to some of that still, some lives were worth keeping, but for very different reasons.

His life was one she had saved. And in turn now he had saved her life. Taking her from a city with little and giving her the world at her feet.

"You've saved my life once m'lady, and I yours now. If ever either of us held debt to one another it is repaid already and absolved, but I would ask you, if it be your pleasure, allow me to accompany you out of this forsaken country."

His voice was clear. Crisp like a wind on the first day of fall. Alluring. "Together we have a chance to make it out of here with our hides and our minds intact."

She had gone with him.

Oh it had been whirlwind. A wonderful adventure.

It had been the first time she had ever felt desire, passion. Things she had given up on. Thing that for the many years before had come at the cost of bloodshed.

He taught her a new way. A different way front he one she had learned. Oh they killed their fair share of people. But they struck out at those unworthy, the rich and high powered, the loathsome slavers, the top hot high cats of cites and towns. She had never killed the innocent Only those deserving. Often she told her self she was saving more lives than she was taking

It had been a long time since she had any company but her own. Most of the allies she had made over the years were dead or gone. Most of the friends as well. Mortality was something they all faced, death came to them all through the ages of time. Where thought it seemed to live at her side day by day, it had not taken her yet. Elves were a long lived race,and she didn't expect to go any time soon, unless by the end of a sword.

"The longer you live in this world, the less apart of it you become. " Xig had told her that

He had easily read her as if she were an open book.

It was freedom. A freedom she could recall but never relive. For he was dead, long dead.

They had taken from a wealthy land owner. They had stolen, gold and jewels and the better part of his crops.

But with those gems was a stone set in gold. It shone green, even though the stone appeared blue.

The gold it was set in to was ornate,filed with ancient runes neither one of them could read. It had hung upon a long strand of gold,a pendant or talisman. It had been there undoing.

For something possessed the talisman,a demon. Older than sin, older than hate. It sought vengeance. And they were the ones it sought.

But they sought them out for more than just the stolen goods.

It had been she they sought, and him as well.

" We are being followed. Closely in fact." They had been on the move for days, never staying any where for long.

She looked over her shoulder, through the dim fading light. "They have been on us for six days."

He nodded. "Six days well spent with their coin. They seek this." He held up the Talisman with its odd colored gem stone. "Maybe this too." He idly touched the ornate elven pendant at her neck. "Do you know what ..." He started to ask but then got quiet. "We need to move, hurry."

They ran on, though the forest and towards the foothills.

They stopped to rest some hours later. " Xakarii, a demon of the ancient world." He eyed the pendant they had stolen. "Locked away within the gem, no doubt, some sort of spell. That is why they hunt us, not for the mere gold...though we'd get a good amount for it no doubt." He looked beyond their un-lit camp site to the far road. " Xakarii is as ancient as the mountains. Years depend upon a human conception of history, which is something small and insignificant to the demon Xakarii. I have met many lesser devils, but this demon's conception of reality is something as unrelated to our own as our consciousness would be to that of the insect or perhaps the plant kingdoms."

He looked to her and she did not need any light to see the concern upon his face. "You should go now, they will track only one of us. You could escape."

She shook her head. "No, I will not abandon you to death. They seek this pendant, and you said perhaps mine" Why I did not steal this, I have had it all my life."

"The Order gave it to you, yes?" Her dark brows arched, she had been careful with him about her past where she was from and who had trained her. "You know of them' " He nodded, " They are old, very old. They take in children, young-lings to teach the ways of a warrior, bent on blood. Assassins...mostly. They do their job well. That pendant you wear, it holds magic's similar to this one, it can take souls...and hold them. While this pendant here is only for one demon the one you wear could hold many a soul...its a secret of The Way...a way to death with out blood."

She idly touched the pendant, the looked tot he road where horsemen stood. "They have lit up the road, we can not go back that way."

He shook his head. "They will move on to the south, and when they do we run for it."

He perked up instantly as if listening intently for a distant and quiet noise, though she might hear nothing of the kind, and indeed it was not his ears which he sensed with now, but a faculty much more subtle. He rose slowly, casting his gaze about them for a moment before he slipped a few steps closer to her, his body suddenly tense, the loose smile on his face in a moment changed into hard wary lines, his voice a growl.

