By Rowan Leeves

This fiction is inspired by the Neverwnter Nights2 campaign. Most of the characters and places belong to the Neverwinter Nights2 team and are not mine. I am adding and changing things in order to fit them to my liking.

The subject of this fic is somehow "delicate". If you are sensible, or not comfortable with other points of view about love than your own, you shouldn't read this fiction.

This is rated mature, contains a little nudity, somehow bad language and unusual "thinking".

Hidden dark side

01

You would probably say that there is something wrong with me; that I am not normal or that I probably suffer of some psychological disease. Maybe you will say that my problem comes from the fact that I never knew my parents and needed any attention I could get.

Well, my answer is "no", that's not it. I already have attention and friends that I care for. Plus, I do have a foster father – sort of – but that was the very core of my problem.

Let me start from where I should. My name is Phael. Phael Amolin. I am a wood elf with part drow and celestial blood, probably coming from my real father.

When I but a baby, West Harbor, the village my mom visited very often, was attacked by some psycho-maniac monster with illusionary ideas about "protection"… anyhow. He was taken care of with a glowing sword and strong magic produced by a warlock. What I've been taught is that the monster destroyed the warlock's sword and shattered pieces flew everywhere.

My mother, who was trying to shield me, was killed by one of them. It went through her chest before it finally landed in my own heart. I still don't know how I survived, but many people, including my mother and her best friend's fiancée Shayla, didn't.

As I understood years later, my mother had asked Shayla to take care of me if something was to happen to her. She knew the woman couldn't have children with her man and that I would make her happy. Well this never happened and her fiancé, Daeghun, lost everything that night.

But what can I say? The man was so much blinded by sadness, that he almost lost his mind. He also lost the opportunity to have me as a foster daughter, or even better, as a friend. But well, the rainbow comes after the storm… right?

After that terrible night, although he was suppose to take care of me, Daeghun sent me away. I guess he simply couldn't stand my presence.

My first clear souvenirs were from a huge wooden house somewhere in the woods – a house that was my home and playground. It was a school in which students could live, learn and practice whatever they were good at, although all of the teachers were rangers or fighters. I know I ended up there because the founder was Daeghun's friend.

My supposed foster father paid my stay there and often sent me interesting goods from his travels and hunting. But if he came to visit me twice a year, I was very a lucky girl.

I liked it pretty much at the school and from what I remember, the others liked me as well, although I was a little pest. I used to hide stuff and play tricks on others, especially to the elders. It was either about locking their doors or hiding their personal stuff somewhere; usually in the kitchen or the garden.

Everytime Daeghun came to visit, it would be the same story. He would show up from nowhere one morning, give some coin to the elder and take me for a walk in the forest. He would then give me one of those strange gifts – a little bag full of miscellaneous things – and we would eat together, in silence. Those meetings weren't happy memories. They just felt like duties and I could see the man suffering even if he was hiding it behind his daily stern mask of seriousness.

We were always uneasy while together. He just couldn't handle me…or bare me. I knew he wasn't family, because he had made that clear the very first time I was conscious enough to understand what he was saying. But I also knew he was the only one I had and that our lives were entangled.

I accepted him pretty much, but he didn't seem to do the same and at some point I grew tired of him. Man! If you can't cope with something, stop forcing it – just let it go.

With the years, as it was written in every action made, I became what they call a rogue, «a skillful little pest» as my favorite teacher used to say. Don't get me wrong; I am NOT some evil hearted thief. I don't steal people's stuff…well, not from innocent people anyway. As for thieves and greedy ones – be ware! But well, that's not the subject.

So I grew up in the school. Students came and went with the years and only some of them stayed for a long time. One of the girls got quite close with me, but our friendship didn't last as she had to leave – she wanted to be a druid, and needed to study elsewhere.

With time, I became a teenager with strong will and sometimes bad character. I was usually polite, but could easily drop my manners as well. If someone was poking me in a way I didn't like, I could become a very bad girl. That happened especially if some male with high-leveled libido would try to seduce me. Not that I didn't like guys – quite the opposite – I simply didn't like the horny and disrespectful attitude a lot of them had.

One day, when I was around sixteen years old of human age, it got quite bad. There was new student, a half elf boy named Emile. Tall and heavy with muscles, he imagined himself as the best and strongest student.

The first few days after his arrival weren't that bad. He was only making stupid jokes, not enough to make me or anyone else react. It was simply annoying. But that day – he did something he shouldn't have.

