Hello everyone. This is my first Fanfic (Cheers) and I'm really excited! This idea's been bouncing around my head for a while and I wanted to get it out there. Enjoy, and please, please leave a review on your way out =)

Prologue

The cold, roughness of her leather boots felt comfortable against her skin. She laced them up with perfectly manicured fingers the color of blood, sporting nails half an inch longer than necessary and sharpened to a cruel point. Once finished with the laces, those fingers ran across her hair as she pulled it into a long, thick braid. The blond twists fell nearly to her leather clad hips.

A sword of black steel was strapped to her belt, its hilt decorated with coiling rivers of red. The sword was specially designed to be nearly as strong and durable as the rider's blades, yet unfortunately, they lacked the original's magic and immense power. What I would do for a rider's sword-

The sound of footsteps near the door made her spin around, braid swinging wildly through the air. A smile broke her rosy lips, a cruel, malicious smile that would have caused any strong man to back a step away. However, the man framed in the door remained where he was, hand resting on the hilt of his blood red sword and eyes full of hate.

"Murtagh." She sighed as she strutted up to him until they stood not five inches apart. She looked him up and down flirtatiously, taking in his rugged, travel-worn appearance that suited him so well. Although she did miss the splatters of blood and sweat that had coated his body the last time they had met. She ran a dangerous finger down his jaw line, remembering how it had felt when broken. "Well, it has been too long. And you never came to visit me. Have you not missed me, Murtagh?"

Quicker then she had expected, Murtagh grabbed the hand that was resting on his cheek, his harsh grasp holding it away from his skin. He leaned his head forward so his nose was only an inch from hers. "Don't attempt your magic on me, Witch." He growled through clenched teeth. "I am not here for your own joy."

He threw her hand back before the dreaded blue spark had time to touch his skin. She looked at him proudly with a mixture of surprise and respect. The last time they had seen each other the red rider would never have dared speak to her in such a rancor tone, nor have the courage or strength to hold away her hand.

"And I have not come for your company either." He continued venomously. "I have come with orders from King Galbatorix as to your next assignment."

Poena's eyes light up at that statement. Her fingers twitched with anticipation as more sparks crackled around the tips. Murtagh kept his dark eyes on those fingers at all times, dark pupils catching the bright blue flickers with a look of unease. "Another trainee?" She purred. "Oh, I do hope he is as interesting as you were. Who will it be this time? Another prospective general? A Surdan? An elf would be fun to play with."

Something flickered across the Red Rider's features, as if he wished with all his heart that she would somehow not have asked. The once strong and confident man was suddenly hesitant and he opened and closed his mouth a few times without finding words.

"Come now, Murtagh, tell your Mistress who it-"

"You are not my Mistress!" He hissed, though even as he said it something in him told him he was wrong. Was she his Mistress? He was overcome with a sudden desire to please her though, an uncontrollable urge to do everything she says. He forced it down with a clearing of his throat and continued.

"You are to capture and—and train the Blue Rider, Eragon Shadeslayer." He said, voice full of unexplainable pain. He cleared his throat again. "Galbatorix wishes for him to be at the front line of battle in a month's time."

"Another Rider!" She said with glee, advancing once again towards Murtagh. "Oh, I do love training Riders, they are so much fun. It is unfortunate that the aftermath isn't as strong as I would like, but the blue-spark has such a great effect on them, wouldn't you say, Murtagh?"

The Red Rider forced himself not to flinch as she placed a seductive hand on his shoulder, pulling herself closer and looking up lustfully into Murtagh's iron-hard eyes. "Eragon is strong." He said in a low and dangerous voice.

"You were strong once, too." Poena replied enticingly.

"I am strong." He corrected her, yet as he finally looked into her eyes his gaze softened and it almost looked as though he were leaning into her.

"Clearly," She said slowly. "You weren't strong enough. Kiss me, Murtagh Morzanson."

And without thinking, without processing her words thoroughly, Murtagh reached down, grabbed her gently behind the neck, and pulled her into a deep kiss. It only lasted a second before Murtagh pulled away viciously, disgust in himself evident in his eyes. "No! You do not control me. Not anymore!"

"Your obvious desire to please me proves you wrong." Poena said with a smile. "You still can't keep the craving at bay, it is impossible to do so and you are aware of that. I will always and forever be your mistress, Murtagh, for I'm the one that trained you. Remember that."

She turned away from the rider and continued to prepare herself for the day. "Now get gone, Murtagh." He tone was suddenly no longer seductive, but harsh. "I have my orders, there's no need to play Kings Messenger anymore."

Murtagh nodded his head, fighting with all his might against the urge to say 'of course' or 'yes, Mistress', and turned out the door. As he left, he couldn't stop the whisper that made it passed his lips. "Eragon will not fall to you."

Poena smiled violently and the pale blue sparks jumped across her fingers again. "Oh, yes he will." She said to herself. "The younger son of Morzan doesn't stand a chance."

TBC

Let me know what you think and if I should continue it. Reviews are LOVED! Till next time…