Jaeyria stared at the barracks from behind the cover of the hedges. Kyren was breathing down her neck on one side, and Eiridan's arm was brushing her on the other. She shifted slightly to be closer to Eiridan and sent a warning look at Kyren in the dim light.

He cleared his throat softly and scooted over a bit.

As soon as he did, she went back to examining the situation. They'd made it past the outer curtain wall, outer bailey, and inner curtain wall with relative ease. The acid moat had been easily surpassed as well. With all of the distractions around, they hadn't faced any opposition yet. It still kind of surprised her, but she was too busy worrying about other things to think about that.

For instance, she was having second thoughts about this entire endeavor. By now, Vaxon had most likely killed the Magi families in retaliation for their rebellion and attack on his castle. Kyren and Eiridan still held out hope for their families, but she wished they wouldn't. If anyone was still alive, Vaxon would use them as leverage. They wouldn't be able to free them easily after this.

She wondered if perhaps they should just break into the dungeons and free whoever was still left. Kyren's family, if they still lived, would be free too, and they could come back to fight later. Inside, she knew it was a silly notion, but she voiced the concern anyway. "Kyren?"

"What?" he asked with a huff.

"Why are we still doing this?" she muttered, eyeing the barracks, which were unlit and still.

"I knew you didn't want to help!" he growled.

She glanced over at him in annoyance. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But with all of the commotion, couldn't we just go straight for the dungeons to free them? I mean, Vaxon's defenses on the dungeons have probably weakened some, right?"

Kyren went silent for a moment, considering her idea. His forehead scrunched up in thought as he mulled over the idea. Then he shook his head emphatically. "No. Vaxon wouldn't lessen his guard on the Magi families even now. More than likely, he had them moved to the throne room to keep them under closer guard. If anyone's still alive, anyway."

Jaeyria swallowed hard. She winced as the wind shifted, blowing the stench of the pig sties their way. Resisting the urge to cover her nose, she kept her eyes fixed on the barracks, thinking about how they could make it past.

Eiridan jumped into the conversation then. "Well, we can't go through the front gates. That'll get us caught for sure. So is there a secret way in, Kyren?"

Kyren nodded. "Through the guards' barracks."

"I suppose it's too much to hope it's unoccupied?" Eiridan whispered, his nose wrinkling.

"Yes, it is. It's definitely occupied. My father keeps a squad back to watch over the inner bailey so that he can have early warning of a breach. They'll be in the observation room."

Jaeyria nodded absently, fingering the pommel of her sword. There was no going back now, she supposed. They still had a shot at tricking Vaxon into letting them and their families live. Most likely, he would agree to her request simply because she'd been working closely with Vassti since escaping the arena.

In Vassti she sensed a kindred spirit, and she suspected that the woman was suffering inside due to some traumatic event, which had likely caused her closed off behavior. It wasn't an attitude that was all that different from her response to killing her parents by accident. Since the events that had marred their lives, both women had closed off, become calculating, and chose to wear masks to hide the pain.

Vaxon, however, was a different story. The man had no morals, and he certainly had no regrets. He killed without remorse. He hurt without a twinge of guilt. Unlike his wife, he didn't wear masks to hide pain or vulnerability. The face he presented to the public wasn't meant to hide anything.

No, it was his true face. A man who would kill his own child without a thought was a man who was truly worthless and disgusting. Hence, she wondered if she could really stomach pretending to serve him. Could she, in good conscience, follow through with this? Whatever else Vassti was, she was a loyal wife, and Jaeyria knew that complying with Vassti's wishes would require her to obey Vaxon as well. The two couldn't be separated in intention. And there was the matter of her Blood Oath.

She'd sworn to deliver Kyren to the royal couple, and she'd sealed it with blood. It wasn't something she could break. Thankfully, that was the only thing she'd promised for sure. Every other promise was one that she'd fulfilled by now. If she wanted out after delivering Kyren, she could leave. It wasn't as though Vaxon could stop her. She'd leave with Eiridan before he knew what had happened, and she'd make sure the royal couple knew they were leaving Castre, never to return.

Optimistic of you, isn't it? she chided herself. It isn't likely that'll be what happens. Still, she refused to let go of that notion.

"Well, let's get a move on!" Kyren hissed, snapping her out of her reverie.

She drew her one-and-a-half hand sword and anelace without comment and matched his quick dash across the silent inner bailey to the guards' barracks. Dimly, she was aware of Eiridan following after a few moments.

When they reached the wooden door, Kyren eased it open. It ground against the stone floor, indicating how heavy it was. Jaeyria winced, hoping that the guards wouldn't be alerted immediately. Glancing at Eiridan, she murmured, "They'll try to kill you, Eiri. So you need to fight back and be faster." She shifted her anelace in her hand a bit and then added, "Our chances of surviving are low as it is. We can't lose anyone now."

With that, she followed Kyren into the barracks. It reeked of unwashed bodies and rancid food. A few low tables were spread throughout the room with benches to sit on, but there was nothing to offer shelter. No tapestries covered the drab stone walls, and the windows were bare slits, only letting in a little light here and there. The musty air was heavy and wet in comparison to the cool, fresh air outside.

She heard footsteps in the corridor just to their left and glanced over at the two men to see if they were ready. If they weren't, it was just too bad. They weren't going to have much time to get ready.

Sure enough, a guard stepped around the corner. He squinted at them in the dim light, then said, "Hey! What're you doing? You're not supposed to be in here."

Jaeyria didn't miss the predatory smile on Kyren's lips as he straightened and faced the man. "Too bad because we are."

The guard's gaze fell to the swords then, and his eyes widened as he realized, seemingly for the first time, that they were armed. His mouth opened and closed as his eyes traveled back up to their faces. His eyes met Kyren's then, and he stammered, "P-prince Kyren? You... But you're..."

Fool. He can't even speak without stammering. He's both a fool and a coward...

"Not dead yet?" Kyren suggested with a nonchalant smile.

"Err... Y-yes. I suppose n-not..." The ratty little man backed up toward the wall, his hand going for the frayed rope on it.

Jaeyria strode over to him before he could reach the little bell pull and pressed her sword to his throat. "Now that's really not necessary," she admonished. "Because, if you pull that rope, I'm going to slit your throat."

Eiridan's discomfort washed over her through their Bond, and she tensed, knowing it upset him to see her threatening someone like this. But it couldn't be helped. The man would've brought all of the guards in the area down on them, and this whole thing would've failed.

For some reason, he's suddenly decided pulling that rope isn't a good idea. Can't imagine why... Jaeyria smirked. But her smirk dropped into an annoyed glare when the man began screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Help! We're under attack! Guards!"

With a huff, she jerked the anelace's sharp blade through his throat in one swift motion. Warm blood splattered her face as the man coughed and wheezed. He dropped to his knees, clutching his neck and gurgling as he choked on his own blood and spit. On his way down, his blood soaked hand landed on her knee as he tried to get back up. The blood left smears on her pants, and the metallic scent of it hung in the stale air.

His eyes were wide with astonishment as she stared down at him in disdain. "Now, see, that was really stupid. I might not have killed you if you hadn't done that. So you really shouldn't have done that."

The man collapsed face first on the floor as Kyren chuckled. "Nice touch, Shadow."

Jaeyria acknowledged him with a raised brow and ensconced herself behind the wall in the alcove beside Eiridan as more footsteps thudded in the hall. She gripped the hilt of the anelace, which was growing warm in her hand now. A group of men burst into the room, weapons drawn, and stopped, eyeing the trio in distaste.

A slender man forced his way to the front of the group, his cerulean eyes sweeping over Kyren as he crossed his arms. His hair was a black, unruly mop on his head, and his skin was pale, which surprised her since he was a soldier and should spend lots of time in the sun. An annoyed look passed over his finely-boned face for a moment, but he quickly hid his irritation behind a smirk. "Kyren! What are you doing here? And why have you allowed your companions to kill one of my men?" He looked down at the fallen soldier and nudged him with a booted toe, grimacing.