"Ready yourself Lia. Someone's here..." She had not even given him her full name. But she perked up at his voice, moving her hand to her belted weapons.

"Good, I am tried of running, and I hate waiting for death" She slid her bow in to her grasp, and nocked two arrows. Who ever came this way, would rule the day they did so. If death sought them out she'd rather turn and face it that run. They couldn't make the jump across the gorge,and they couldn't go back. There was no way out.

They stood for maybe half a minute, though it felt like an eternity, the tension building. Xig's fingertip snapped twice with both hands, opening his palm once more in strange and seemingly meaningless patterns before him, fingertips wiggling strangely in the air. His palms began to glow with searing heat, the red glow filling the air.

The shimmering grew more intense, as if the stone walls around them boiled and churned, though there was not a noise, and in a few moments it solidified, gathering together in four distinct locations in humanoid figures which slowly gained more and more detail until one could make out their faces, and more surprisingly behind each one was spread large feathered wings that had the of iridescent quality of gossamer, silver white feathers that seemed incredibly delicate, seeming to shift and flutter softly behind them where they were held aloft, though to a wind of their own, as only the slightest air moved within their cave.

Three men and a woman surrounded them, their features fine and aquiline, almost elven though they lacked the pencil thin brow and standard pointed ears. The men were handsome, though their faces were cold and emotionless, the woman beautiful with long flaxen hair which flowed about her shoulders, well kept but unrestrained. They were all unarmored and lightly attired in fine clothing, and though they were all dressed differently each had a single golden outline of a chalice sewn over their left shoulders. Xig paused, his hands poised inches apart as if ready to clap together

He stepped back instinctively in front of Lia, though being surrounded perhaps it was a useless gesture. Glancing nervously about, his gaze settled upon the woman as a strange mixture of emotions seemed to cross his face for a second, before it regathered into thin hard lines, a a dark and wry smile upon his lips as he turned upon one of the men, blond-haired and fair, meeting his gaze and speaking loudly in an angry and commanding tone.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Vavdichal" Or is this a social call?"

The tension was thick. Lia loved those moments. When the tension was so tangible you could grasp it. She didn't sweat,nor show any signs of fear. The shimmer drew her gaze, her bow ready to fire at anytime. Her eye panned over to him as he made those patterns before him. Magic. She wasn't about to doubt in it now. The red glow, was bearable, the heat,bearable.

Even as the stone of the mountain seemed to boil and churn she didn't move,barely blinked and kept her bow lined up . She looked to the figures as they appeared. Out numbered maybe. There were four, three men,one woman,all painfully beautiful in their own way. Angels" With their outspread gossamer like wings"Some how she doubted it. Devils of some kind" She'd faced worse odds on her own. Four to two wasn't so bad. Yet the four had the advantage of having them both trapped.

She studied the men first. Handsome,with cold expressionless faces. The woman was pretty,her hair long and pale as starlight. She never doubted anyone,the woman may have looked pretty,and many would have counted her out.But Lia's eye stayed on her. The men were just there. She noted the golden chalice that was sewn in to their clothing over the left shoulder. An order of some kind. Her mind thought back to days of knights,or some begotten heavenly army.

She watched her companion pause, and take a step before her. If was foolish, she needed no protecting. And they were surrounded. Even with her bow still drawn back she wouldn't dare shoot it unless she had a clear shot. She watched him as he looked over those four. She watched him look at the woman,his face changing then going back to that hard mask. There was something there...He spoke, the name did not ring any bells with her. She wasn't sure if that was one of the fours name or the name of there order. Vavdichal sounded elven, but she could not place it any where in her knowledge. She stood ready to fire. But at this point it seemed highly unlikely that they would just walk away . Unless those four were friend and not foe. Lia tended to doubt that. "I do hope its a social call..I could use a drink." She smirked looking over the three men then looking back to the woman.

Vavdichal turned to face her with a shameless and measuring gaze as she spoke, not turning away until he was done speaking.

"Certainly you know why we're here." He nodded leisurely back towards Xig and the pouch at his waist where the pendant they had taken was hidden.

"Something that dark sticks out like a sore thumb in a place like this. You should have known we'd show up for it."

