m: I probably should be continuing the Saronax series or starting the Linu fic but my demented little mind has been telling me to start an Ili fic. (Sigh) Good God I need to write about more themes besides revenge. Disclaimer: I only claim ownership over the title 'Hate's Right Hand' Ilivarra Barrindar, Amalaere, Corran Kaseret, Korve Besair, Malice, Tanamtor and whatever other random characters I introduce.
Chapter One
The impenetrable darkness covered her like a soft blanket. So deep was the blackness that even her drow eyes—which were well-accustomed to the absence of light—could not make out the roof of the coffin. Had there been a source of light, it would have been easy to see her violet eyes, wide and haunted. A single tear made a liquid trail down her cheek, causing the many wounds and scars on her face to sting.
She barely acknowledged the pain, for she had received far too much over the last several weeks for a single trail of salt water to even make a dent. She was well aware that she was dying, feeling the precious blood of her life dripping out of her veins and staining the hard wood beneath her. She blinked once, and watched as a memory formed before her eyes.
"I despise you, Corran Kaseret."
One offirst insults she had exchanged with him. It had been far too long for her to remember what they were fighting over that day, but his response rang clear in her mind.
"No you don't. You're just trying to resist my godlike handsomeness. Must be tough on you." the bard replied with a grin. He started to tap the table with his fingers, starting a slight musical beat. "You say you wanna hit me. Your lies are really shitty. I can see it in your eyes. Quit telling me all those lies. I know that you want me. It's just that easy to see. It truly isn't all that hard. After all, I am a bard. So why don't you stop being so pissy, and bend down and kiss me?" He grinned up at her. "You know you want to."
"I might be more flattered if your lyrics weren't so atrocious. I thought you were a better bard than that." He gave her a look of mock-sorrow. "It's not my fault my lyrics are terrible. All I can think about is you. Take pity upon my love-struck heart!" He batted his eyelashes at her. "It pines for you." "I should have you killed for that. You...you are strange, strange male." Ilivarra declared, rolling her eyes in exasperation and walking out of the room. Corran chuckled, knowing very well that she would not do that. A hell hound sat in the hallway as she walked out, his teeth bared in a canine grin. Ilivarra glared at her familiar. "What is it, Tanamtor?" The hound chuckled. "In the two and a half centuries that I have known you, I must admit that I never seen you such a strong reaction to single man before. He must really be something." "He is something. He's a complete dick. I've only known him for about a month and already he exasperates me to no end! I should kill the male for behaving in such a fashion!" "So you say. But I get the feeling that you really want him." stated Tanamtor. The hell hound grinned. "Does it hurt so good, Ili?" "You are positively foul." Ili glared at him before walking away.
Another memory came to mind, one that happened several years later. The drow had forgotten her hate towards him, and became friends with him. Conducting their friendship away from the prying eyes of others, as the differences in their ranks was forgotten.Soon, she even started to develop an infatuation with him. This eventually became more.
"Corran, have you ever been in love?"
"Huh?" "Have you ever been in love?" "Well, that depends. I have met someone I like…" "Really?" Ili asked. "Is it another slave?" "In a certain way she is. You see, she and her mother do not get along quite well. Her mother demands absolute obedience, but she's spirited woman and has trouble doing that." "Oh." Ilivarra said, trying to ignore the sinking feeling of rejection in her gut. "How long have you known her?" "Some time now. What do you think I should do?" He ran his fingers through his brown hair, his brown eyes looking hopefully at Ilivarra. "Well, do you have any ideas about telling her?" "Well, I did get her this." He pulled a golden locket out of his pocket. "I've already placed a number of enchantments—with Tan's help—on it. Do think that after I tell her you could help me with some more enchantments?" Ili gave him a weak smile. "I'd be glad to." "I think I'll give it to her now." "You do that." Corran smiled and walked over to Ili. He took her hand and placed the locket in her open palm. Ili gave him a look of surprise, which soon turned to shock when he leaned down and pressed a passionate kiss to her dark lips. Corran grinned. "You didn't really think it was someone else, did you?" "For a moment I did." "Well then, I suppose I'll erase all thoughts of doubt from your mind." He cupped her face and pressed another kiss to her lips. At the time, Ili was unsure and afraid of whether or not she loved him. But she could not end their relationship.
Another memory flashed before her eyes.
Ilivarra smiled at Corran as he played his newest song on his guitar. "You've certainly improved, Kaseret."