"Ander," Kyren said, nodding sharply. "I don't owe you any explanations."

"Still, you'll explain. You've always been the sort to do that." Ander waved a slender hand dismissively. His other hand dropped to the pommel of his sword, the long fingers caressing the hilt impatiently.

Kyren growled softly. "Fine. I'm done being a slave to my parents, you, and my inner darkness. You deserve everything you're going to get, Ander. Should the gods decide you're worthy of a new life, be a little smarter. Don't torture other people for fun. Oh, and more importantly, don't rat them out to the King when you find out about things they want kept a secret."

"I should've killed you when I first found out. Show a little gratefulness towards me since I chose not to. Speaking of which... I got your father to promise Ashyra to me as spoils if I bring you to him alive. Honestly, I thought I'd have to find you out on the field in all that chaos, but no! You came to me!" Ander clapped his hands together with a gleeful smile. "All the better because as soon as you're gone, she's my property. I should've had her years ago, and I always wondered why she turned me down every time I asked for her. Imagine my fury when I found out I'd been bested by my old nemesis yet again. It's about time you lost her to me."

Kyren clenched his fists, and Jaeyria watched the exchange nervously. Who was this man that he could goad Kyren with such ease? And what kind of monster would treat a woman as though she was property to be used and thrown out at will?

"You'll never have her!" Kyren shouted. "All you've done is doom yourself."

Ander's eyes raked over her as he shrugged off Kyren's threat. She shivered, resisting the urge to take shelter behind Eiridan as he smiled at her. "Well, perhaps a deal could be made? Your companion is quite pretty herself. What do you say, Kyren? Ashyra's safety and separation from my harem slaves in exchange for this one?" He raised a brow. "Surely you won't sacrifice your wife to me for this woman's sake?"

Kyren glanced over at her, his gaze contemplating. She knew he was seriously considering it, and she resisted the urge to be sick. He won't really just hand me over to Ander, will he? I... No, he wouldn't. She refused to think about what would happen to her if he did. Ander's desire shone sharply in his contemplative blue eyes, and her grip on her weapons faltered for a moment.

Eiridan's own fear and irritation swept over her, but then he pushed it away, and it was replaced with understanding and a fierce protectiveness, which was aimed at her. She locked gazes with him, letting his slight smile and reassuring eyes soothe away her fears.

Then Ander moved, catching her attention again.

"No," Kyren finally hissed. "You can't have either of them. I'll not subject any woman to your unwanted sexual advances, especially knowing how you'll treat them. My wife turned you down then because you treated her like an object instead of a person; she chose me because I didn't act like a jerk. Anyway, you're likely to get a dagger in the back if you bother with her." He waved at Jaeyria with a smirk, but when his gaze met hers, she saw the hint of warning in his dark eyes.

Surprised, she realized that Kyren was protecting her as best he could from Ander.

"That's perfectly fine," Ander said, laughing. "I like them feisty. It makes for a good fight..." Looking over at her, he saluted her with his sword and a raunchy grin. "What do you say, sweetheart? It'd be well worth your time."

Eiridan's fury washed over, surprising her yet again. She'd thought he'd be upset, but she hadn't expected the raging anger she felt radiating off him. He took a step closer, and she froze when she heard his thoughts as clear as day. How dare he suggest that! He has no right to her, and if he even thinks about touching her like that, I'll cut his fingers off one at a time and then kill him. That is, I'll do it if she doesn't.

She stood in silence for a long moment, stunned by his violent thoughts. Then she pulled herself together and glared at Ander. "You're right!" Jaeyria said. "Sticking a dagger in your back would be well worth my time, you animal." Before he had time to register her movement, she'd hurtled into him, her one-and-a-half hand sword raised to strike and her anelace ready to follow up the blow.

Ander barely got his sword up to block her blow before it could connect with his neck. He grunted as she drove him backward. Then chaos broke loose as the four motley men he had with him engaged them in combat. She used the tip of her knife to etch runes while fighting off Ander's attacks. The runes were shaky and scrawling as she moved about, but they did the trick.

Flashing brightly, they shaped into a shadow rope and tied the second man coming at her. He tripped and dropped to the floor, landing on his own sword. She glanced over to be sure that he'd been killed and then turned her attention back to Ander.

He flashed her a predatory grin. "Really, darling, this isn't necessary. I won't be that rough," he said, running his eyes over her body with a smirk. "Unless, of course, you enjoy that sort of thing."

The nerve of the man! As if I'd ever sleep with him. Eiridan's the only man who will ever occupy my bed if I have anything to do with it. "I'm Bonded, you fool," she growled. "And my husband would kill you for touching me like that. If I didn't slaughter you for it first."

Jaeyria gritted her teeth. She countered another blow and sent shadow ropes flying at Ander. Her spell hit home, dropping Ander to his knees. "Did you seriously think you'd defeat Kyren on the battlefield?" she asked, laughing at him as Kyren finished his opponent off and stormed over.

Before Ander could respond, Kyren lashed out, hitting him across the face with the pommel of his broadsword. Ander screamed in pain as the pointed edge of the metal grip dug into his skin and ripped it open. Blood poured down his face and from his mouth. It gleamed wetly in the thin rays of light from the windows, and the brilliant vermillion was a stark contrast to the paper white of his skin.

He spit out a mouthful of blood on Kyren's boots and clamped his mouth shut in defiance.

"You would never have defeated him, Ander. He's stronger than me, and I beat you with ease," Jaeyria scoffed. "Kyren, do you want the honors or should I?"

Kyren narrowed his eyes at the man. "How about we both finish him in the worst way possible. I'll cut off his hands, and you can slit his throat after. Sound good?"

Ander shut his eyes, but he refused to make a sound or speak. Jaeyria did have to admire that. When faced with such a brutal death, the man wasn't cowering. Perhaps he wasn't as much of a coward as she'd assumed. "Sounds great, actually," she said, grinning.

Kyren nodded and grabbed Ander's hand. Laying it flat on a table that hadn't been upturned, he raised his sword and stared down at Ander with a grim smile. "I told you you'd doomed yourself. What did you think I meant, Ander? No one gets to talk about hurting my wife or any woman, for that matter, without paying the price. Think about what it means to lose both hands, Captain. If I were to let you live, you'd never touch another woman in the inappropriate ways that you've imagined hurting my wife and my friend's wife."

This time a whimper did escape Ander as he stared into Kyren's resolved face. "Get it done with then," he whispered.

Another man's screams filled the room, and the three of them started, looking over to the door. Eiridan had shoved his opponent off him, and he had him on the floor, writhing in agony. The man wasn't injured outwardly, but they all knew what Healers were capable of. Clearly, Eiridan had finally had enough of near death experiences.

But he didn't seem willing to kill the man. He was just staring down at the pain-stricken face of the guard in bewilderment and guilt. His fingers twitched on his blade as though he was considering healing the man instead of ending him.

The guard was curled into a fetal position, screaming and clawing at his face. His nails gouged into his skin, drawing blood, and his eyes were wild as he looked at Eiridan. The pupils were dilated to three times the size they should be, and foam trickled from the guard's mouth as he gasped for breath.

Jaeyria sighed. This was exactly what she and Kyren had warned him he'd face.

"Your husband's too pathetic to kill me for taking you by force," Ander scoffed under his breath.

Jaeyria's gaze snapped back to the man. "Forget his hands, Kyren. Handle Eiridan, and I'll get rid of this sleazebag myself."

Kyren shrugged and backed off without comment. She was a little surprised he gave in to her demands so easily, but she thought that perhaps the man understood that she needed to be the one to finish Ander for his odious behavior. Raising her blade, she brought it down on his wrist before he could move.

Ander screamed, mingling his pained shouts with those of the other man. Tears dripped down his face as he gritted his teeth and fought back moans. Blood splattered the table top and oozed from his severed wrist in crimson waves. Soft whimpers still escaped him despite his attempts to remain silent. He spasmed as she yanked his other hand toward the table. "Please... Please just kill me," he groaned.