His companions stood nearly perfectly still as he spoke, glancing alternately between Lia and Xig, arms crossed loosely before them or hanging at ready upon their sides. Only the golden-haired woman kept her gaze trained upon Xig only, a worried apprehension present upon her face, the outward sign of an internal conflict perhaps. Her face was gentle and soft, her features lean and aquiline like the others, but without the cold and businesslike expression of the others. Vavdichal spoke again.

"Hand it over now, and come with us. You know that you're not strong enough to destroy it on your own, and whatever foolhardy plan you have for disposing of the thing will most certainly fail. The Humans are astir, they're out in force. You're being hunted down like a dog out here." He nodded once more, this time to Xig's glowing, searing palms.

"And you won't do that in here. You know she wouldn't survive, and you're too much of a humanist fool to make that choice, if I remember you correctly." Vavdichal smiled wryly, turning his gaze back upon Lia to meet hers, his irises a clear blue-within-blue, almost shocking in their intensity, and they only accentuated the hard lines of his face. "No, you'd be fine, but you'd incinerate everything here, and I doubt your friend is as fireproof as yourself."

One of the other two spoke suddenly, loudly and almost pleadingly though with a cold reserve. "Come home Xig, we don't have to do this here." Lia kept the bow twat. Even if they were out numbered shed rather have her aim on one of the four. Her eyes were wary going from the three men to the golden haired woman who seemed to look upon Xig with a worried glance. Lia wondered what that glance meant.

She chuckled softly as the demand to hand it over and come with them was made. She didn't like the idea of tagging along with that rag tag group. Humans, daemons..didn't worry her, she'd faced them before. Sure there were tons of them,different kinds with different rules. But she found over the years that burning and decapitation worked all around for everything.

"He can take a shot if he likes." She smirked at the one who spoke then gazed at her, her own blue eyes measuring him. His were shockingly blue within blue. Hers were the tone of the sky,then darker towards the iris. " I don't think we've met before, so how the hell would you know what I can take and what I can't?" She turned that cocked bow at the one who'd spoken. She wasn't to be taken lightly, sure she wasn't a mage or spell caster, but she could take as good as she gave magic wise. She also didn't like men or anyone for that matter, who said she couldn't deal with something. Oh the heat was intense but she'd had worse.

Her brows rose over to her current companion waiting for some sort of signal. To fight,flee,or go down with guns blazing so to speak. She would follow his lead,this was after all his mission.

Xig grinned, watching her with bemusement as she berated the Archmage. He slipped his hands behind his back, wrists together as the guard behind him stepped up, whispering in the same strange and ancient tongue that she had heard Xig mumble in some few times now, his fingertips dancing about the air for a moment and she could see that out of the air between his hands he stretched a golden cord, slipping it about Xig's wrists several times and whispering another incantation, the string tightening and drawing together seamlessly.

The second guard stepped in behind Lia, taking her loose wrists in his hands to twist them back up behind her back.

She growled lightly as her hands were twisted behind her back. It was magic they used,some sort of magical cord. She smirked at the male who took her wrists in his hands. "So you got a name handsome?" She fluttered her lashes at him,and smiled almost seductively at him. "I don't usually go for bondage, let alone with out knowing the mans name who's binding me." She grinned at him, not expecting an answer.

Her eyes then leveled on the leader. "It will make a pretty noose for such a pretty head." She cocked her head back at the one behind her. That gaze,lingered over the man behind her,looking at him from head to toe. If she meant the head on his shoulders or not,no one could be sure. Then she would allow him to bind her hands. Her eyes leveled on the woman then. "So Blondie, as the odd woman out among three men. Tell me did you not tell them the most honored rules among women" That a man, a true man." Her eyes leveled back on the leader. Her gaze lingered on him,and there was that cocky smirk of hers. "Should be a gentlemen with a lady." That smirk only got wider. Her eyes never wavered from the leader.

"Guess you likely missed that lesson. But then again, you look like the bondage type. "

She wiggled her bound hands a bit,knowing she wouldn't likely be able to break the magical cord. She figured if she put up a fight they'd likely try to disarm her, and as it was she assumed that was the next step. Oh they could take her bow,quiver, assorted daggers. But no one could lay a hand upon her pendant, nor her hidden fan blade, which still stayed hidden, sheathed at her right. If the man behind her,or any of them tried to touch it they would be in a heap of pain.

