Son of Kael'thas

Chapter Three: A deal with the devil… and a succubus.

Kael'thas looked up from where he sat on the floor. There was that handsome smile at last.

"Welcome home, Belorim."

"Can I have a birdy?!" he squealed.

Kael'thas did not understand Belorim at first. "He's… already asking me for things?"

Lady Liadrin smiled. "He means a dragonhawk. He saw some of your soldiers patrolling with them on the way in. I explained that they were trained animals used for fighting, that it might be too dangerous…"

"What does this do!" Belorim hopped up and ran to the sliding doors next.

Kael'thas watched, as charmed by his son as Belorim was mesmerized by the magical doors. Belorim poked at the red stained glass panels, giggled when they receded immediately at his touch, then again… at last Belorim tried to bang on the glass.

Daphne ran over and got a hold of his hand. Kael'thas joined her. Their eyes met and he flinched, suddenly embarrassed for his behavior moments earlier.

"I hope you… didn't take that personally…" he started to say. Belorim broke away from Daphne then, ran through the doors when they opened automatically and went screaming down the hallway.

"What's dat! What's dat! What's dat!" He wasn't asking so much as getting over-stimulated at an alarming rate.

Kael'thas wasn't sure what to do at first, but Lady Liadrin urged him with panicked hand gestures and he sprinted after his son.

"Belorim! Um… son, where are you going?" then more agitated, "Come back before you hurt yourself!"

After that fiasco, Chief Advisor Sorn wisely offered to give Belorim an official tour of Tempest Keep, his new home. There were several levels to the ship which caused Sorn to turn something beautiful and exciting into a boring lecture.

At one point, Belorim got annoyed and blurt out, "You're old!" this was meant for Advisor Sorn.

He sighed. "Emasculating me already, I see. Yes, you are the son of Kael'thas indeed."

Kael'thas would have gone on and on with his three-year-old newfound family forever if Lady Liadrin hadn't hinted that there was something even more important about Belorim she needed to speak with him about. It was the sort of thing a child shouldn't hear. That at the least was obvious to Kael'thas. Reluctantly, after they were only an hour into the tour, he put his son back down.

Belorim really didn't like it, and started screaming when Tempest tried to take him instead. Kael'thas winced at this, but Lady Liadrin instructed Tempest to be firm and pick the boy up instead if he wouldn't walk. Belorim cried and cried for his father, and as predicted, tried to go limp in Tempest's arms and dragged himself on the ground.

Once they were far enough away, Kael'thas smiled deviously and said, "I'm going to spoil him rotten."

Lady Liadrin laughed, delighted. "And that of course, is your right. As his father."

"Are you sure that whatever it is can't wait? I just want to go to him, he's been through enough already."

She took hold of Kael'thas' arm. "I don't want to tell you this, in this way. But it has got to be right now. It would be cruel of me to keep it from you, just as fate was cruel to keep you and Belorim apart, like taking Saturna away from you twice." Lady Liadrin began to tear up. "But it is because I loved Saturna so much… that I risked my career, my life, everything, to bring Belorim to you. I know this is what she would want. And I also want you to treasure every moment you have with him because—"

She is lying to you Kael'thas. Illidan spoke in Kael'thas' mind. That is not your son.

Kael'thas stopped smiling instantly. He got that look on his face again, like he was listening to something only he could hear.

"Illidan… no. Oh… damn me! Why did I have to come out here, to this wasteland? The day I trusted Illidan…" he snapped his mouth shut. "Illidan knows about Belorim by now Lady Liadrin" He looked to her, panicked. "Bringing Belorim here was a mistake, though I'm so grateful to you. He's in danger… I can't protect him from Illidan, I couldn't protect Saturna." He sank to the floor. "No… not again! I just found him, I just found my son, our son. Lady Liadrin, you have to take him back now!"

She knelt beside him on the floor. The gentle hum of Tempest Keep became apparent again. Here and there, a Sunfury soldier or scientist tread carefully past, not wanting to disturb their Prince when he looked to be in such a dangerous mood.

"Kael'thas… are you telling me that Illidan, Illidan Stormrage murdered Saturna?"

Kael'thas couldn't look at her.

"Answer me! Whatever pain he caused you, I can assure you I suffered as well. I loved Saturna like my own daughter… I deserve to know the truth at long last, no matter the consequences."

"It was me."

The world went cold. Lady Liadrin sat back on her heels. "I don't think… that I heard you right."