"Yes but it sounds so much better when people dance to it." Before Ili could say anything, Corran pulled her out of the chair and began to dance. She followed him, a slight smile adorning her face. They took care not to knock over anything in Ilivarra's room, moving carefully but gracefully. Corran ended the last lyrics with a smile, dipping Ilivarra backwards for a kiss. Ilivarra responded with a gentle kiss of her own, eager to taste the flesh of her bard. Ili soon grew impatient with these simple pleasures, indicated by a low snarl that crept from the back of her throat. She bade Corran to stand, then took the bard's mouth in hers, biting down on his lower lip. As her lips moved sensuously with his, her fingers discovered his chest, covered with the soft cloth of a tunic. The fabric was soon replaced by taut muscle, for Ili had unbuttoned and thrown the useless garment to the ground. The wizardess's lips continued to cling to his, an exquisite edition to the hands which massaged the toned muscles of his bare torso. Ilivarra's hands did not cease, her nimble fingers unfastening the clasps of Corran's clothes in an indication of discontent with only the prior removal of his tunic. Yes, she would go through every layer of clothing he owned until he stood before her dressed in nothing but the shadows decorating the walls of her room. The bard swelled with desire, but the wizardess would not allow him to perform until she was satisfied with her part in this splendid dance. Corran's could hear the sound of his heart pounding, and ached with yearning at every succulent kiss and spine tingling caress Ili bestowed. In his passion-hazy mind, this was the most fantastic torture he had ever experienced. His fingers found their way to the front of her wizardess robe, unlacing the soft fabric. The bard took a moment to drink in the beauty of her curvaceous form, clad only in her wavy white hair. She did not give him long to gaze upon her, as she slowly and softly caressed his neck, affecionately nibbled his ear, then tenderly met his mouth once more. His lips mournfully left hers, but soon rejoiced in the discovery of her throat, taking even greater delight at the discovery of a far more facinating prize just below her collarbone. Warm kisses made a tingling path across her flesh, and callused--albeit gentle--hands swept aside her ivory locks. Ilivarra let out a soft moan and curled her fingers into Corran's hair, raking her nails across his scalp. Corr let out a slight grunt of surprise, induced by Ili grasping his shoulders for leverage and leaping towards him. The bard gripped onto her backside out of reflex, evoking a wicked smile from the drow. Corran tilted his neck to kiss her once again, a soft joining of lips that soon became a passionate battle for dominance. Her thighs embraced his hips, her arms embraced his neck, holding him tightly in a rare admission of trust and affection. He found it impossible not to demonstrate his own tender feelings through another meeting of their mouths. Returning the bard's kisses, Ili relished in his marvelous taste. Corran smiled into the kiss, very much enjoying the press of her breasts against his chest, the feel of her long hair tickling his skin, and the sheer beauty of her amethyst eyes as they gazed upon his form with more intensity than any predator the bard had ever encountered. Those eyes went wide, and the wizard let out a groan of approval for the lips that swept a path across the flesh of her neck, alternating between lingering kisses, and gentle nips. Ili was not entirely certain of what transpired, but somehow knew the bard's grip shifted from her backside to the small of her back, crushing her chest against his. Her legs now dangled at least a foot above the ground, a display of just how much of a difference in their heights existed. Knowing that the male was strong enough to support her with one arm, Ilivarra arched a cynical eyebrow at the bard's decision to place her in such a position. Comprehension dawned as his free hands traveled up the smooth flesh of her thigh.
A light chuckle escaped her at his entranced expression, brought on by the silken and sleek flesh beneath his fingertips. His hands reached their destination, and the bard began to caress the wizardess in a most pleasant way. His deft fingers treated her with the same care and devotion that he poured into his music; she couldn't help but let out a cry of tremendous appreciation.
Ili's arms and legs went slack, and Corran slowly eased her into a standing postition once more. She leaned against him for support, her eyelids made heavy with passion. Corran felt imprisoned by the depths of the violet gaze that fell upon him. The amethyst orbs eyed his mouth as though it was a fabulous feast. Ilivarra pulled his face towards hers once more, artfully tracing his lips with her tongue.
Suddenly, she wrenched his face down towards hers, locking his head in a deadly grip and his eyes in an amethyst hold that was just as lethal.
"More." She demanded.
Corran grinned and swept her off her feet, pausing only to recieve another kiss from his lover as he carried her towards the bed.