I am quite short and cute as others say, so I usually leave the impression of being an easy target. But really, never trust appearances, especially not in my case. Pointy ears, pale lilac skin and lemon eyes – believe me, I am a monster.

I was about to leave the house and wander around the forest for a while, when Emile came out of nowhere behind me. He locked his arms around my chest while whispering some non-sense in my ear. I told him to get the hell off of me, but he wouldn't listen. He tightened his grip and tried to caress me at places I really didn't want him to brush against.

I was starting to be very animated and angry when he finally bit the sensible edge of my ear. Maybe it means nothing to you, but for elves – for me – this is a very ecstatic feeling.

That was it! The bastard had spoiled my dream of the first man who would touch my ears and make me shiver with pleasure. Plus, he was trying to force me! A girl with less strength than me wouldn't have been that lucky.

Without him anticipating it, I jerked my elbow in his stomach. Taking advantage of his surprised expression, I slipped my arm beside his back and helped myself with my other arm to throw him on the ground.

"Rogues can kick-ass too you bloody hell hound!"

I'm not exactly sure, but I think every damn thing that pissed me off in the inside emerged at that moment. I was furious, but Emile seemed to share the sentiment. He looked shaken – humiliated – that someone had almost beaten him, especially the undersized elf.

Before I realized, he kicked me and I fell on my back, right next to him. Before he could steady me and pull himself on top, I sank my knee in his stomach and used my feet to push him on the side. I wasn't only on top of Emile then, but had also locked his arms tightly under my body so he couldn't get free. I still don't know how I did it, for I was too pissed off to notice anything. I just remember that my hands and knuckles hurt, and were covered in blood rather quickly. I was beating the crap out of Emile, punishing him for more than he had done.

At one moment I realized that his face was a red zone and that bloody bubbles were popping out of his nose as he was trying to breath. My own breathing was heavy and I slowly took my hands away, dropping a satisfied look on the boy under me. I guess it was wicked, but he got his lesson.

When I recovered my senses and stood up, I noticed that someone was observing the scene from not too far. It didn't surprise me and I really didn't care. Everyone knew about Emile's bad behavior, and how mine could get nasty too.

Taking my time as if I hadn't noticed, I stroked my hands on my pants in order to take off some of the blood. I was still mad and my own blood was boiling in my veins. Biting my ear was bad and I knew it had awakened sooner than wanted some needs I wasn't ready to face yet. Well…it was too late, wasn't it? I kicked once more the almost unconscious body of the felon and turned around with the slight idea of going back in my room and taking a shower. But I froze…

The observer wasn't a student, nor a teacher. The one staring at me was no other than the very gray Daeghun Farlong. His eyes were dangerously focused on me, as if he didn't approve. That's what I thought at least.

He seemed surprised by my behavior, but I mostly saw his usual sad and cold stare…and it pissed me even more.

Who was he to judge me anyway and why did he have to be there at that precise moment? Why did I have to endure him at all? He didn't really want me around! So why in the hells was he trying to look as if he cared? Did he? Whatever – I didn't care…not then.

It's not that I didn't like him. I just felt awkward whenever he came to visit. I didn't want him to start acting as a guardian or whatever he was supposed to be to me. He couldn't, period.

"What?" I asked annoyingly.

Daeghun just closed his eyes as if knowing what would happen next. And he really did. The founder of the school came out, looking pretty calm although it was clear he was aware of the situation. He stood next to Daeghun and they exchanged some words in elfish. I still didn't understand everything except for the obvious words, because I mostly spoke common language.

Not even two hours later I was walking with Daeghun towards West Harbor, my personal stuff in a bag and my school, and home, behind me. It was slowly tearing me and I wanted to scream my rage at the silent man on my left. But then again, I was assuming my actions and it wasn't his fault at all. He had tried his best to make us both happy by leaving me at the school, but I guess it just wasn't supposed to be like that.

Even if my act counted as self-defense, I had to be expelled. Emile was also out, but he had to recover at first. It was the only consolation I received.

So, still dirty and literally messed-up, I followed the crazy ranger towards his own home. How I hated it! I didn't want to go in West Harbor, and above all, didn't want to live with this man I barely knew. Gods – who knows? He looked so fed up by life, that I feared he would go mad one day and murder me. I was wrong of course, but my head was in a big mess at that moment

We had to spend one night in the woods before we would reach his place and I wasn't as comfortable with the idea as Daeghun. Back at school I loved to wander in the forest, but I never went too far nor spent the whole night in it.