Kael'thas looked her in the eye. "I killed Saturna."

Liadrin covered her mouth. "No… but you loved her." she couldn't get out the rest.

"That is the burden I've been living with all these years, why I haven't been able to move on, why I've been so angry and drove people away. It was my fault that she died. Maybe that is another reason you should take Belorim away. If knowing that helps you to separate us again…"

Liadrin became angry. "What do you mean, exactly! Tell me everything. How are you responsible?"

Kael'thas became conscious of where they were then, and started to whisper. "She… she slept with Illidan and I got angry—"

"Don't you dare blame this on her!"

"I know, I'm not trying to… but that's how it all started. She was pregnant with Belorim and we should have been happy but we weren't. We were afraid of what Illidan might do if he found out, if he got jealous…"

"Why would Illidan be jealous of that? Did he love Saturna too?"

Kael'thas sneered. "No, but the opposite. He hated Saturna. And he… it's a lot to explain but he wants me for himself. Illidan is mad, he thinks that I am his real brother and not Malfurion. This makes him obsessed with me, and Belorim was—and is still—a very good reason for me to leave Outland forever and return home. And then Pyorin and the others…" Kael'thas stifled what he was about to say.

"Do my Bloodknights have a part in this too? Tell me!"

Kael'thas swallowed. "Saturna… was afraid that they would find out. She didn't want to fight with them."

Lady Liadrin recalled the conflict with the 'consensus or die' policy of the Blood Nexus from last night. There was no way… that sort of fear ended Saturna's life? Now she felt responsible as well.

"But then everyone found out." Kael'thas stared into nothingness. "Lady Vashj wanted my position as Second Commander beside Illidan so she blew the entire thing out of proportion, made Illidan feel like he was losing me for good, even though I never said anything like that. And so they conspired together to punish me for trying to leave and then also get rid of Saturna—whom Lady Vashj despised too—all at once. Illidan tricked me into leaving the Black Temple, we were all stationed there at the time. Illidan got me to leave Saturna's side for one day, just one. That was all it took for him to seduce her and turn her against me. But it was my fault. There was so much I should have told her, about my… addiction to Illidan's Demon magic, and the way he lies and manipulates others deftly. She had no idea what he was doing to her, until it was too late."

"You talk like you still admire him—"

"After he slept with her, Illidan twisted Saturna's mind and her heart, so that she would kill me. They wanted to put these stitches on my neck, but someone had to kill me first before they could do it… Saturna was the only one able to get so close to me. The only one I trusted. That was the whole point. And then to cover the evidence, Illidan lied and told everyone at the Black Temple that it was Saturna's idea in the first place, that she was some assassin sent from Silvermoon. That she never loved me."

Kael'thas bowed his head. "But despite absolutely everyone turning against her, telling her that she was wrong for loving me, a monster, Saturna did her best to save me from Illidan's collar. After Illidan killed her, she used Fennore's Inverted Shield spell to resurrect herself. She healed me and we fled to Shatthrath City to seek sanctuary with A'dal and the Scryers who defected from my army two years before. It didn't work. Illidan ambushed us at the gates. I found out later that Illidan also… carved some horrid thing into Saturna's corpse so that she could never be resurrected. All of that to spite me. And he succeeded because I wasn't there to protect her that one night when he got into her head and tortured her. I was here at Tempest Keep… doing stupid things."

Lady Liadrin sat next to Kael'thas against the wall and leaned her head back. "Kael'thas… dearest, there is a difference between being the cause of someone's misfortune and killing them."

"But if only I hadn't—"

"Yes it's horrible to live with, but did you know Illidan would do such a thing? You had no idea. That was how he was able to fool you in the first place, because you trusted him. But that is so different from picking up the sword yourself and running it through… At no point did you raise you hand against Saturna. For a moment there you had me thinking… I'm so glad that you loved her until the end Kael'thas, and it sounds like that is exactly what you tried to do. Yes, you made a horrible mistake, but Illidan is really the one to blame."

She is lying to you Kael'thas.

Kael'thas shook his head. He didn't want to listen to Illidan now.

Lady Liadrin pressed. "Had it also ever occurred to you… if Illidan's power of suggestion is as strong as you say, that over the years he used this guilt against you?" she winced, "You do see how three years later you believe you shared the blame for Saturna's murder, but back in Silvermoon you'd buried her, you tried make peace with it. Just a little while ago in your office you told us that you had, that you'd found strength in that act."

