"I do not like this I do not like this I do not like this I do not like this," muttered Aravilui as he paced in their room

"I do not like this I do not like this I do not like this I do not like this," muttered Aravilui as he paced in their room. Rain drummed against the windowpane as thunder rumbled in the distance.

"I... I mean I have this feeling... something's not right here... why was this the only place in town with its lights on? This town is not so small... gah!" The blond Elf cried out as lightning struck right outside the window with a heart-stopping clash.

The world outside went white and something seemed to move in the terrifying brilliance. Just then the door opened loudly and Ban entered in making both Elves jump. Carmelor laughed "Ah, Ban, you startled us. We thought we saw something outside for a moment. Uh... what do you need?"

Ban was silent for a moment; a look of… was it worry on his face?

"Yes, the weather can play odd tricks on the mind. I came to see if you would like your beds warmed?" he asked, sweeping past them and covering the window with a curtain in a fluent almost unnoticeable motion.

"No we are fine, thank you," Aravilui shot in "And we will not need anything else this night either, goodnight!"

Ban lifted an eyebrow but said nothing and nodded gliding swiftly out of the room, closing the door behind him.

"I want to leave Carmelor." Aravilui's voice was forcibly soft and calm. "I have a bad feeling."

Carmelor looked up at him. "As do I, but mine tells me that is why we should stay. Ban is odd but there is something about him… Aravilui, when night and rain started to fall I was leading us towards a larger town with all lights on... but then we ended up here... I know not how and that worries me more then Ban… that and what I saw and sensed in the lightning a moment ago…"

Aravilui fell silent, for he too had seen what Carmelor had. "I... I do not feel safe anywhere here… this whole place feels wrong, almost… dare I say it? Evil."

To Aravilui's surprise Carmelor nodded. "I know Aravilui, which is why I fear more then anything the world outside this inn right now. No matter what may happen, promise me you will not step out this inn tonight."

"Oka… wait, WHAT? What do you mean, 'no matter what may HAPPEN'?!" Aravilui now quivered.

"Carmelor," he almost whispered. "What is going on?"

Carmelor looked at Aravilui sadly. "I am afraid I do not know, and I am just afraid as well."

The night was passing, if it could be called passing, unbearably slowly. An hour ago maybe Carmelor and Aravilui had tried to get some sleep and found they could not do it. A deep base instinct told them letting their guards down would be the worst thing they could possibly do.

Aravilui sighed fighting off the sick feeling that had been building in his stomach for the past few hours. Thunder shook the room and his eyes wondered automatically to the window.

"Hey…" he started slowly "...When was the curtain drawn…?"

Carmelor shrugged "I do not know."

"It was open, Carmelor," persisted the blond Elf, "remember we saw the… lightning strike… and then Ban burst into the room uninvited and then just now... the window, it is covered.."

Carmelor rolled his eyes "Do you want to open it, Ara? It looked to me as if you were afraid of the storm," he said smiling, but it was a forced smile.

"I, you... you were afraid too and--" Aravilui stopped short as the sound of glass cracking split the room. His eyes grew wide and he turned to Carmelor.

The silver haired Elf no longer could nor cared about hiding his fear as a growling, like that of a starved animal, joined the cracking. Carmelor wasn't sure why but he was compelled forward, his hand reaching out to the curtain and shaking as he clutched the fabric. It felt so cold... not the fabric, nor was it like wind, it felt like ice ran through his veins going from his hand up through his arm and spreading through his body.

He tugged back the cloth in a swift motion….

Footsteps slammed down the hall outside, but that was lost to the two Elves, everything was. They could only stare in terror, unsure of what they were starting at but pure evil. Then the lightning struck again, the window. In the white brilliance the window burst open to a deafening silence. The light was painful, it was nothing and it surrounded them, searing their flesh, and senses.

The door slammed open to their room the something cold grabbed the two Elves from behind as darkness weaved through the killing light, wrapping the Elves in calm and then nothingness.