When he tried to fight her, she tied his hand down with shadows and repeated the previous procedure. Another series of screams spewed from his mouth. Finally done with that humiliation of her would-be tormentor, she crouched in front of him and slammed the anelace into his chest, smiling as the light in his eyes dimmed. "This is what happens when you mess with me," she snarled, yanking her dagger from his body as he slumped over, dead.

She turned to her companions to find Kyren holding a trembling Eiridan in place over the groaning soldier.

"Just finish it before the alarm's raised! The Nires and reinforcements will be coming, and you don't want to be here when they do. Hurry up!" Kyren snapped, shaking Eiridan a bit.

"Kyren..." Eiridan whispered, his face nearly white. His pale violet eyes stood out in his face under stark black lashes, which looked like ink against his pallid face. "I can't do this."

"You will, you useless fool!" Kyren shouted, shaking him again.

Eiridan's whole body was trembling visibly, and from her position, Jaeyria could see tears in his eyes as his lower lip quivered. "Jaeyria," he keened. "Tell him I can't do it." All color had fled his face, and his freckles dusted his parchment white skin like little splashes of brown paint. A tear dripped down his face as he stared down at the convulsing soldier.

She felt horrible for making him do this, but it needed to be done. "Eiridan, Kyren is right. You need to do this now. Before more people come."

"Y-you do it..." He shoved his falchion and stiletto toward her.

She shook her head. "I can't always kill them for you. You need to defend yourself. Sometimes death is necessary. This is one of those times. I'm not going to baby you when it comes to this kind of thing, Bond or not."

"I did defend myself," he whimpered. "The guy's not attacking me, is he?"

"No. But he'll give the reinforcements information, and our whole mission will fail," she said, staring at him.

His violet eyes dimmed as he turned his gaze back to the man, tears spilling down his cheeks.

Sighing, she sheathed her sword and put her hands on her hips. "Eiridan Stormblessed, suck it up, and do what needs doing. You were perfectly capable of violence two days ago, so why not now? Man up and kill the guy."

"Yes, Eiridan," Kyren murmured, yanking Eiridan closer to the man. "It'd be merciful to kill him now. You've already nearly finished him. By now, his mind is probably broken beyond repair."

Eiridan's surprise washed over her as his head snapped up. "How did you know I was thinking that?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"I know you, Healer. You've found every rationalization you can for avoiding this man's death, but you've run out of them. You know he needs to die, so you're now trying to rationalize finishing him yourself. I know because I have been a recipient of that good-natured compassion," Kyren said, his voice going quiet. "And you'll go through this exact same process when it comes to killing the Nires too."

Eiridan's eyes closed, and his tortured whimper struck Jaeyria to the core. "You're right," he whispered, defeat bowing his shoulders.

"Good. Get it over with and move on." Kyren patted Eiridan on the shoulder and stepped back.

Eiridan sucked in a deep breath and raised his eyes to meet hers for a brief moment. Tears fled down his face in rapid succession as he turned back to the man and murmured, "I'm sorry." Then he drove the blade down into the man's chest and pulled it back out. Blood bloomed on the man's tunic instantly.

Jaeyria caught him as he crumpled to the ground and expelled everything he'd eaten for lunch a moment later. She brushed his hair back from his sweaty forehead and rubbed his back while whispering words of encouragement to him. His falchion and stiletto had skittered to a stop beside the dead man when he dropped them.

Kyren didn't bother giving Eiridan a second to get over the shock he was feeling. He tapped Eiridan forcefully in the side with his boot. "Get up, Eiridan. We need to keep moving."

He can't handle what he just did, can he? Jaeyria thought as his revulsion swept over her when Kyren handed him his weapons. He stared down at the bloodied falchion with glassy, horrified eyes. His grip on it was ginger as though it scalded him to touch the pommel.

Sighing, she took the sword from him and put hers into his hand. His eyes met hers then, and though they were still haunted and guilty, they reflected his gratitude in no uncertain terms. His fingers closed around the grip without further hesitation, and he followed Kyren into the dormitory portion of the barracks.

They watched as he went straight to a blackened portion of the wall and pushed on the stone at the center of it. It almost looked as though a dragon had blowtorched the whole section. A moment later, a heavy grinding noise echoed, groaning through the room as a door opened in the wall.

Jaeyria stared at it for a moment, eyeing the dark space. She wondered if Eiridan would flip out due to the close space, but his eyes were distant and glimmered with unshed tears as Kyren swung to face them and grabbed a lit torch from the wall beside the door. Seeing the pain and despair on his face made her stomach clench, and she took his hand in hers, squeezing it in an attempt to comfort him.

Then she tugged him toward her, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before leading him down the flight of stairs and into the darkness where Kyren was waiting. The door grated shut with a boom as they stepped off the last stair.

***

Jaeyria ignored the nervous tremor in her gut as she portaled away from the two. She didn't think that Kyren's plan would work. There was no way that she could draw eight Nires out of the throne room just to chase her down. One of them would certainly be enough, maybe two if Vaxon wanted to be sure she died for daring to pop in uninvited.

Still, she couldn't change course now, and she was hoping for a very different outcome from the one Kyren envisioned. Guilt wormed its way into her soul as she landed in the center of the throne room.

All the subdued chattering ceased as a motley group of Magi families, a few of the Magi, the guards, and the Royal court turned their eyes on her. Vaxon sat up straighter in his seat and glared at her. Her eyes drifted from the irate king to the Queen, who stood primly behind the throne with a few of her ladies in waiting. Vassti's brow raised in question.

She stared in awe at the throne room, turning in a circle to take everything in. Ornate ceilings soared high above, sloping to a pinnacle in the center. A giant glass chandelier hung high above, illuminating the room with the light of candles. Lamps that held tiny fairies imprisoned glowed from the stone walls, and three ornate, iron-work doors led out of the giant, round throne room.

At the center, Vaxon's throne sat upon a dais of white marble. The throne itself was the only piece of black furniture in the room. Chairs of painted white wood lined the walls for the court, and even the doors were gilded gold so that they wouldn't be black. But Vaxon's throne of obsidian shone in the warm light, reflecting the glow like a mirror and absorbing some of it into its murky depths. It drew her eye to the king, who was wearing robes of pure black to match the throne. Rubies glinted on his fingers, and an emerald gleamed at his throat. His hair was neatly combed back, and his silver and gold crown sat low on his high brow.

She met his dark eyes then, and her eyes widened as the darkness in him seemed to writhe and dance within the bleak depths of his irises.

"What is the meaning of this?" Vaxon growled, standing up.

I'm so going to die... She shrugged. "Well, you see... I thought I'd pop in for a quick visit. See the sights. Meet you... Again. It's been a long time, by the way. How have you been?" Swallowing hard, she decided that Vaxon had definitely had enough. She waved with a false air of joviality and started drawing runes as quickly as she could. "I'm just going to pop back out now. See you later?" Her voice hitched on the last question.

Vaxon glared at her and reached out to stop her with his magic, but she was already gone. From outside the throne room, she heard him yelling for the Nires to bring her back. Gulping, she rushed to the window to see how the battle was faring outside.

She caught a brief glimpse of the two forces slamming into each other as her fingers brushed the cold stone. It was all she had time for before she had to flee down the corridor. The massive double doors that led to the throne room burst open as the lizard creatures stormed after her.

Jaeyria forced herself to go faster, knowing that she needed to draw as many after her as possible. Sure enough, another two sets of feet joined the pursuit, and she glanced behind her to see how many were in pursuit. Four out of the eight Nires were after her.

They were quickly gaining on her, and she looked forward again, forcing her body to go faster. She drew runes as she went, using them to portal her further away from the Nires. She wanted to just hightail it out of the keep altogether, but she couldn't. She had to get as many out of the way as possible so that Eiridan would have a chance. And she needed to draw Vassti out for a talk. The Queen would be sure to help her once she understood that Jaeyria wasn't there as a threat but as the ally she'd promised to be previously.

