Leahalani sat on the hill look out into the darkness. The stars sparkled brilliantly, dancing about the crystal sky like small fireflies. She was alone and right now; it was how she wanted it.

She had tried to call out to her lord, but he did not heed her call. She had never been unable to reach him before. She knelt down and built a small fire. It did not take long for small whisps of smoke to curl and dance about the tinder. The flame took hold and slowly she fed it bigger pieces, mesmerized by the dancing light.

Once the fire was truly built. She sank back against the rock wall. She was hungry, but she refused to feed. She had left civilization so the temptation would not be too great. She laid her dagger at hand. How had she even thought that this was a gift? How had she even been attracted to the power it gave off? It was nothing. She felt nothing but emptiness. Even Danaan's touch had offered little comfort.

How had she erred so badly? She had trusted Tehrannis, that was her error. First, she had believed his adamant points that Jettblack could not touch elven blood because of it's purety. Her arrogance at her racial superiority had believed that lie. Then, when Jettblack had asked to speak to her privately, she had believed her willing to take her time before attempting such bonding. Another error!

Tehrannis had wanted this for her. But now, she knew why. It was not so she would have immortality once more. It was not so she would have power. It was so he could force from her what he could not beg from Jettblack. She suspected, Danaan had a hand in the suddeness of Jettblack's attack. He had been angry that she could not see how her loyalty to Keruptis was blind. He had been disappointed that she would not forsake her bonds and vows. She feared that he had encouraged this choice of Jettblack's to take away her own choice. His apology last evening had supported this suspicion for his very words had been an apology for taking her choice away.

Jettblack's attack had been sudden and without warning. Despite her lure of showing a kinder side to Leahalani then the monster she was perceived, she had launched herself at Leahalani with such furiosity that she hadn't even had a chance to fend her off. Then had come the pain. Her body still remembered the pain of dying. Her hand went to where her heart had once beat. Every agonizing minute was scored into her memory as her body had fought to cling to life without the precious life blood it needed. Danaan had been present. He had not tried to save her? Maybe, by the time he arrived, he could not of. She did not know.

She cast out once more, trying to touch her lady or her lord. But there was nothing, just emptiness. Perhaps Dareca had kept her word, perhaps Jettblack and Dareca had destroyed all scions? Maybe there was no lord left to reach out too. This brought the first real emotion since she had sought out a place to hide on her own. She loved Keruptis. Not as a woman loves a man, but something deeper.. something more akin .. to an ethereal love. She did not and had not ever desired him, but she had wanted his approval more then anything. Now, Danaan, Tehrannis and Jettblack, had apparently insured she would never have it.

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She thought about her words to Danaan last evening. Now, she had no purpose, there was no reason for .. doing anything? She would never bear Danaan a child. She had lost her hatred of Chiabella, for she just did not care. What was left for immortal life? That was why she was alone. If Keruptis really had turned away from her in disgust at what she had become, then she had no purpose. Jettblack had basically showed that she had gotten what she sought and did not have a purpose for her either.

Leahalani watched the fire dance for some time. The smoke curled out of the flames like two lovers dancing. The fire's warmth did little to instill any warmth into her cold skin. It was for it's visual comfort that she had built it. It also kept animals away for when the hunger became to great. She had not decided what to do but she would not eat until she had.

She cast out once more to reach her Lord or Lady but met only empty silence. They either could not .. or would not answer her. She knew, that there were limitations to how she could serve the scions now. The bond that Jettblack had forced upon her, prevented her from knowing things that Jett should not know. As such, she could not return as Pylortes. But there was much, she could still do. She still had the priestess and the idea she had left for her successor would work with the young naive woman. She had tried to send her lord, Rachale, but Rachale had heard nothing either. Perhaps, he truly believed she had chosen to betray him? A stabbing pain shot through her at that thought. She had shared so much with him, given so much of her effort to his cause, surely he would not believe such of her?

Her thoughts turned to Tehrannis, in his anger at the continuing ripple cause by Danaan's betrayal, he had lost a finger last night. He had turned that anger on her, because she had told Dareca she cared not whether he lived or died. The truth was, there were only three people she cared about; one of those, was a bond not made by choice. Tehrannis had turned his anger on her, his assault on her had been just short of rape. She could still feel his angry kiss and wiped her mouth in anger. Her eyes flashed red at the memory, echoing the dancing flames of the fire.