Xig eyed her across the way. "You read right through him."

Natalia smirked softly. " What man, immortal or not does not desire power, if this demon trapped within that pendant we stole is as powerful as you say, then why would anyone destory it?"

"I was planning to." He admitted.

"You have no desire to destroy the world, perhaps you've seen enough blood shed. But were trapped now, unless I can get this cord undone."

"Its magical, only undone by those who place it. Avenhallow chains."

"Figures."

Xig looked to Lia in her cage, fre of the golden bonds and already working on picking the lock on the gate. He knew she had seen the kiss, felt the tenson in the room.

"I wont kill her." She said as she leaned in closer to the bars, her arms reaching out through the gap.

"You seemed hell bent on doing just that."

Lia exnored him as she picked at the lock. "Lia.." He tried to gain her attention. "Lia!"

"What?" Can't you see I am trying to pick a lock here.." She gazed up across to him in his cage. "You can't kill her, you must promise me."

"You love her, that's obvious. What's to keep her from running to her brother now that were unbound" You were with her before, for how long, decades? I may not know you Xig, but I know women like that. If she doesn't sell us out, she will stand in our way. I wont kill her..." She broke the lock and oepned her cell door , and walked across to break him out of his. "But you may have to." Once he was free she peered through the small window in to the hallway beyond where Xoren sat with a book.

"I am going to get him in here, and distract him, go back in the cell, pretend your still bound and locked in...I'll deal with him, you deal with Lorph. I'll meet you on the far side of the door."

Xig nodded and went back in to the cell preteding to be locked up.

(Rated M)

"I should return to my watch." Xoren started to leave, but Talia pulled him clsoer with one hand. "Stay, keep me company, I am free after all. What would your boss say if he found out. As long as your here with me, I can not escape. " She ran her fingers down his chest.

"I was bored all alone in my cell, come in with me, sit, talk..I wont bite." She drew him closer. Xoren was trapped in her eyes it seemed or maybe it was the motion of her body to his that had his mind only on her. That was the plan after all.

" So are you going to answer my question truthfully now?"

"Which question my lady?" She smirked, "My name is Lia...say it.." He looked in to her eyes and she saw his gaze waver down her shirt.. "Lia.." "Did it ever not cross your mind that Xig and Nysitre were tearing up the sheets, in a deep lovers embrace" Did you ever not wish to touch her soft pale skin with you bare hands...?"

His eyes settled to her own again. "Perhaps."

" You gave up so much, your passions. Isolated with them, telling yourself you had vowed never to do anything about them. While she, your sister at arms was rolling around in bed with Xig, a man who is like a brother yes" "

Xoren nodded his eyes only on her.She could hear the comotion down the hall a Xig delt with Lorph, that was why she was so clsoe to Xoren, her body teasing his own. His mind could not be on anything but her.

"You've never enjoyed the touch of a woman have you? The pleasure in it' Xig has likely enjoyed many women in his freedom, he left here and Nysitre, you could have had her. Xig had me, many times. I know what a powerful lover he can be.."

Xoren's eyes snapped to her there before him. " That's right...you want what he had...you want me, you want her. You can have me now and her later...but we have to make a deal first."

"What ever you wish of me.." He had all but signed his death then and there, but Talia was intersted in the temptaion of this pure soul.

" Help me escape, Xig with me. Help us destroy the talisman."

"Alright.."

"No matter what it takes?"

"No matter.."

"Good, now I will show you the ropes. Teach you to seduce and win over Nysitre...and who knows you might well enjoy yourself...Just remember personal affection is not something we can afford right now, you may very well have to kill your other brother in arms and your boss to get this coo off.."

"I am willing. If I may have..."

"You'll get her. I promise."

Xig stood at the end of the hall waiting. Lorph unconscious at his feet. "What took you so long?" He asked as she came through the doorway. "He needed a lesson." She smirked and swaggered past him.

He watched her a second then snatched her wrist. "Did you kill him?" She shook her head, " No, he needed a taste of passion, you know he wants to screw your old girl friend right.." A wider smirk.

"You let him..."His eyes flashed with anger..."He touched you?"

