Disclaimer: Still don't own Durza. Not yet! Muahahaha...Meow!

Candle in the Dark

Chapter Two

Durza

Five years had passed since Durza first had conversation with that girl. Over the years Sapphira had grown into a young lady.

She has an interesting mind, that girl. But she is, after all, the daughter of Galbatorix, her father's little creature. She could not be trusted.

Everytime he was greeted by her sweet smile he reminded himself of that over and over again. Not that Durza was taken by her charm or anything. Oh no, Shades were not capable of love. He was merely keeping a clear head of who he was dealing with.

A fresh ray of golden sunlight sneaked inside the Shade's window, awakening the morning to life. It even filled the morning air with its fragrance, or rather, its odour, for someone like Durza. He was disgusted by such a bright and merry sight. Certainly not one of his favoured weathers. Annoyed, he waved one hand and closed the window almost carelessly with magic.

Soft knockings sounded on the richly decorated door, and before it even opened, the Shade could sense the presence of the girl, she had a special scent, like honeyed strawbe- rries. Any other man would have done anything just to win her smile, but Durza needn't- he had got plenty of that already.

Here we go...

'Well, well, princess, to what do I own the pleasure?' He greeted a smiling Sapphira with well-measured sarcasm in his smooth voice.

The girl's smile faded a little. ' Can't I simply come to have a chat?'

'Yes, it is only natural that someone would want to chat with a Shade. State your business: what does the king want with me again?'

What's the message, little spy?

She hesitated a bit. ' He said that you should get on with your chicken business. Whatever that is.'

Even though Sapphira showed no emotions, Durza knew perfectly that she was dying to find out what her father was concealing from her: the egg. The dragon egg. All these years he had observed her, taught her, he knew her all too well to assume that her curiosity would not take over her yet again. Galbatorix, it seems, did not know her daughter well enough and had been underestimating her. That girl was far too bright to not be able find out by herself soon enough.

'Ah, tell the king then that I'm making some progress and don't trouble himself with it.' He wasn't exactly lying, he was coming very close to the elves' whereabouts.

Sapphira turned to the door. 'You heard him, Laurela, go deliver the message. Now leave us!'

The guards and maids did not need to be told twice to get away from the Shade and 'Power's Mistress'. Yes, that was what all the servants called her secretly by themselves. Durza was not sure if she know it, but he doubt her father did. The Shade regarded it as an insult to himself.

Those people seem to think that she is my mistress; I am most certainly power, to be sure, yet... How dare they! They shall be punished!

Durza would most certainly not call her that, sometimes he called her 'strawberry' when they were alone, for her fragrance and possibly her food preference.

'Why am I not surprised you are not actually here to deliver the message?' Asked Durza, looking into the girl's sapphire eyes, in a voice gentler than he intended.

Sapphira sat down on the chair beside the table, staring at her delicate fingers.

'Um, Durza, we are friends, right?' She inquired in a timid sort of voice, but the impact of her words hit him without warning.

She, a princess, daughter of my king, a friend of mine?!

This was not the first time that girl surprised, no, shocked, the Shade with her unpredictable words.

Durza kept his face mask-like. 'And may I ask why you will come to such a conclusion?'

Sapphira raised her head. 'Well, you always teach me, and- and, you are not like everyone else trying to make me do those silly things like, trying to charm a prince and all that, and-'

Before she could finish, Durza couldn't suppress a laugh. Shaking his head, he said, 'Shades have no friends, nor could they love. Don't be so naive, strawberry!'

'And you call me nickname,' She mumbled, dropping her gaze again and meanwhile, miraculously, blushed bright pink. It was a rather sweet sight, even the Shade had to admit. He felt his heart pound faster.

What am I thinking?!

But there was no mistaking it, Durza felt a burning desire for her strawberry lips for a brief second.

'Yes, you can say so. We are. Friends.' He heard himself answer.

Damn is she bewitching me? Then a spirit inside his body yelled, More like charming you! Another spirit: Oooh our little Carsaib loves her!

SHUT UP! He screamed with his own mind at the spirits. They would not leave him in peace whenever there was something they thought worth 'discussing' about. Too bad power came with a price, and suffering the endless taunts of three spirits happened to be his.

Sapphira smiled, apparently satisfied at his answer, that sight was also magically sw-, well, the Shade would rather not think of it. A weakness for love was something he could not bear to have.

'Since we are friends, we should probably build some trust,' She continued. This time was her voice...

Sapphira took a deep breath. 'Durza, I know that you do not trust me because of my father. I know you'd probably told yourself millions of times that I'm just his little spy. But the truth is I am nothing like him, and I hate pretty much everything he does, believe me or not. The reason I'm telling you this is that I trust you even though you are a Shade, even though what everyone else thinks of you. I know who you really are, Durza, and I would feel honoured to be your friend.'

She held out her hand to him.

'Strawberry, if this is your own little way to soften me, it really is not working, sorry to disappoint. Now I believe you are capable of showing yourself out of the door. Princess.'

Sapphira gave him a look mixed of all feelings then, slightly trembling, walked out and closed the door behind her.

Durza felt, for the first time, guilty, as he noticed the girl's slight trembles and something crystal-like in her eyes.

,,,,。。。。。。。。。。。。,,,,,

I held back an impulse to let them kiss! But I do enjoy start writing Durza's feelings lol. You may wonder WHERE THE HELL IS MY RUM?! Don't worry, dearies, very very soon, I promise. Maybe next time! Any kind of reviews are blessed!