Why Tehrannis had not finished the deed, she did not know? Perhaps he had sensed that someone would answer he calls for help. She could have repeled him easier but she had chosen not to feed and had been weak. He had tried several times to get her to feed on him and turn him. She had tried to oblige him, to kill him. But as she had launched herself upon him, the realization that she would not grant him the immortality he sought, caused him to throw her off. In her weakened state, she had been unable to deliver him the death he so deserved.

Leahalani watched the fire silently. What choices were left to her now? She did not and likely would never trust Tehrannis again. Her belief and trust in Danaan had been shaken though she still sought his comfort. Her lord and lady at this point, were denying her access? For the first time in life, it was not which choice she should make that plagued her, it was the complete absence of choice.

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Leahalani sat with her back against the coldstone of the temple. No one had noticed her out here in the back. In fact, no one had even looked. She was so confused. She had no idea what to do. Did she forsake Danaan? She did not want to, she found that she cared more then she had let on? A voice startled her from her reflection.

"Leahalani?"

Leahanali's hand dropped reflexively to her dagger. "O no thera O dor anar no anoduna." She answered without thought. She gave a sigh of relief to see it was Maevrim.

Maevrim smiled wanly at the obviously distraught elf. "I don't...speak the elf tongue, Leahalani."

Leahalani struggled mentally with the switch to the common tongue. "I was.. reflecting."

Maevrim cocked her head to one side watching the young woman. "I see.
How are you feeling?"

Leahalani had never been one to share her pain much and so she answered brusquely. "Bruised and battered but whole." Her swollen lip still drew the observer's eye.

Maevrim fell silent, searching for words. Both women shifted uncomfortably. The delimma between them so large that one could almost touch it. "I'm...not sure where to go from here, Leahalani." She began slowly. "I spoke...briefly with Lord Keruptis.He has retreated into study for the time being, and asked me to make the decisions regarding all this."

Leahalani said nothing. She knew there was much to sort out and though Maevrim spoke slowly, it was clear it was due to the need to sort thoughts from emotions.

Maevrim continued slowly, not really looking at Leahalani. "Danaan...is obviously lost to us. Tehrannis...we cannot trust. But you...I'm not sure about you." Maevrim finally met her gaze. "I had assumed you lost, until you called to me."

Leahalani knew the biggest delimma was her own status so she began with the other. "Tehrannis will seek and grovel his way back to Jettbalck. Unless.. he sees.. power with you. Tehrannis cares nothing of guild loyalty or orders.. he cares about power. He proved.. in this encounter.. he will do anything to gain
me .. whether I want it or not." The hurt in Leahalani's voice was evident.

Maevrim noddedin agreement. "Yes...he has already been begging me for council regarding Lord Keruptis' opinion of him."

Leahalani was not surprised by this. "As for me..Jettblack will seek me. My plans in regards to her death are for naught. She can Elven blood." There is a touch of anger in Leahalani's voice for it had been Tehrannis who told her as an elf, she had nothing to fear from Jettblack. All the work to set up one close to her to imbue with elven blood was for naught. Unless... Leahalani's eyes narrowed. "unless.. unless we poison me." Leahalani lifted her eyes to Maevrim.


Maevrim face was grim. Leahalani's words were truth. "She does want you back. I know this. And she knows to go through me to get you."

Leahalani really saw only one use now. Once Jettblack finished what she started, she would be a risk to the scions to ever fully trust. " I will .. I will die for this cause.. though if we could think.. of a way without death.. that would.. be preferrable." Leahalani's thought came out as broken as her heart. She continued on numbly, knowing that all she had worked for was falling apart around her. "My thoughts mistress.. Once she feeds on me regularly. and if I
can keep her from turning me.. a slow acting poison.. that I can take an antidote to .. when she is done.. would be.. the perfect weapon." Her thoughts in translation were a struggle for a change. Her heart felt as if a dagger went through it as she continued. "And.. do not tell me.. anything I do not need to know."

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Maevrim did not agree but she did not disagree. She met the saddened elf's eyes. "Do what you see fit...with Tehrannis." As she spoke, she noticed that Leahalani's attention was no longer on Maevrim. She stared off unfocused in the distance. "Jettblack?"

