As usual.. the whole copyright disclaimer blah blah that we all know. If I owned Drizzt and Co... I'd be rich.. :P
A special thank you to Keirae Huruma, for being my first reviewer and also a wonderful author.. go look her up, her stories are awesome!!!
Also, the little lyrics bits at the beginning of each chapter tend to reflect the mood of the chapter and what I am listening to as I write.. if anyone was wondering that is.
Please R & R, and be gentle... first story!
Chapter 2 - Innocence Shattered
"In the time before the light
In flames of death's eternal rain
We ride towards the fight
When the darkness is falling down
And the times are tough alright
The sound of evil laughter
Falls around the world tonight.." Through Fire and Flames by Dragonforce
Elle watched her dear family take their places in the seats in the front row of the auditorium, reserved for family of the graduates and waited behind the curtain to the center stage, for her name to be called. She was one of five girls that were being ordained today and she was the last of them. Two had died, and Elle listed and said a silent prayer for their peace in the afterlife as the Grand High Priestess spoke in memory of those that were lost. Elle knew the two, they were sisters and it was heart-wrenching to see their mother in the front row wiping at her eyes. The half drow cleared her mind, focusing her thoughts until she heard her name being called and walked onto the stage and knelt before the priestess. " In the name of Elistraee and under the watchful gaze of these witnesses, I hear by ordain you, Lady Ellemiire Do'Urden, a priestess of Elistraee." The woman said, dripping lavender oil onto the exposed shoulders of the smaller female. As she was about to speak again, something stopped it. Elle, confused looked up and soon her pretty face was covered in blood, as she looked at the arrowhead sticking through the elder priestess's throat.
Elle was horrifed and frozen in fear, her hands trembling as she wiped at the blood before a scream tore from her throat and the room decended into chaos. Drizzt and Zaknafein both drew their weapons and rushed for Elle, Catti-brie nocking her bow as she followed suit. Laughter seemed to echo from every corner of the room as the assassin watched the family trying to protect what she viewed as its weakest member. Leaping down from the rafters, she landed in front of Ellemiire, her cruel crimson orbs trained on the girl, not at all seemingly concerned that her family was dashing right for them. She laughed and grabbed the priestess by the throat and then turned to her family. " One more step... and I will break her pretty neck." The woman said coldly, her voice almost seeming to have an echo to it as she spoke.
The simple statement froze all three Do'Urdens in their tracks, the hunter's cold glare in Drizzt's eyes, the angry fire in the eyes of Catti-brie and the raw rage appearent in the eyes of Elle's twin. " What in the nine hells do you want with her?" Zaknafein stated, pushing in front of his mother, to stand beside his father, a strategy already forumlating in his mind. His mother was a ranged combatant primary and his father and himself were melee.. it was best they played the tanks to give the human female the time she'd need to shoot.
" I don't see where I have to tell you anything, you little half blood whelp." The assassin said coldly, and smirked, her pointed teeth gleaming in the light. She then threw off what looked to be a cloak and two dark red wings unfolded from her back and her ears were much more pointed than any elf and the lusty smirk that replaced her expression seemed to be cast straight at Zaknafein. " Nine hells.. why did it have to be a succubus...." He thought to himself, having been well versed in demonology and many other forms of creatures, the lady of Silverymoon having been more than willing to allow him access to her libraries. " But since you are so...pleasing to the eye.. I will tell you.. I only serve my master.. and my god Selvetarm." She stated, laughing twistedly afterwards.
Zaknafein growled and fought the urge to go beserk, while trained by his parents, he had the soul of a beserker and thus had additional training by the dwarves, which explained why he was so much more build than his father. His muscles rippled beneath his mithril chainmail, his weapons itching to bury themselves into the wench holding his sister. " You still have not explained one thing.. why my sister.. why not me? I'd probably taste better than a young priestess." He said, more than prepared to offer himself to save his sister or at the very least... get her away from the demon's grasp. The succubus laughed and shook her head. " Nice try boy... but I have what I came for..." She said, preparing to teleport when the creature realized she could not breathe any longer... and was unable to form the words for the teleport spell.