The hours passed by as they made love, their cries of passion and ecstasy ringing clearly throughout the room. Ilivarra smiled at Corran, their intertwined bodies drenched with sweat. Despite her smile, Ili felt distinctly unsettled. There had been a certain intimacy to their consummation, one that had been absent in her previous liasons. Those had been of a physical nature, while this had been much more emotionally close for the drow wizardess. This copulation had possessed carnality, yes, but throughout the act Corran's brown eyes had held her in an embrace far more affectionate and...understanding, was that the right word?--than she preferred. Even more frightening, was the deeply pleased amethyst gaze reflected in the bard's eyes. Was she relieved that she had finally given into her passion and slept with the bard? Was it a simple infactuation that she had developed over the five years she had known him? Was it...love?
Corran smiled at Ilivarra, a loving look in his eyes.
Ili rested her head on the bard's chest and closed her eyes. She was too tired to notice that Corran was toying with her snowy tresses. Too exhausted to explore her strange and dangerous feelings.
Their happiness shattered as the consequences of their union came into play.
Ilivarra nervously paced the room. Her mother had recently learned of her pregnancy, and had every intention of disposing of Corran. The wizard had sent her familiar to free Corran, but that had been some time ago. She had wanted to go herself, but Tan had argued that she would be watched too carefully to do anything, and that she would be putting her unborn daughter in danger. Ili had no choice but to let Tan go instead of herself.
She breathed a sigh of relief as Tanamtor entered her room, a bruised Corran slung over his back. "Oh shit." Ilivarra slung one of Corran's arms over her slender shoulders and placed him on the bed. "Are you alright? Corr, say something!" Corran gave her a weak smile. "It takes more than that to kill me, Sweetheart." He grinned and kissed her hand. "I had no idea you cared so much. I feel so special." Ili let out a sigh of exasperation. "Will you please tell your boyfriend that he could lose a few pounds?" A tired Tanamtor asked as he gnawed on a rothe bone. "Please. He's not that heavy." "Do you have any idea what's it like to have him ride you for three hours straight?" Ilivarra gave him a very flat look. Tan grimaced. "I just lost my appetite." At that moment, several guards burst into the room. Tanamtor immediately leapt up to defend Ilivarra, but his efforts proved futile as a guard swiftly gutted him. "NO!" Ilivarra cried out. She knelt next to the animal. "Tanamtor! Tan!" "Let's go." One of the guards said gruffly as he grabbed her arm.
Ilivarra blinked. Several days after the recapture of Corran, the Valsharess had conquered house Barrindar. Ili and Corran had fled, hoping to escape to the surface.
Ilivarra shook her head at the corpse of the red sister. "We can't keep fighting them." She sighed. "How long until one of us dies?"
"Hey, don't say shit like that, Ili." Corran snapped. "Why not? It's all true!" Ilivarra yelled. "We've spent six months trying to get to the surface! There's only two months left, Corran! Sure, we can protect ourselves but what about our child? What the fuck is your plan for that?" she screamed. "Ili, calm down. It's not good for the baby if you get angry." Ilivarra frowned. "I know. I…I'm sorry, Corr." She sighed. "I hate saying that." He smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Don't worry. We'll be out of here before the month ends. We'll get to the surface, and you'll give birth to Amalaere, and we'll raise her together. I'll even buy you a proper engagement ring instead of letting that locket serve as one." "Promise?" "I promise." Ili scowled up at him. "I hate it that you've made me this happy. It makes me feel that I'm going to lose it." She sighed. "Like so many times before." Ili glared at him. "Listen to me. Now you've made me into a whining imbecile." "I'm not going anywhere. I keep my promises. And I'd like to keep you too. Though I might need a fence to keep you around in a few years. Can't have you running away through the streets. You'll catch a cold." He teased. "Very funny." Ili frowned. "Alright then. Don't think I've let you off that easily though." Corr grinned and pressed a light kiss to her lips. "I love you too, sweetheart." "You talk too much," Was the muffled reply from woman, her face buried in his chest. "I still love you." "Shut up."
Another tear ran down her cheek as she remembered how this promise had been broken.
Ilivarra collapsed to the ground. A sticky puddle of her own blood lay beneath her, and various wounds covered her body. She paid no attention to these wounds, instead wishing with all her might that her unborn child was safe.