Leahalani nodded and brought her attention back to Maevrim. "Yes.. she seeks me..."

Maevrim sighed, it was clear that Jettblack had firmly placed a hold on the Pylortes. "I can no longer tell you all our secrets...but you are a Scion until you turn from us."

Leahalani nodded. She had known this from the moment she had fed on Jettblack though she had not meant to. "My heart.. is ever scion.. what of.. my idea?"

Maevrim was slow to speak for a moment, her attention elsewhere. Slowly she brought it back to Leahalani who stood dejectedly waiting before her. "Lord Keruptis approves your idea...although I find it a little risky. I can't..." Maevrim's voice broke. "There are so few of us left...I hate risking you at all." Maevrim continued angrily. "I curse Tehrannis for telling me to stay away...and I curse myself for believing him."

Leahalani's anger rose immediatley. He had denied her help when she needed it most. "curse him more.. for not warning me.. that jett was coming for me. in the first plce. He could have called to me.. he did not. He chose this.. to take me from Danaan. Which.. I guess.. in a way. He has acocomplished." Leahalani spat in anger.

"I would sooner draw you back in...and keep you safe with us while
we rebuild. That is service to the Great Dark as well..." Maevrim pleaded with Leahalani with her eyes. "It is your choice. You serve the Darkness either way...no wonder Danaan turned down the offers of help..."

Leahalani's voice dropped to a deadly tone at the thought of Danaan. "My husband.. I will deal with. Tehrannis.. I give to my lord.. to give to the great dark. Unless his will finds a greater use. Though.. if that be darkness will. I would take the seat of
Pylortes .. for that day?"The thought of sacrificing Tehrannis pleased Leahalani greatly.

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"I will ask...our Lord...although he does not wish to deal with the
betrayal and corruption of Tehrannis." Maevrim said tersely. "However
LOrd Keruptis says...that you may resume the seat of Pylortes when
you bring Tehrannis in...if you bring him in. So that he will face his judgment at the hands of all those he betrayed." Maevrim fell silent, staring at her hand.

After sometime, Leahalani gently spoke to bring her back. "Mistress?"

Maevrim looked up, true sadness was reflected in her eyes. Maevrim took out her dagger and Leahalani's eyes widened in concern. Maevrim continued quietly. "Even if you are no longer part of the Inner Circle...even if you do not bear the name of Scion for the moment..." Maevrim slit her hand till blood welled up and then handed the dagger to Leahalani. Leahalani slit her hand and the two women clasped them together. "I will stand beside you as my sister, until you betray me or deny my help."

Leahalani held her hand firmly. "I will stand beside you as well. My heart is ever pledged in loyalty." Leahalani whispered.
These words were so impacting to the elf. She could barely find words. A lump solidly lodged itself in her throat. They pulled their hands apart and both wrapped them with linen.

Maevrim moved to logistics. "Is the onyx ring going to be too obvious?"

Leahalani shook her head no. "I use a earring..and unless tehrannis or danaan speaks of it.. I do not think it a problem." It was a problem to speak.

"It may come to the point where we may have to... : Maevrim swallowed at the thought. "insert a piece of the onyx...into your skin."

Leahalani nodded. "I can do that." Her head came up as if listening once more. Her postured lost some of it's defeated slump. "I must go.. and find the answers.. please discuss my idea with Keruptis.. and if he approves.. we will need.. a slow acting poison and
antidote made ready for me."

Maevrim tried to ignore the fact that another could command the elf's attention. "Then we will if we have to, as soon as possible. It may be good to keep both the earring and the hidden onyx, so that Tehrannis and Danaan will not suspect it. As for Keruptis, I already know he approves. We will find a rogue skilled in poisons."

Leahalani nodded, her face serious as she now has a new purpose. "I must go. I have much to think about. I need to heal. and I
need.. to.. need to deal with my husband."

Maevrim can see the intensity that has taken Leahalani. "Darkness keep you, Leahalani. Where should I send the onyx and the poison?"

"I will come to you in a central and safe location.." Leahalani paused. "Call to me as you need to ..I will always answer."

Maevrim eyes met Leahalani's and she quietly whispered. "Likewise."

With a terse nod, the young elf pulled her hearthstone and shimmered away. Had either one of them realized the true nature of path she would walk, Maevrim would have never let her go.

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