She turned a corner and slammed into a tall, scaly statue of a mermaid, which was standing against the wall just after the corner. Disoriented, she stumbled back, moaning. Pain stabbed through her at the points where she'd hit the marble statue, and she leaned against the wall, forgetting her pursuers for a moment.

How... What? She shook her head, trying to reorient herself. Running... I'm supposed to be running. Hissing, she shook her head again, clearing it as much as possible. The Nires. I need to get a little further. Just a little bit further. Honestly, how could I be dumb enough to run into a statue, of all things?

It was too late to escape, though, and she felt scaly, webbed hands dig into her bicep with cruel, steely resolve. The hand exerted steady pressure and pulled, forcing her to face its owner. She came face to face with one of the Nires from the throne room. Its buddies were just a few yards behind.

She squirmed, lashing out with her feet and the anelace, which she'd had the good sense not to put away. The creature hissed as the knife raked over its scales. She used her close range to her advantage as she tried to slam the knife into the cracks between the creature's plate-like scales. The force of the blow managed to crack a few of the scales, but it didn't do much else.

The lizard creature bared its snake-like fangs at her as she rammed the blade into the crack again. Its blood-red eyes glowered at her from beneath filmy lids. It blinked again as the pain finally registered. It batted at the knife in irritation, releasing its hold on her momentarily.

It was all she needed. Bringing a knee up into its groin, she prayed that it would work on the lizard like it did on regular men. Sure enough, the creature doubled over, cursing her in its hissing voice as she turned to run again.

To her surprise, Vaxon materialized in front of her as she turned down the next corridor.

She ran full tilt into him, knocking both of them to the ground. All of her breath was knocked out of her as she went down, slamming into the stone floor. Her shoulder hit hard, causing pain to shoot down her arm. Grunting, she tried to get back up.

Vaxon grabbed her ankle as she pushed herself to her feet and began to run. Yanking sharply, he tugged her feet out from under her, and she fell, her forearms driving into the carpeted granite. "Ugh!" She let out an annoyed snarl.

"Going somewhere, girl?" Vaxon asked, dragging her to her feet.

"Yeah, I'm kind of late for an appointment, so if you could let me go, it would be great," Jaeyria grumbled, squirming in his grasp.

"Oh, are you now?"

"Yes, I am. I... Err... I had a meeting with your castle inspector to make sure that the other Magi couldn't find the millions of weaknesses in your defenses. I mean, really, your Highness! You left the front door open for anyone who wants to come a-calling." Her body shook as he grabbed her wrist and tugged her close.

"I don't have a castle inspector," he hissed.

"Oh! That explains the problem, then," she mumbled. "Well, I happen to be an expert. You should close the keep's gates first. That's a very important thing that you should always do in the event of a siege. Oh, and probably you should keep the barracks fuller while fighting off an enemy army. They need to defend one of the three different secret entrances that give access to the throne room."

Vaxon snarled at her, grabbing her throat with his free hand.

"Bad time? Yeah, I see that now," she squeaked. "I'm shutting up now..." She flashed him a weak smile.

"Why are you really here? My wife told you to get my son and bring him. If you failed, you'd better be ready to meet your end just like your family."

"Well, see... I didn't fail. Not exactly, anyway." Jaeyria grabbed his arm. "He's here. In the secret entrance. And what family?"

"And your husband?"

"Why should that matter?"

Vaxon glared at her. "You know what will happen to him if you don't comply, right?"

"Nothing? You don't know where he is. Can you please explain your earlier remark?" she asked, knowing she was pushing it. "Because last I checked, I didn't have any living relatives for you to leverage."

"Yes, actually, I do. When you showed up, I figured that the only way you got in was with Kyren's help. That means you used the secret passages, which you helpfully mentioned knowing about just now. I've just told the Nires to go retrieve them. So you see, Jaeyria Lightwood — or perhaps it's Stormblessed now — I was missing a family member to leverage against you, but look at what you've done!" He grabbed her marked hand and turned her palm over forcibly. "You got married. And you're so in love. He's the perfect leverage against you, don't you agree?"

She narrowed her eyes. "But you said you killed a family member! How did you do that if I still have Eiridan? He's the only living relative I have... And I already brought Kyren to you. What else do you want? I promised that I'd leave at the end of the war with Eiridan. Look, I can see why you don't want us leaving before. We could just join the other Magi in fighting you. But I'm staying here voluntarily, and Eiridan will too if it means sticking with me."

"First, lying is something I dislike very much, girl. You knew just as well as the other Magi that I had a relative of yours."

"Umm... Yeah, but I didn't believe you when you said it."

He narrowed his eyes. "You mean to tell me that it doesn't matter to you that your cousin died due to your mistakes?"

"You miscalculated, Vaxon," Jaeyria said, laughing. She tried to stop, knowing he'd be angered by the outburst, but she couldn't. "I..." She hiccupped. "I told you... When you told me you had a family member, I didn't believe you. My relatives were all dead, and my parents died years ago. I didn't even know about my cousin. Why would I care about their death?"

"You're colder than I assumed..." Vaxon shook his head. "Very well. What about your husband?"

"Like I said, he'll follow if it means staying with me."

"Are you sure about that?" Vaxon asked, smirking. "Because he doesn't seem too keen on following me. Disgust practically oozes of him when he sees me or thinks about me."

"Eiridan doesn't feel like that about anyone." Now that is a lie. You heard what he was thinking about Ander in the guards' barracks.

"Doesn't he? Well, you'll see, I suppose. You have a choice now. Swear your loyalty to me now and save him. I'll let you two go after the war as promised, and I will release you of your oath at that point if you still wish to go. Your other option is to refuse." He grinned. "I'm not heartless, really. I'll give you the ability to exercise free will in the matter. But if you refuse, I'll kill him and make you watch as every other member of the rebellion dies. I still won't kill you; instead, I'll lock you up in one of the tower cells and make sure you live a nice long life to contemplate how foolish you were."

Jaeyria swallowed thickly, her gaze flickering to the throne room's double-doors, which were barely visible from her vantage point. The Nires beside Vaxon hissed at her, baring their fangs and forked tongues in vicious grins.

"You won't kill him? You'll let us go after the rebellion is over?" she asked, bile rising in her throat. I can't. I can't do this...

"Yes."

This was the turning point. This was where she chose good or evil. Sadly, Jaeyria didn't have the willpower to choose the right thing when she knew it would cost the man she loved his life. She also didn't want anyone's death on her conscience. Maybe some people she could justify killing. Self-defense killings, for instance. Or killing those who posed a threat to her or were too evil to continue. But innocents that she barely knew? She couldn't pass judgment on them.

Despair crushed her spirit as she realized what it would cost her if she denied Vaxon. Her eyes closed as she tried to decide. Vaxon tightened his grip on her wrists, forcing her to open her eyes again. Tears glittered in her eyes as he used his darkness to attack her mind.

He'll die... He will choke to death on his own blood, and you will watch. You will be the one to wield the blade that kills him if you do not capitulate.

No! she screamed at Vaxon in her mind, and tears dripped down her cheeks as she closed her eyes again, drawing whatever strength she had to build up her walls against his onslaught. Still, she wasn't strong enough.

The crushing weight of depression dropped onto her chest. Breathing became a chore, and lethargy crept over her as she gave in. What's the use of fighting anymore? I'll just lose everything I've got. He's already killed so many people, and Eiridan will be next. This is it. It's too late for us. The clock is ticking down, and time is not on our side.

Yes, Vaxon hissed in her mind. Join me, and you can finally have the rest you crave. You can be freed from the pain that fighting has been causing you. No more despair. No more regret. No more losing.

I'm so tired of losing. Whimpering, she dropped her head, staring at the red carpet beneath them as she wept in Vaxon's harsh grip. I lost the moment I agreed to help Vassti in return for his life. I'm unredeemable now, and no one, not even Eiridan, can save me. The darkness in my own heart has already choked out the good. If throwing out the remaining good is what I must do to save him, then I will do it. In this last, dark hour, I will not be selfish.