Korve Besair swung his hand axe and his sickle and struck Corran down. Ilivarra's purple eyes widened as he fell, his tan face now a mask of pain. The mercenary grinned at the bard. "Now for my next trick." He walked towards Ili and knelt down next to her. Ili gave him a smoldering glare, not allowing any of the fear she felt to show in her eyes. Korve smoothed back his red bangs and grinned at Ilivarra. It was a sick sadistic grin, marring his handsome face and making it ugly. He pulled a scroll out of his pocket. Ili immediately recognized the scroll. It was an abortion spell. Korve laughed. "So long for your daughter!" He said as he cast the spell. Ilivarra watched with open horror as her stomach decreased in size and became its original slim self. The mercenary smiled at Corran. "You probably think I'm gonna kill you and your little cocksucker don't you?" He shook his head. "I've gotta hand it to you, Kaseret. She's a pretty little piece of drow pussy." Corran's eyes were smoldering with rage. Korve gave him a crooked grin. "But no, I'll kill you both later. For now, there's other things that your little cunt can do." With those last words, Korve roughly turned Ili onto her stomach. He used one hand to pin her arms behind her back, the other he used loosen the buckles of his armor. Ili was well aware of what he was doing as he began to undo the ties of her own armor. She squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to look at him as he raped her. Only a few seconds had passed beforethe drow felt his flesh press against hers. She grit her teeth as he penetrated her, pure rage and resentment coursing through her very soul at every thrust, and every groan the mercenary emitted. She only caught a few of the phrases he said between groans. "Great ass...Fucking slut...Little bitch never had it so good...Bet your bard doesn't do it like this, cocksucker...Like sticking a pig...Bet your daughter would have had a great ass too." The ravagement of her body seemed to last for hours, until Korve finally climaxed, prompting a terrible scream of suffering from the woman he assaulted. The mercenary laughed at his victim and gave her backside a brief squeeze. "Good for you two, little cunt?" His hands slid under her shirt, cupping her breasts and digging his nails into her flesh. Korve's expression turned to one of disgust. "Like I give a shit, you fucking whore. Look at you. All helpless. Didn't even struggle. Yeah I know what you're thinking, mage. That something in my weapons," He smirked, "All three of them, paralyzed you. There's nothing like that. I just blasted your ass and there's nothing keeping you still but your own fear. Fucking pathetic." Korve spat into her bloodsoaked hair. Ilivarra finally opened her eyes when she was certain Korve was finished. Corran's brown eyes stared back at her, filled with an ocean of fury and sorrow.
Ilivarra narrowed her eyes as the memories of what happened next came to mind.
It was the final straw. Corran's head hung low as his heart began to fail. He stole last glance at Ili, his eyes holding all the love for her that he couldn't voice aloud. Ilivarra returned the look, her eyes moist with tears.
When Corran's body went limp, Ilivarra allowed silent tears of hate, rage, and despair to fall to the ground. Korve saw her tears and began to laugh. He continued his awful laughter as he picked up a torch and set fire to the corpse. When all of the ashes of the bard had fallen to the ground, the mercenary turned towards Ilivarra. "Your turn. You're not gonna cry over that too, are ya?"
The drow gritted her teeth as more memories plagued her.
Korve once again struck her across the face. She said nothing, only giving him the same defiant amethyst glare.
Korve smirked. "I bet I could fry an egg on your head right now, little cunt." Ilivarra continued to glare at him. "Ya know, I'm only going to ask one thing of you at this point. I want you to scream." He presented her with his sadistic smile. "Scream for me, bitch. Scream for me…"
She had remained strong and had not screamed despite the suffering that he put her though. While not the first time the drow had been tortured, it was the longest and most difficult session she had ever faced. Finally, Korve had decided that she was going to die very soon anyway and that it was pointless to continue her torture. The mercenary had stabbed her in the chest, then buried her on the outskirts of a svirf settlement.
The last thing she had seen before going into the ground was Korve's eyes. The cold, cruel black orbs had held nothing short of sadistic joy as he had nailed down the roof of the coffin.
Ilivarra was suddenly filled with new strength. The memory of those eyes filled her with a rage so intense that it both frightened and pleased her at the same time. Her scarred lips curled into a snarl. "I swear on Corran's grave that I will gauge those eyes out." She whispered.
The drow decided to put this new strength to the test. She leveled her right hand at the roof--which for some reason was now perfectly visible to her--and began raining furious blows upon the wood. It soon cracked and she was able to free herself from the coffin. The drow began to claw her way to the surface.
When she pulled herself out, an expression of pure determination and anger was painted across her face. Ilivarra Barrindar's body was close to death, but her spirit had been resurrected.