"Who's jealous now.." Or is it the fact that he wants to ravage your girlfriend?"

Xig growled and with a power snap had her against the door. She merely smirked at him. "Hmm I didn't judge you and Blondie having the horizontal tango..yet your worried about a little seduction..."

He growled at her and then fiercely kissed her. "Nysitre and I are over, yes I love her...I care for her...But I am not in love with her...if Xoren wants her he can have her.." Talia grinned at that. "My thoughts exactly...you know where to find her, go to her..." She raked her nails down his shirt, and he would feel the spell take effect. "These marks will prove that I double crossed you.." He gritted his teeth looking to the blood running down his shirt he felt the pain in his jaw as if she had indeed hit him. "You want me to send her to him..."

"Tell her Xoren could be dead, she'll go to him..and after what I have done to him, he wont be able to control him self..."

Xig shook his head at her and grinned. "I will go and find her. "

"And I will do a little recon. "She gave him a short kiss then left down the hallway.

All I ever had to do was follow the pulse of power.



She slid through the shadows, though here it seemed they were few and far between, there was something about this place. Too much light. But still she found her way around the other wandering mages' and students.

It seemed oddly cliche that she would find Vavdichal, up in a tall tower. But the pulse of power came from no where else. She slipped up the stairs,dispatching the guards he had placed along the way. Those poor mages' never saw her coming. She had found her weapons along her way there and now was fully stocked once more. Not that she would ever really need a weapon to kill.

She stopped sat the door, it was open and Vavdichal was facing away from her, he was stripped to the waist, kneeling in the center of a circle drawn with golden sand. Candles were lit and there was the air of burning herbs. The golden talisman was sitting before him on an alter, it was now stained with his blood. Xakarii had already been arisen. The demon knelt before Vavdichal. Talia flattened herself to the wall beside the door.

It was huge, it dominated the room. She took slow easy breaths. There was the scent of herbs again, but they only worked to over power the scent of blood. She peered in again, understanding why Vavdichal had not turned to see her there, had not sense her, he was dead.

She heard Xig coming up the stairs and halted him with a gesture the moment he saw her hiding. She shook her head and mouthed the word run to him.

The tower shook when the demon rose to its feet. "Run!"

She broke her hiding spot and ran to Xig. Catching his arm as she went. The tower seemed to fall apart as they fled down the steps in tot he main hallway. All around them mages' fled,creating portals for escape. "I think we need your girl Xig."

"I sent her to Xoren.."he cast his eyes towards the jail. Talia looked behind them as the demon walked forth. The tower was gone,and it stood a huge balor. It would over take the whole area within moments, mages' ran to fight it and died with in moments.

"We need to go." He pulled her along back towards the jail.

What they walked in on was a sight Talia had expected. "I may have done my work too well..." Xoren and Nysitre lay in a lovers deep embrace. Or it seemed like them, for the image blurred and wavered.

Xig turned his head away. "They are gone...either fled or taken...we have no way out."

Talia went to the door and peered out the small window. "The demon is fighting your comrades." Her eyes panned the room, and saw one wall of the huge palace,school was gone. Outside she could see the land they had left,as if it floated below them. "We can run for it, I can see our reality below."

Xig looked out the window after her. " The demon will not long be kept here." He saw the bloody talisman laying in the center of the main room. Vavdichal's torn dismembered body beside it. "I need to get to that talisman, and end this."

Talia shook her head. "You plan to fight that thing?" He shook his head, "No not fight it, imprison it. Lia...the talisman will hold it...but only,...only if someone is willing to give up their life..." "No...you can not. We can escape."

"To what end" It will not be held here...I will put the talisman on, the demons energy will flow in to me, and then you must kill me."

"No."

"Lia...you must. Other wise the world is doomed, even if we escaped it would be only mere days before the rest of the world went too..it must end here. This is the right thing to do. Do what you were trained to do, kill me." He grabbed her and kissed her deeply.

What she did not know then was as he kissed her he grabbed her own pendant and let go of his soul. As he left her there going out to die, his soul was already gone, he was already dying

I left soon after never to see any of the mages or their palace like school in the sky again. I never knew what became of any of them, nor cared to know.

I returned to The Temple of The Order. I was forever changed.