She tilted her chin up so she could look him in the eye. "Fine. I'll swear loyalty to you. I'll do whatever is necessary, and I won't second-guess you so long as Eiridan's safety and happiness is guaranteed. You must swear a Blood Oath not to kill him and to offer us safe passage out of Castre to some other kingdom where we can live in peace."

Vaxon shrugged, letting her go. "His happiness may not be guaranteed. That depends on whether he chooses to go along or fight. If he fights, I will lock him up in one of the tower cells. But you have my word and my Blood Oath that he will be taken care of there."

Jaeyria nodded, thankful that her plan had worked. "Then let's get this thing going. I've got some convincing to do, I guess. Kyren's not going to be happy about this either, so you better make sure he doesn't take his anger out on me or Eiridan."

Vaxon glowered at her. "You don't tell me what to do. Your choice to follow me means that you take the orders from the 'Dark side' as the rebels like to name it. Got that, Stormblessed?"

She nodded hastily, knowing that she'd pushed his buttons a little too much by now. "Can we just seal this thing and get it over with?"

***

Glancing around the room, she took in the other group of Magi. The Magi's families — well, those who were left after Vaxon's killing spree — were either in ropes or being guarded. The weaker ones were sitting on the floor, their heads bowed and shoulders hunched. A few were hacking weakly, and some of the ones coughing looked as though they were nearly gone already. She picked out Eiridan's mother in the crowd, remembering how the woman had looked when she'd visited her son years ago in Odera.

The change in the woman was ghastly. Her cheeks were sunken in, and her eyes were tired with puffy black bags under them. Her clothing hung off her frame, and her skin looked as though it was practically dripping off her bones due to the weight she'd lost. The sharp angles of her cheekbones cast shadows in the hollows of her cheeks, dramatizing the woman's sufferings. She coughed thinly, and Jaeyria could see the red staining her bluish lips. The woman was nearly dead already.

Sickened, she turned away to look back at Eiridan. Vaxon began offering him the same choice he'd given her after a pregnant pause. "Well, boy, you have a choice. You can serve me and save your mother while also staying with your wife. Or, you can refuse, and I'll kill your mother right now."

Eiridan let out a defiant hiss, which surprised Jaeyria. He really had changed since going into the arena, and she could tell he wasn't backing down on this. Closing her eyes, she willed him to just say yes. It wasn't that bad. Vaxon had promised them freedom if she did what he said. Why couldn't her husband take that opportunity as well?

"I'm never going to serve you!" Eiridan spat, glaring at Vaxon. "You're sick, and the only thing I'll do is try to save you from yourself. And after this, I'm not sure I can even muster the will to do that."

Kyren glared at him, and Jaeyria winced, wishing that Eiridan would tone it down or at least be a little more... uncertain, she supposed, about his refusal. She could feel the revulsion radiating off Eiridan, and one thought clearly stood out to her as they stayed silent, waiting for Vaxon's response. I can't even stomach pretending to serve this man. I'd rather die.

"You'd let your mother die and be separated from your wife?" Vaxon asked, his words slow and hard.

She couldn't take it anymore. Vaxon had made a promise, and he was going to keep his oath one way or another. Eiridan wasn't making this situation better, and she had to intervene before he got himself and his mother killed. "Remember your promise, Sire!" The Nires guards stepped closer to her, their reptilian gazes hooded and sinister. She shivered, biting her lip.

"I did, regretfully, promise not to kill either of you," Vaxon said, huffing as he glanced at her. "And you've been quite useful. I suppose you did deliver both my son and a Healer who could've helped the rebel cause a great deal."

Eiridan's shock washed over her, and she hung her head, ashamed of herself. Maybe she had done it for good reasons, but she hadn't done the right thing. Doing the wrong thing for the right things never justified bad behavior. Still, she had no other option. Please don't hate me, Eiri, she thought, whimpering as he scrutinized her.

Then he dropped his gaze away and lowered his head. She looked through her lashes to see what his response was, and she saw tears on his cheeks. His disappointment and resignation echoed through their Bond like the dying notes from some familiar, haunting melody.

Vaxon's laughter echoed through the throne room as he observed their interaction. "How does it feel to have your own wife betray you, boy? Can you honestly forgive her for that?" he asked, chuckling at Eiridan's downcast expression.

Kyren let out another, annoyed grunt as he got to his feet. He took a menacing step toward his father, but the Nires grabbed his shoulders and forced him back to his knees beside Eiridan. Despite the sick feeling in her stomach, she did feel warmed by his gesture. He was clearly protecting her husband, even if he wasn't pleased with Eiridan's choices.

The next words out of Eiridan's mouth soothed the fears inside a bit. "Yes. I've already forgiven her."

"Even when you're a prisoner because of her?" Vaxon crossed his arms, giving Eiridan a disbelieving look. "I don't believe you."

He closed his eyes. "Yes. And it doesn't matter if you believe me."

Snorting, Vaxon leveled an icy glare on Kyren. "Why did you choose to sponsor this weakling, anyway?"

She let out a soft sob, which was too soft to be heard over Vaxon's booming voice, but she could feel Eiridan reaching out to her. Recoiling, she tried to push his magic away. Disgusted with herself, she couldn't bear to believe him. She had lowered herself to the basest position imaginable: Vaxon's puppet. She had chosen evil over good in a moment of weakness, and she wanted nothing but to go back on that choice now.

Eiridan opened his eyes again. "I'm not a weakling. It takes a lot of strength to forgive you for the things you've done. And it takes more to forgive someone you love for hurting you deeply."

"Whatever. I'll give you one more chance, boy. Surrender or watch your mother die." Vaxon waved to the guards, and they dragged his mother forward.

When Eiridan saw her, a whisper ghosted out of his lips, but Jaeyria didn't catch what he'd said. Her eyes were simply fixed on the dying woman in front of her as she absorbed Eiridan's pain in guilty silence. The guards dropped the older woman on the floor, and she crumpled, stirring weakly at their feet.

A second of hesitation passed by in silence. Then Eiridan registered what was going on and jumped to his feet, trying to run to his mother. The Nires's tails snaked out, grabbing his arms and dragging him back. He yelled for a moment, but the screams soon faded off to soft sobs as he just whispered no over and over.

Her stomach squeezed painfully, and she clenched her hands on the hem of her tunic to keep herself from going to him. She wanted to comfort him so badly, but she knew that she wouldn't be allowed to go to him yet.

A barren silence ghosted over the crowd as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what Eiridan would do. Vaxon walked down the dais and knelt beside Eiridan's mother, lifting her chin to examine her face. "She's already half-dead, Healer. Surrender, and I'll make sure she gets the best care possible. Don't surrender, and... Well, you already know what happens."

Tears dripped down Eiridan's cheeks once more as he stared at his mother. His thoughts were, once again, so powerful that they cut into her through the bond. Why? Why is everything falling to pieces for me? "I... I surr—"

His mother began struggling to hold herself upright as she met Eiridan's gaze with fierce determination. For a woman so frail, she possessed a remarkable amount of courage and selflessness, which was displayed in the words she spoke. Her voice was tremulous and weak, but she managed to imbue the command with power all the same. "Remember who you are, son. Remember who I brought you up to be. Because if you side with this despicable man, you betray me and your heritage." Coughs wracked her frame, cutting her off. She slumped down again, huddling on the floor as her meager strength was exhausted.

"No," Eiridan whispered. "I can't let him kill you, mother. I can't..."

The woman lifted her head again to stare at him with bloodshot eyes. Exhaustion mingled with determination in their clear yellow depths. "You will not do the wrong thing to save me! Remember what your father told you when you left us? Do what's right no matter what the consequences. If those consequences are ones you don't like, live with it. I'll gladly die for others' freedom, and no matter what, it's not over just because I die." Her voice cracked as she finished in a wheezing whisper, "So long as love and good still reign in your soul, there will be at least one person to fight the darkness."

