"He used often to say there was only one Road;

that it was like a great river:

it's springs were at every doorstep and every path was it's tributary."

-J. R.,

The Fellowship of the Ring

Chapter Two: Of Madness and Fate

Confirmation of his intentions did not overwhelm me, this was not the first fey who had come searching for me, he as however the first whose essence I could taste on my tongue (he tasted of power, chaos and bitterness). It was that foreign sensation of instinctually reaching out to his essence that had me anxious.

As soon as I'd acknowledged the existence of the bond it had solidified it's presence inside of me, that place in my being that connected to the magic of the elements was reaching out to intertwine with the aura of the humanoid. I had felt this pull once before when I was a child upon meeting my familiar, Calcifer. A small black cat Calcifer was stretched out on the mat under the table at which they sat, his lack of alertness helped to keep me calm. He'd never steered me wrong before.

Mustering my courage, I began to separate stem from root into different bowls from the black cohosh plant I had been cutting (ironically it was commonly known as fairy candle) a maiden in the village, about an hours travel from her cottage suffered great pains during her monthly flow and traded her woolen cloth for my cures.

"Wouldn't it have been simpler to have slit my throat then to make your presence known?"

"Might have been difficult to uhm, catch you unaware since I triggered your wards my lovely. Very solid wards they were too, took me a moment to break through them."

He managed to sound equal parts impressed and insulted when speaking about my wards.

"They are meant to keep undesirables out."

"Mhmm, yes, might have put a little more fire and brimstone into them for greater effectiveness."

A smile broke free of my restraint, the imp had a way with words, I'd give him that. It took a conscious effort on my part to keep my aura from flaring up, the magic inside wanted so badly to reach out to his.

"Well, isn't that something, all the pretty colors you make my dear."

For a moment I stared at him blankly, then once my mind registered the meaning of his words I stared in wonderment.

"You have the Sight?"

"Oh, dearie, I have such fun little toys to play with, you'll make a splendid addition to my arsenal."

Not good, this situation just took on a whole knew level of danger, if he had the sight then it was no wonder that he did not bother with surprise tactics or intimidation, the Imp already knew how this was going to play out. I felt my anger rise, how I hated to be reminded that I was naught but a mere puppet to the fates that ruled unseen. Words tumbled out of my mouth with a new undertone of venom.

"So, tell me, how does this play out, because I do not have the time or the inclination to trade pleasantries and barbs with you anymore Seer."

He shook a long nailed finger at me in an admonishing manner.

"Temper, temper dearie. Now what fun would it be if I gave away the ending?"

Something in my face must have given away the bubbling anger inside because the Imp lost himself in hysteric laughter pointing at my face. Shutting my eyes and recollecting myself I stood up slowly. Movement silenced the laughter, those sharp, wide eyes followed my rising form, a hand crept smoothly to the hilt of the dagger strapped to his side.

"Peace Imp, my concoction needs cohosh roots and some stirring. If you refuse to divulge my fate or take action then I shall continue the work you interrupted."

With an exaggerated regal bowing of his head he responded in a boisterous dramatic voice.

"You may proceed."

I couldn't contain the urge to roll my eyes, so I didn't, whatever I did now the Imp's Seer eyes would have already have foretold him. That certainty of the inevitable was oddly soothing; my fate being known gave a freedom to my actions that I would not have used before.

"I'll have you know Imp, that I have no need for a new familiar, Calcifer has served me quite well all these years. I do not wish to ensnare you into servitude."

Leaning backwards until only the tips of his boots still touched the floor precariously the Imp turned his gaze downward toward the resting Calcifer. An oddly human tilt of his head as he examined the animal stirred something in Amora.

"He won't be able to contain your excess magic for much longer lovely. He has reached his limits. You've grown too much for his abilities to contain, that is why this bond between us was triggered. You're in need of a more potent vessel."

I contemplated his words silently while I stirred in the thin slices of cohosh root, I'd been sensing much of the same of what he was saying. Poor Calcifer had been growing more ragged with each passing year, I had thought it was age catching up with him; after all he had been my companion since she was seven, and eighteen years was an admirable age for any domestic feline. I berated myself for not seeing it sooner.

I turned to reach for the chasteberries when my visitor blurred out of sight of my peripheral vision. With inhuman speed he was beside me, so close I could clearly see the different shades of gold that his skin of his neck contained. A golden hand stretched out to caress my cheek in a gentle manner that was at odds with the malicious look his eyes possessed.

"Soon, this lovely shell will wither way under the strain of all that magic, human bodies are such fragile things. Great conductors but not real holding ability to them. So you see dearie, I'm really doing you a favor, taking your life quickly rather then letting your mind rot in an invalid's body. All magic comes at a price."

That' when I realized

"Yes, it does. My body may wither from all the magic it would be forced to house without the help of a proper familiar Imp, but your mind would collapse under the strain of all the magic that I posses, with no conductor to aid its release. So we find ourselves at an impasse."

The gentle caress turned brutal, those sharp nails dug into the soft flesh of my cheek just shy of piecing the skin, his eyes burned. I continued, seeing for the first time hope for life.

"But you know this, you've seen it, your descent into madness should you rob me of life and magic, it's why you haven't killed me yet."

Such great joy overtook me that I nearly broke out into laughter.

By the Goddess; the Imp was just as trapped as I was. He couldn't take my life without losing his mind under the weight of the heady magical essence within me.

A quick trust of his shoulder and my head smacked against the wooden wall of the cottage. The pain dampened my felicities but not for long, the passing angrily muttering Imp was enough to bring a new smile to my face.

"Clever girl indeed. The way I see it, there are two paths before us."

All theatrics were dropped from the Imp's voice, which had deepened and started to show the hints of some lilting accent that I couldn't quite place. It was a nice voice.

"One," he held up a finger, "I take my chances, kill you and possibly lose what little sanity there is left in this old mind of mine."

"Lot of good power will do you if you can't focus long enough to accomplish your goals."

"Atatath, that's quite enough out of you lovely." A long fingered hand came up to my mouth, efficiently quieting my barbs.

"Option two, we can make a deal."

His amber eyes reflected the fire light. And for a moment I couldn't help but wonder if it was appropriate to tell him that he had such lovely eyes.

'Yes, Amora, that's a great idea. Why don't you tell him your name while your at it.'

A/N: So, yay, nay? Should I continue?