It was only then that I found out Xig had given me his soul. One of the elders told me. That was one of the last days I spent on the temple grounds.

That was three hundred years ago.

Seven hundred and fifty five years later, I remain forever changed.

Two souls reside in my pendant now....Xig's. The only man I ever loved and trusted and my own. The soul of the woman who could love and care. For now I neither care nor love. Death is my art....and I will show the good, the evil..I will show everyone that there is no peace...I will ally myself with whom ever pays the most, or benefits me the best.

Rhydin is not the first. Merely another town in my wake.

Hundreds lie behind me, in flames and blood.

For the good must come to understand that love and caring brings them nothing but pain. And the evil will learn as well. For there will never be peace.

The fight had been a good one. Watching the guardian slip off with her own wounds. Talia smirked. Her wounds like the womans would heal. But the three dead would never come back, and the one left living would soon wish for death.

Talia watched the mystery savoir go to the temple, the very temple she had seen for days now. The Sanctuary.

She could tail anyone with ease and she watched as the woman pounde don the door and waited.

She watched as she was allowed in by another woman warrior.

There wa sno way to get closer with out being seen. The city guard was already out. But Natalia place a mark on the place over the air with her finger. "Let it begin."

It was interesting knowing she was being tracked. It was even more interesting watching the warrior shift forms. What ever she was Talia was unsure. But it gave her an idea. While the warrior went off towards the city Talia went towards the docks.

The need to throw off her enemies was needed. It wasn't time for them to know her yet. It wasn't time to make another move. This time she would leave none alive.

It was almost too easy.

A pair of lovers. A man who worked on a cargo ship, and a woman. If it was his wife or mistress Talia did not care.

They never even heard her coming.

The woman saw her moments before she died. She didn't even cry out.

She lay them out on the deck of the cargo ship. Soon others would come. They bled out on the nice polished deck. Talia dipped a fingertip in that blood and as the sun started to set she used their blood like ink upon the white sail.

" Too Late,Saviors of Rhydin."

She smirked at her work and left long before the blood had cooled. She watched from not far as the bodies were found. The woman who found them both screamed, and that scream would bring others.

Talia waited till the warrior of two forms showed up. Oh she saw that crestfallen look and almost heard the woman sigh. But there was a fight in that one, and Talia was sure that she would go back to tell of this new death to those who needed to know.

Natalia didn't follow them.

No she sat there on the docks watching.

Her trap had been set.

She sat shaded under the brim of a wide hat, in clothes more befitting a sailor than an assassin. But that was all part of the plan.

She watched the two drop in through the roof hatch while the Rhydin guard went about totally unaware outside the doors.

They might have carted away the bodied and the ship but they were not the best at guarding anything.

Talia rose to her feet and idly walked towards that sixth warehouse.

The dock was all a bustle already and the sun was barely up.

It was perfect.

Walking to the far left side of the warehouse she stood up on some of the old crates and peered through the window.

Inside she could see the two female warriors. They were walking about the cargo ship with care. Taking note of anything left behind.

The one of two forms slipped below the deck while the other was looking over the now stained floor boards of the cargo ship. Talia jumped off the crate and walked down the little alley way past a walking guard. He even nodded to her and watched her swagger past.

Talia counted in her head as she rounded the bend towards the back of the next warehouse.

As she took her twentieth step that sixth warehouse exploded in to flames. With a grin she looked back as the Rhydin guards who weren't blow away were rushing to save the warehouse. Almost giddy with delight Talia wandered away tossing that wide brimmed hat off along the dock. There was no way anyone inside would have survived that.

The whispers had begun ages ago. When she had been but a girl under The Order. After the first of the blood had been split over her hands. Long before the loss of love and friendship.

Clasping that pendant in her hand she felt the dark pulses and the whispers once more.

"Come.." The voice she had heard in her dreams, the voice that had spoken to her from that letter that had brought her to this forsaken city. That voice that told her who to pick out, who to kill. What vengeance to seek.

A voice dark and deep. Seductive and alluring.

Talia had left the billowing smoke behind her. So utterly pleased with herself. She had struck out not at one but two of those who would stand in the way. The voice was pleased with her. "Talia...come."

It held so much power over her. It was like Xig's voice. She some how wanted it to be him. For it to be his essence that called to her, brought her here. She followed the whims of the voice and the power. She walked away from the docks, and in to the city.