Eiridan's voice was strangled as he met Vaxon's gaze and said, "I won't surrender. Unlike you, I won't become a villain."

Vaxon's dark eyes darkened further with anger as he got up and walked over to his throne. Standing on the dais, he loomed over Eiridan. But Eiridan didn't focus on him. Instead, his gaze swept across the room. It lingered gently on her and moved on. She turned to see who he was looking at.

Sigel smirked at her when she met his silvery gaze. His brow raised questioningly as she continued to look at him. I knew he was working with Vaxon, so why is it such a surprise to see him? He was outfitted in battle regalia, and the sigil on his tunic was, she noticed, Vaxon's. With a sinking heart, she realized that pledging her allegiance to Vaxon might mean killing her fellow Magi.

But in the end, she didn't know if that mattered much to her. They weren't friends; they'd pushed her away most of the time anyway. She owed them nothing, and if a few had to die for the lives of many, what did it matter?

Her gaze drifted to others in the throne room. Eriswen stood in chains a few feet from the remaining Magi families. Jaxon wasn't chained, but the Nires nearest him were keeping a close eye on his movements. His head was down, and he refused to meet Eiridan's fiery gaze.

Her own gaze lifted to his, and she felt a sudden thrill of pride at who he'd become. He was strong now and could hold his own. His eyes didn't hold any accusation, but they held passion and determination. The spark in them made her feel as though she could be better than Vaxon's slave.

Guilt quickly overshadowed her pride in Eiridan. She'd failed him. He preferred death to serving Vaxon. Well, it's too late now. I did what I had to. Vaxon can't kill him now, and that's enough for me. Both of us are guaranteed not to die at Vaxon's hand so long as I fulfill my Oath. I don't care how dark that makes me. She knew she was lying to herself, but she also knew that Vaxon had been right. Eventually, she would come to embrace the darkness with joy, and she wouldn't feel the pain of her wrong decisions.

"All of you," Eiridan finally said, his voice steely and ringing in the giant throne room. "All of you Magi here today are more than just helpless puppets steered by this man. We're not only free men and women in spirit, but we are humanity's last defense against this tyrant. Vaxon has stolen our homes, our families, our friends, and our livelihoods. He has taken countless lives. So I'm calling on all of you to stand up. Eris... Sigel... Jaxon. Think about what you are doing if you agree to serve this darkness that Vaxon represents. To do so makes you no more than animals and slaves in his eyes. So instead, stand up. Stand up for yourselves. Stand firm for the fallen. Stand tall for the tortured souls he has trodden upon in his ascension." His firm gaze locked with hers again. "Jaeyria, think about what you're doing by helping this man. You're aiding a tyrant in bringing darkness to the whole of our beloved Castre. You are helping him to secure his throne so that he can slaughter more innocents later. Can you, in good conscience, do this? Can any one of you in this room do that without the guilt of it weighing on your shoulders?"

Jaeyria's eyes filled with tears. She wanted to run into his arms and beg for forgiveness. No, I can't do this in good conscience. But it's too late, Eiridan. I've already sealed myself and you into this fate. I can't escape it without dying, and I'm not ready for that yet. She wasn't able to contain the tears of guilt and remorse as Vaxon retaliated against Eiridan's speech.

"Kill his mother."

She closed her eyes, unable to watch the demise of a helpless woman. Wincing, she heard the gurgling breaths of the executed woman for a few seconds in the utter stillness that followed Vaxon's order. Her eyes remained glued shut, unwilling to let her witness the horror that rebellion caused.

"Open your eyes, Healer. See what your meaningless rebellion has wrought?" Vaxon asked with a sharp laugh.

Bile rose in her throat as she opened her own eyes a moment later to meet Eiridan's pain-wracked violet ones. She bit back a sob, which hitched in her throat, causing a little squeaking noise to escape her. Unable to stop herself, she looked over at the corpse and immediately wished she hadn't. Blood spattered the floor and oozed into a puddle around the gaping hole in his mother's neck. The vermillion tide stained the pure white marble. Gasping, she looked away, horrified. Her fingers shook on the hem of her shirt as she tried to hold in the emotions.

But she couldn't. All of the strongest emotions — hate, anger, pain, and loathing — mingled together in her gut, twisting and knotting her insides until she felt as though she would die from the pain. She had seen death many times. She'd caused it more times than she usually admitted. But she hadn't witnessed cruelty of this magnitude, and she didn't have the walls or masks necessary to hide her vulnerability.

This is what you've chosen to serve. This is the monster that you will become if you continue on this path. She clenched her fist at her side, running her fingers through her hair in agitation. Her eyes remained glued on Eiridan as the Nires kicked his feet out from under him. In an amazing display of reflexes, he caught himself just before his face slammed into the marble floor. He remained still for a long moment in the same pushup position, but she could see his muscles quivering as anger and humiliation poured off him through their Bond.

Vaxon grinned as he slammed a booted heel into Eiridan's side, sending him flying. He slammed into the floor a few feet away, landing on his shoulder. A pained groan slipped from his lips. Jaeyria stood, transfixed as the fight unfolded.

Inky blackness began foaming up from the ground, billowing around the two fighters and concealing them. Jaeyria suddenly felt freed, and she turned to Kyren beseechingly. "You can't let him die!" she snapped.

Kyren glared at her. "What do you want me to do? I'm restrained, and you got us into this mess, you traitor. I'm not helping you!" His cheeks were red with fury.

A woman with dark hair came out of the crowd of Magi, shoving past guards, who stared at the cloud of darkness in confusion. "Kyren, you get up and fight back. You've never been a coward, and you're not starting now! Your father killed our children, so now's the time to avenge their deaths."

Sigel shifted a bit and then moved to her side. "What are you doing?" he hissed.

"Helping my husband, Silverblade!" she muttered, glaring at him.

"Well, don't."

"Excuse me?" She rounded on him, fury taking over and shoving rationality or caution to the wind.

"Don't," he repeated, eyeing her without expression.

"I'm not letting him die because he chose to be an idiot!" She slapped Sigel, the blow reverberating up her arm. "And don't you dare suggest that I do so. What would possess you to even think I'd do that?"

"You're in a bad position, Jaeyria. If you fight Vaxon, you die because it goes against the Blood Oath he made you swear."

Of course he'd bring that up, she thought in annoyance.

"He's the only reason that I swore that Oath, Sigel!" she snapped. "If he dies because Vaxon hurts him too badly, then I might as well die too."

"You're an idiot, woman," Sigel huffed, crossing his arms as Kyren stared them down. "Vaxon can't do that. If Eiridan dies, he dies. Remember his Oath?"

Well, he's right there, I guess. "I'm not going to fight him, but the others aren't under Oath. And he never specifically mentioned that I couldn't get the others to rebel."

"True." Sigel shrugged.

"Jaxon, Eriswen!" Jaeyria spread her hands out, trying to convince them. "Please, help."

Eriswen didn't need much more encouragement. Despite the weariness in her eyes, she still chose to strike out at the guards. The Nires couldn't stop everyone in the throne room from fighting back. As Eriswen knocked down her guards and lashed out with her chains, Ashyra scooped up the weapons the guards lost. She handed one of the swords to a tall, wiry man with a firm nod. He instantly turned to fight other human guards while Eriswen threw up a shield to stop the other guards and courtiers from approaching.

The Nires, however, went straight through it. Jaeyria watched in helplessness as fighting erupted in the throne room. The Magi's families were cut down by the Nires regardless of whether they were resisting, and she had to force herself not to get involved. Her magic was of no use against them anyway.

Jaxon had been hesitant to get involved, but he finally jumped in, adding his gravity powers to the fray. He made the gravity in the room shift, sending people airborne. The Nires stayed grounded due to their immunity to magic, but their jobs were significantly harder with the Magi being able to zip around on the walls and vaulted ceilings.