Drizzt looked troubled as he looked at his daughter's eyes. Something had changed, they were souless.. dead eyes, and had turned completely blue. He motioned in drow sign behind his back to Zaknafein, letting him know what he saw. The younger Do'Urden looked at Elle and was almost freaked out by the lack of life in her eyes. But most of all, the fact that Elle turned her gaze to him and he felt a scimitar pull from his grasp. Before he had time to even say anything, Elle had it buried hilt deep into the creature's chest and twisted it savegely before pulling it out, along with the thing's heart. A swift kick sent the now dead demon across the platform and Elle crashed unceremoniusly to the floor, the weapon hitting the wooden floor with a loud metallic clatter.
Crying out, Drizzt was the first to get to Elle, scooping up his now unconcious daughter in his arms, looking more worried than ever. Zak moved and picked up his weapon and sheathed it, after ridding it of the organ attached to it and knelt beside his father and mother. " What in the sodding hell just happened?" He asked, though he realized no one really knew. By this time, the other priestesses had come and began to deal with the situation and one knelt over Ellemiire. " We need to have a look at her..." THe female said and then realized by the protective glare in the male drow's eyes that he was not going to just hand her over. She then motioned to them to follow her.
The family waited outside the infirmary for the cleric to come back out. When she did, there was a strange look on her face as she sat in front of them. " Well.. the young woman is as healthy as can be.. there appear to be no injuries and she seems to not remember what happened. Have you ever heard of spirit possession?" She asked and Catti-brie glared coldly at her. " My daughter ain't been possessed by no demons.. so stop that horseshit right there.." She replied and Drizzt layed a hand on her shoulder. " Catti.. I think she means the good spirit variety... Elle is hardly one to be easily swayed by a demon." He calmly reminded her and the human female grumbled something under her breath and was silent.
" I think that when Elle defeated her evil half, that her purity and devotion called to a guardian spirit... we have seen this happen.. though its been 300 years since the last one and never was it an elf.. or half elf as it is that its happened to... its always been a human...." She said softly and then once she realized no one had a comment, she continued. " When we examined her, we found a small crescent moon marking over her left breast... just over where her heart is.... the mark itself is not of Elistraee... but that of the elven god Corelleon.. said to have been the father of our divine lady. I am guessing that the demon threatening her life and the horrid feel of innocent blood upon her unlocked her spirit abilities."
Drizzt looked a bit uneasy at why a spirit of a purely elven god would be fused with his daughter but he never did understand gods and goddesses and all their meddlesome reasons they did things.. good thing Mielikki never seemed to interfere like this. " So are you saying she is dangerous?" Zaknafein asked, raising an eyebrow. " Hardly... but drawing on the spirit's abilities and energy... it is very draining... not something she should do if she can help it." The Priestess said and then turned as everyone did when Elle looked at them all, having heard the entire story and her hand was over her heart. " I'm... possessed...." She said, tears falling from her eyes.
Zaknafein was first to his feet and pulled his sister to him in a hug, not saying a word. Drizzt stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her from the other side. Catti-brie then hugged onto Elle from the front, the three enclosing her in a protective embrace. " Don't worry... you are always Elle to us... and perhaps this is a blessing in disguise..." Catti-brie said, trying to cheer her daughter up. Drizzt wondered for a moment if maybe that was it.. but only time would tell. For the moment, the family was then taken to Alustriel, to share what had happened and to try to figure out who was this "master" the demon had spoken of and why they targeted Ellemiire in particular... could it be an old enemy of Drizzt, striking at his heart?
Author's Note: Please go read and review Keirae Huruma's stories.. she is the one that encouraged me to even post this story.. also please review... and once again.. first story so be gentle!