She walked on till the night had fallen.

There in the small dell she found herself drawn. The moons light was over head casting long shadows over the ground. She knew what she had come for. Walking as if in a trance her hand on that pendant about her neck she walked in to the light and knelt to her knees. "I call to thee the power of the dark god. I am here your open vessel. Show unto me your will."

On her knees head back eyes closed she felt the shadows rip up and around her,caressing her like a wild fire. They toyed with her long hair wrapped around her like a lovers deep embrace. She felt the power. It shot through her core and ebbed through her whole body. It shot in to the tattoos she had born for so many years. They turned warm and filled her with an unholy power.

"You are bathed in blood, my sweet." The voice was there before her. Opening her eyes they settled upon a form. He was of blood and death, he was of shadow and darkness. He was of murder and mayhem. Yet she had never seen any man more powerful, more deserving of her. "My lord.." She felt the form come closer.

"It s time. Call forth to the woods bring forth the pale one. Take its blood and drink deep. Bathe yourself in it, and allow me to watch you. You please me Natalia. You do my bidding well. And it is time that you make yourself known. " An image of a place somewhere within the city flashed in to her mind.

"Go there announce yourself as one of mine, they will welcome you in to the fold. Tell them of your deeds for me. You will grow in their company. And if you continue to please me I will grant you your lover back. " She felt his hand touch her face, it was cold dark and skeletal. Looking up at the figure she could see those eyes rimmed red as fresh blood. Images flashed in to Talia's mind. The Skeletal Ram....Nocent...The IronHelm Flats...all had fiercely called out to their fanatical believers and hateful allies. That was where she must go.

"Call to the pale one now. Allow me to watch you."

Talia closed her eyes and chanted. A deep chant in a tongue of old. She felt the power eb in to her from the ground. Felt the dark caress of the figure before her. Felt that shadow of a hand move over her. Delve in deep. She felt the singe of pain on her thigh and knew there would be another marking there once she looked. "Yes.." She moaned and heard the sweet sigh of the dark lord before her. "So ripe and sweet.." His voice was intoxicating.

She opened her eyes to watch the creature come from the wood. Pale as moonlight. Fair as snow. The creature came int he form of a buck. But that was just the vessel. Through her vision Talia could see the true forms. The buck was the light, the good. Love and friendship. It took two parts a noble man and a noble woman. They had been melded in tot hat single pure form...The buck called by the magic the deep drumming of power came towards her. It wanted to flee, Talia could see that in its golden eyes. But it was trapped in the sway.

She drew the dagger from her boot as the pale buck came forward to her. With a strike as quick and lithe as a snake she slit its throat and let the blood spill in to her hands. She took the blood and wiped it over her brow,under her eyes and across her lips.She drank from it and felt the power She reached with bloody hands under and over her clothed form to bathe herself in it as the dark form watched her with utter pleasure.

The pale buck died there with its blood in her on her. The dark force came toward her again.

"Rise and go now, go to them, your sisters in arms, your new allies in this battle. Regale them with your tales of blood shed. Tell them you have struck a blow to the Warriors and Priestess's of Scathach. You are mine now, marked with my own hand. Rise, my warrior and go."

Talia rose to her feet still bathed in blood and walked from the dell towards the city. The blood seemed to seep in to her skin, in to every pore. It made her feel high and light. It made her feel powerful. She felt that pendant about her neck pulse and knew that Xig's soul felt the power as well. "Soon.." By the time she reached the place she had seen in her mind the blood was gone and she was high on the power of it. Death and beauty in black.

The IronHelm Flats. She followed the drum beat. Followed it down in to the lower levels. The symbol of the dark church, a crimson skeletal ram's head, is painted in blood above the archway led her on ward. The place was ripe, the scent of death and decay. But there was power. the passage way ahead was beauty, Gothic beauty. The drum beat drew her, through the twists and turns guiding her with an outstretched bloody hand. The voice was there again, laughing,telling her to push forward.

She came to the wall. A wall full of bones and skulls. One that spoke to her of all the deaths wrought. It brought a sick grin to her fair features. "I am here.." She felt the drum beat end and felt the darkness around her. "I have come."

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