Eriswen managed to drop one of the Nires with a well-placed dagger in its eye. Once the others saw that, they began to fight with renewed vigor. Jaeyria hung back for as long as she could. She didn't intend to get into the fight and risk causing problems, but unfortunately, she wasn't given a choice.

Vaxon's powerful voice boomed into her mind as the darkness at the center of the room continued roiling and became darker still. Kill those who have chosen to fight.

She tried not to, but a burning pain erupted in her hand and spread throughout her body, making her scream. Sigel was at her side in an instant. "Stop fighting it!" he shouted. "Just give in."

Fury and pain scorched through her, and she drew her sword, rounding on Sigel. "Shut up!" she wailed. "You've done nothing but make this situation worse. You're always playing at your own game, and I'm tired of it."

He brought his blade up just in time to stop hers. The clash of their weapons was lost in the wind created by Vaxon's power and the cacophony in the throne room. Sigel's eyes cast about the throne room, searching for advantages as he parried her blows.

There were no plants in the place for him to utilize, and nothing grew close enough to be within his range. He also couldn't stop long enough to concentrate; Jaeyria made sure of that as she rained blow after blow down on him.

He was a noble's son, and she knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was done with worrying about the threat he posed. It was time to rid herself of the problem he posed once and for all before the problem became any bigger. She was no stranger to sword play either, and Mathas had trained her heavily with the one-and-a-half hand sword, the falchion, and the anelace. She was more than a match for Sigel, and she outpaced him in speed because of her lighter frame.

He grunted as she nicked his arm with the tip of her anelace. She ducked his sweeping blade as he tried to force her back. With a grin, she realized that he'd finally given her the opening she needed. Perhaps the guy thought she wouldn't truly kill him, but he was wrong. Even though walking on the ceiling made things a little strange for both of them, they managed to orient themselves fairly quickly. Jaeyria lunged in, driving her anelace toward his stomach. He jumped back, cursing.

She followed up with a flurry of moves that were so fast that her blade seemed to blur. Nicks marred his previously perfect clothing, and blood oozed from a cut on his forehead where her falchion had found its mark. His sword wavered as he tried to split his concentration between fending her off and evading the other fighting people in the room. He also had to worry about the Nires, who were trying to hack off the heads of anyone in reach.

She crouched, swiping at his ham strings as she curled into a ball and rolled past his blow. Coming out of the ball, she parried a stray blow from a soldier and followed up with her dagger in his eye. The man fell with a gurgle as she turned her attention back to Sigel.

If she were a cat, she was certain her tail would be twitching with delight right now. Here was an opponent worth her time. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be that way for much longer. She could sense him wearing thin while she remained strong. Eiridan's life force mixed with hers, and she could feel him feeding the energy he was stealing from Vaxon into their Bond. It fueled her, giving her the burst of speed needed to end the fight.

With a blood-curdling scream, she leapt up into the air, spinning a kick straight into his chest as he tried to parry a blow from someone to his left. Her foot struck him square in the solar plexus and sent him flying backwards. He crashed into one of the guards, and the two tumbled to the ground.

Jaeyria stalked up and stood over him. "I'm not going to live like a frightened rabbit, Sigel. You force me to look over my shoulder constantly, and so you have to go."

He coughed, clutching his ribs while he caught her downward cut with his blade. His defenses were weaker now as he was clearly in pain. She'd thought she heard something crack earlier. By the look of it, she'd broken a few ribs.

His arm shook with exertion as he tried to keep her sword away. She bore down on it with all her weight, forcing his own sword down to his neck. Once she had him pinned, she was practically laying on him, using the flat of her blade to keep his blade's edge to his throat. With a triumphant smile, she slammed the anelace into his chest, watching as the light faded from his silver eyes.

Satisfaction slid over her, soothing some of her prior anxiety. She wiped away sweat as she got off Sigel and left him there in a pool of his own blood.

The world suddenly tilted out from under her as gravity went crashing back to normal. She slammed onto the marble floor with an oomph. Fortunately, she had been making her way down the wall when it went askew, and she'd only fallen a few feet. She immediately sprang to her feet, crouching to look for the threats.

Sigel's body landed beside her with a thud, splattering blood all over her and the floor. She ignored that as she watched the Nires subdue the remaining fighters. Many of them were already dead, and the room was littered with corpses.

Jaxon was a few feet away, and he was struggling against a Nires. She knew the battle would end poorly for him, and she didn't bother stepping in. That would just get her killed, and she was under Oath to kill him anyway if he fought against Vaxon's men. Eriswen had already been subdued. She was lying in a heap in a corner, breathing shallowly. A cut oozed blood, and it looked like she'd been hit in the side of the head with the pommel of a sword.

Letting out a sigh, Jaeyria acknowledged the fact that she was relieved that she didn't have to kill Eriswen. While the girl wasn't exactly a friend, they weren't on bad terms, and she didn't want to hurt her.

She turned her attention back to Jaxon just in time to see the Nires rake its claws upward in a vicious, fluid motion, gutting the younger boy from the waist to his chin. Blood gushed out of his body in fountains, and he thudded to the ground without a cry, dead before he even hit.

Her gaze roamed the throne room to find the black cloud dissipating. She didn't care if Jaxon had died. She'd barely known him, and she wasn't about to waste time grieving a stranger. Instead she searched for Eiridan.

She still couldn't see him through the gloom.

Vassti and her ladies in waiting had gotten involved in the fray as well, and Jaeyria wasn't surprised to find that the Queen knew how to hold her own in a fight. As a mind reader and controller, she was likely able to drive most of the non-Magi opponents mad without even needing to kill them. In fact, many of the Magi's family members sat on the floor quietly, staring at the walls and Nires in a stunned, confused manner.

As she turned back to the spot where Eiridan and Vaxon were fighting, Eiridan was hurtled across the room. He lost most of his momentum before he crashed into her, but she still staggered as she caught him.

She sat down, trying to hold his head up as he coughed and choked on the blood filling his mouth. He turned his head to the side and spit out a mouthful of black blood, and she winced. His hair was sweaty and matted with blood from the head wound he'd sustained when Vaxon was fighting him. His whole body spasmed as blackness curled around his frame and wriggled into every pore of his skin that was exposed. When he looked up at her, his violet eyes were such a dark purple that they were nearly black.

His lips parted as he coughed again, forcefully expelling the liquid from his lungs. He spit to the side again, and she sensed a change in him through the Bond. A darkness settled over his usually comforting presence and twisted it. She shivered, afraid of him suddenly. What is he becoming? she wondered as he suddenly sat up and elevated himself off the floor.

She couldn't decide if he was somehow doing it or if Vaxon's power was twisting his and hurting him as he hovered in the air a few feet above the ground. Inky black shot out of him as he shouted across the room at Vaxon. "Did you really think I'd be that easy to defeat, Vaxon? If so, you're a fool!"

Then they slammed into each other again, and the darkness covered them once more.

***

"You!" She stormed up to Vaxon and jabbed a finger into the panting King's chest.

Eiridan was in a heap on the floor, and he was barely breathing.

Vaxon grabbed her wrist and twisted.

She screamed in agony as he did so and then clamped her lips shut, refusing to give him the satisfaction of her agonized wails. A whimper still slipped from her as he released her hand. She cradled it to her chest, glaring at him through pain-induced tears. Thankfully, she didn't think it was broken. Just bruised. "You promised not to kill him!"

"He's not dead. When he comes to, he'll probably start rethinking the whole 'I won't become a villain' spiel. You should be there for him when he does, Stormblessed. Your precious husband's not strong enough to deal with what he's done." Vaxon sneered down at her.

Hatred welled inside her as she stared back at him, refusing to back down. "I will be there for him. And you'd better keep him in the Tower cell you promised. I'm going with the guards, and I'm staying with him there."

Vaxon raised a brow. "No one said you could consort with a traitor."

"You just told me to be there for him! Anyway, he's just confused and misguided."