We walked fast, without saying a word, till he finally stopped and told me it was a good spot to rest and set camp. When the fire was ready, he started to prepare something to eat without giving me the slightest look. Hell, I didn't even know if he was mad at me!

When he finally spoke, his voice was calm.

"It wasn't brilliant to behave without control over your self, but you did well. I saw what happened – good to know you're able to defend yourself. I didn't have to fire at the boy, which is a good thing. He has a change to survive now."

I grimaced, but was glad he had broken the silence. "Defending my self? Meh! I almost killed hi... wait, you were going to shoot at him?"

"Of course I was. What does "Meh" mean?"

I nearly choked, hot potatoes trying to make their way sanely through my throat. "In which era are you living in?" I grimaced more, to witch Daeghun responded with a frown. "It's… you know… a simple expression. Like a verbal sigh."

"I see." He seemed uncomfortable and I somehow understood he was really separate from the world he lived in.

His seriousness returned and he said he would maybe get used to my expressions with time. And that was about the mega conversation we had.

After this night, things passed quickly. We reached the village the next day, and I settled in Daeghun's house, taking the dusty unoccupied room next to his on the second floor. I quickly started learning my way around and did my best to blend in once I had met everyone. It wasn't difficult for me of course, and the people there were nice.

It didn't change anything that Daeghun and I lived together though. Not many words were exchanged between us and he never interfered in my affairs, for which I was glad about. Plus he was not home often.

I quickly became fond of two kids in West Harbor: Amy and Bevil. Both were human and younger than me, but they reached my age fast enough since I grow at a slower pace than them.

Within a week after my arriving I knew everybody in town – even people Daeghun didn't know that much about. Well, that's what I thought. Everyone seemed nice to me and even boys didn't bother me; after all, all of them had seen me covered in blood when I arrived, and the story had related more than once.

The first four years were quiet. Once per year we had the harvest party, where we could participate in trials and win the cup. I was planning on testing myself one day, but I carefully took my time – after all, I wanted Bevil and Amy to be ready as well. We were in this together. The funniest thing was that Daeghun was leading the archery contest. It didn't seem to matter he was almost never in the village. But well, it's true he was, is, amazing with that bow.

I found out that I enjoyed myself in the village. There were more people than I was used to see and we even had some travelers passing by every now and then. I even had some quality time with a human who was traveling through West Harbor.

We were attracted immediately one by the other, but it lasted only a night since his journey awaited. I didn't mind. What mattered was that I had finally gotten what I wanted. And it was about time since my libido was dangerously growing after my lovely souvenir from Emile.

I also found out with time that I didn't miss my school that much and life in West Harbor suited me well enough. And so things went pretty well, till one day.

Bevil and Amy were both occupied, so I decided to put my plans in action and wander around the village' surroundings alone. I left with my leather armor on and some daggers attached to my belt. It wasn't going to be a long trip, but you're always better off prepared.

I walked about four hours before I arrived on a nice spot and decided to stop and relax a bit. I sat and ate some bread while enjoying the view. It was morning and the air was warm. A nice summer day.

Then, I realized not too far away was a stream, where someone was bathing. I told myself that it was easy to hide with the small hills around me. Plus, no one ever spotted me when I moved silently – my love of torturing people by scaring them had made me learn a lot about being quiet.

My curiosity took control and I swiftly started to approach the vulnerable target. I just hoped it wasn't a girl – you know, the usual hot lady in a morning bath… bah, I took my chances.

It was a male. I thought the situation was amazing and that peeking innocently couldn't do any harm. After all, girls also loved to "look" – we are just not known as perverts… I hid myself as best as I could and spied on the man.

His things were gathered not far from his bath area. I could only see a backpack, folded clothes – or armor, I couldn't tell – and the man's bare back. He was slowly washing his hair, leaving me free to enjoy every graceful movement he made. It was igniting. "Man, what a view!" I giggled to myself and went on with the peeking, moving a little closer.

He was tall, with a slender, yet strong shape. Danbgerously attractive. I got a glimpse of a pointy ear when I realized I was biting my lower lip. I just couldn't wait for him to get out of the water and give me the whole show.

He turned a little, almost enough for me to see his profile, but then he stopped. He looked as if he was sniffing around and his ears were twitching lightly. Maybe he was sensing the intruder.

I stopped breathing, amused that I might get caught. What could happen anyway?

He slowly turned around and I couldn't wait any more – I had to know what he looked like. What face could be on top of this body? …hmm.

And then I saw. And I wished I hadn't.

There, not too far away from me stood a man. An almost naked and very handsome man. It was Daeghun.