"Didn't seem that way to me," Vaxon snarled, his darkness coming to the surface in little puffs of vapor that dispersed off his skin.

"Well, he'll come around. And you promised. I'm not leaving him, and that's one thing you can't make me do, Oath or no Oath," she said, stomping her foot without regard to the childishness of her behavior.

Vaxon glared down at her, his arms crossed. "Fine. But only because I want you to convince him to come to the 'dark side' as the rebels name it."

She rolled her eyes. "They make it sound so enticing, don't they? Wonder why more people don't join if it's not as bad as it sounds."

Vaxon backhanded her across the face.

She stumbled back, wiping blood off her lip as she growled at him. He's going to pay for that one of these days. Jaeyria backed up and sketched a brief curtsey. "If your Royal Highness would please permit me, I would like to stay with my husband and follow the guards to his cell."

"Whatever," Vaxon grumbled, waving a dismissive hand. "Just remember your duty."

***

Eiridan's dark eyelashes were like smudged charcoal against his pale skin. His freckles stood out in a dark smattering across his nose, and a strand of his hair had fallen over his forehead and nose as he slept. Jaeyria gently brushed it away and curled up against him with a sigh.

She knew he'd be angry with her when he woke up. Eiridan had claimed that he forgave her in the throne room, but she doubted that he had completely. No one could just overlook the kind of betrayal she'd enacted. He'd feel hurt and betrayed at the least.

His eyelashes fluttered a bit, and she sat up, squeezing his hand in hers. His injuries were still fading, but he'd healed the majority of them in his sleep somehow. She suspected that, when it came to his body, his life force did things intuitively when he wasn't conscious enough to do it on his own. It was kind of like the normal body's process of rejuvenation during sleep or the way a normal, human body healed quicker when asleep. She guessed it was due to the limited number of processes that the brain had to deal with.

He struggled to open his eyes and squinted up at the marble ceiling above them. Then his gaze shifted sleepily to her. He wasn't fully aware of his surroundings yet. "Where am I?" he slurred, struggling into a sitting position.

Jaeyria wrapped her arms around his waist and helped him get comfortable. "We're in one of the Tower cells, Eiri."

He frowned. "How did we get here?" he asked, his voice scratchy and confused. "Where's Kyren?"

"In the cell next to yours. His is anti-magic."

"Mine isn't?"

She shook her head. "I convinced Vaxon that you needed to be able to heal yourself."

He narrowed his eyes, trying to process that. "But... How?"

"I..." She evaded his gaze. "Does it really matter?"

He took her chin in his hand, his fingers shaking ever so slightly as he shook off the last remaining bits of sleep and unconsciousness. "Yes."

Jaeyria sighed. "I made a Blood Oath to serve him in exchange for your life and well-being. I also made him promise that we'd be free to leave after the war so long as we lived our lives in some other kingdom and never came back to Castre."

"You did what?" he asked, frowning. Confusion lurked in his violet eyes as he brushed his thumb over her lower lip. "I don't get it..."

I hate my life... she thought. By making me do this, Vaxon has sentenced me to a slow deterioration of will and soul. "I swore fealty to Vaxon, Eiri. That's why I wasn't restrained. I'm sorry..." Her voice was hoarse from crying while he slept and recovered.

His eyes searched hers frantically for some hint that she was playing a joke or lying, but he already knew. She could feel his pain and then resignation as he accepted it and moved on. "My answer to Vaxon on this still stands. First, I forgive you no matter what you've done. Secondly, I won't help him or swear fealty. I don't care if that means I stay locked up here for the rest of the war. I won't do it."

Jaeyria kissed him sadly. "I kind of figured that would be the case. But I have to try and convince you to join Vaxon anyway."

Eiridan laughed softly. "What could possibly convince me to join your side, love?"

He already thinks of it as my side. Like I wanted to be on Vaxon's side. But maybe I do... Maybe that would be better. After all, Vaxon offers security and the chance to have a free, happy life when the war ends. Mentally, she shrugged off the pain and focused only on the good coming out of her choice. She grinned at Eiridan, sensing his decision to push away the seriousness of the matter with some playful banter. "Well, maybe this?" She shifted closer to him and kissed the corner of his mouth teasingly.

His soft smile became a smirk. "Mmm... Tempting, but no." His interest piqued and crashed into her, but then it was washed out with other emotions. Although he was trying to shove those emotions away, they were the real reason he was looking for more tonight.

Eiridan wanted a distraction from what had happened. He was still in shock, hurting over the loss of his mother, and feeling lost in his current situation. Hopelessness pervaded inside of him as he gave her a weak smile. He wanted her because he wanted someone to help him weather the storm he was going through. He needed a solace, and she was the only one who could offer it. Jaeyria felt his resolution the moment he chose to shut off all of his negative emotions to focus only on the desire he felt toward her.

She wished he'd just talk to her about what was going on, but she was emotionally beat up too at this point after seeing the destruction in the throne room. Neither of them was ready to talk, and both wanted an outlet for their pain. Sadness echoed through her as she remembered what she had done to secure their future together. I chose to follow evil just to save one man. She tried to convince herself otherwise then, guilt gnawing at her. You didn't. You chose it to save him, his family, and others too. Her conscience just laughed at her pathetic attempts to rationalize choosing evil over good. You liar. You chose it because it gave you something you wanted. You chose it, not because it was the best option or the right one, because you were too selfish to sacrifice. Everyone else has sacrificed, but you won't.

She kissed Eiridan more desperately, closing her eyes to fight back her inner demons. Yes, I did. I did, and I do not regret it. I'm not giving him up. Not until I have no way out. With that, she pushed away her own feelings of self-loathing and inferiority to enjoy some time with him. She wasn't going to feel that way about her choice ever again, she decided. It had been her choice. She could've said no, but life after that would've been worthless. So she would live with the decision she'd made and be content with what it brought.

Pouting playfully, she asked, "Well, what about this?" Rolling onto her knees, she sat in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

His hands stroked her hair and then moved from there to the small of her back. Her shirt hiked up a bit, and he rubbed circles on her bare back with his thumbs. "It's nice, but not enough, I don't think."

Laughing, she abandoned any sense of seriousness. After the battle and arguments with Vaxon, she wanted to release her tension and lighten up. Eiridan seemed intent on helping out with that, and she realized that she hadn't truly had him to herself since the night in the river after they escaped the arena.

She ran her hands over his chest and smiled down at him. "Let's see what I can do to change your mind, shall we?"

He sighed in contentment as she kissed him for real instead of teasing. His hands slid down to her hips instead as he kissed her back. In between kisses, he mumbled, "Sounds like a good plan. I swear... If you represent the dark side's call, I'll die a very happy and dark man."

She laughed and tugged him closer. "Already using rebel terms for Vaxon's side, are you?"

"He is a dark mage, and he leads a side. So dark side makes sense. He's not exactly all light and hugs, now is he?"

"I suppose not." After that, she didn't bother with words. She just did her best to let the joining of their magic and her love do the convincing for her. There probably wasn't much she could say to change his mind anyway, and she wasn't passing up this opportunity to create a good memory in the midst of the bad ones that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

However, if succumbing to the darkness Vaxon represented was what was needed to hold onto Eiridan and their life, that was what she would do.

Without a second thought, Jaeyria stopped fighting her own inner demons and surrendered to them. She finally understood that she couldn't defeat the darkness, so she chose to embrace it instead.

Thus began a journey that would take her down many paths she had never wanted to travel but would now be forced to take.

One choice was all it took to destroy her old self.

One choice was all that was necessary to drown out all of her misgivings.

And in one choice, she became the thing she'd always believed she was. A creature of darkness and destruction. But somehow, no matter how twisted she might become, Jaeyria couldn't find any good reason to regret her choice. She had Eiridan, and that was all that mattered. Let the darkness consume me if that's what it takes to have him, she thought, smiling as he let her curl up against him again. I don't care what anyone says. Let hell claim my soul if I can keep him alive.