Kael'thas lifted his head. "Of course…"

He is not your son.

As always, Illidan was baiting him. Kael'thas refused to respond and only end up being manipulated by a mad Demon Lord.

"Lady Liadrin… I am grateful that you brought Belorim to me, showed me that he's alive and well, and that you've freed me of this guilt. But it doesn't change the fact that Belorim is not safe here. Not as long as I have this collar—which I've tried to but can't get off—and not as long as Illidan enjoys being my brother and terrorizing me. He hasn't got any patience for me loving someone else." Kael'thas squeezed his eyes shut and corrected, "…loving Belorim. Ugh, do you see how twisted this thing is, serving a mad Demon Lord? I don't want Belorim around that. I am so angry at Illidan, but I can't do anything about it, when he's listening to my very thoughts!"

"No! Kael'thas, I can't take Belorim back without you. You see how upset it makes him. He loves you Kael'thas, he needs you. Your people need you. Just… return to Silvermoon with us. My Bloodknights can protect both of you."

"Saturna promised me the same thing, and in the end it didn't matter. Besides, I wanted to go back three years ago when I buried Saturna. I even promised the people, did you think I forgot that? No, I never forgot how I promised them so many things… but Illidan swore to destroy the city and everyone in it if I ever did, like Arthas all over again. And Illidan has become a full Demon Lord. He can do whatever he wants. I'm a learned warlock—perhaps the most powerful one there is—and he made me into his slave, I should know." Kael'thas sat dejected for a moment then came to some kind of conclusion. He got to his feet. "Moreover, Illidan can hear everything, because of this damned collar he put around my neck. He could be coming right now. I'll conjure the portal myself and explain everything to Belorim—"

"Belorim is dying, Kael'thas."

He stared blankly at her.

"It's a side effect of the way he was brought back. It isn't natural to grow as a baby inside of a sword. Especially the Corrupted Ashbringer… Or at least that's what the Whiteblade once was. But whatever did it, Belorim certainly doesn't have much time left."

"Is he sick? I'll find the best healer, I'll scour the ends of Outland and beyond—"

"You're not listening to me. Kael'thas, you're like your father. Stop panicking, calm down… think about what's going on here, it actually makes a lot of sense. Belorim, he really isn't supposed to exist. He needed a lot of help to come into this world. Maybe his life, the one he was given by my sorcerer, is really only a superficial one. That was the best they were able to do for him. I could take Belorim back to Silvermoon, but I don't know how much time he has. And without you, he could really get upset, undo himself. He could really hurt himself, Kael'thas. I think that you and he deserve to be together, as father and son for as long as possible, no matter who disagrees. I will pledge all of my Bloodknights to fight and protect you from—"

Kael'thas reached over and covered her mouth with his hand. "Please... never speak against Lord Illidan in my presence. This collar he and Lady Vashj put around my neck is like a scrying orb, through which he can hear everything." He let his hand drop and glanced hopelessly at the glass ceiling. "But this is clearly the only way. I think that I can… I must deal with Illidan."

"Kael'thas, I still believe you should come back to Silvermoon and I could never lie about that. And honestly, my motivations for offering this help are colored as you already guessed. But nonetheless, I am a Bloodknight first and foremost. I will stay on at Tempest Keep and help you protect Belorim with my Bloodknights, for as long as you need."

"But you can't stay indefinitely."

"I can try."

Kael'thas sat silently moment, heartbroken and numb. "This is what Saturna was afraid of. She did not want her son raised in Tempest Keep."

I am telling you for the last time, Kael'thas. Belorim is not your son. He is just a weapon they are using against you. They are lying to you, just like Saturna and her Bloodknights lied to you when they arrived at the Black Temple years ago. But still you trust them, still you take them in? You are a fool, Kael'thas Sunstrider.

That Illidan didn't even regard Belorim with that much respect made Kael'thas feel worse. Illidan saw the boy as another amusing plaything, a trifle. That was why Illidan had allowed Saturna and her Bloodknights to stay at his fortress in the first place, because it amused him to see Kael'thas happy.

Kael'thas did not like thinking about that much either, that after everything Illidan still found comfort in seeing him happy. Nor did Kael'thas like realizing that he cared what Illidan felt. This must be what Demon pets suffered, the brilliant warlock realized: to both honor and hate their masters.

"I will help you with everything. I will support you, Kael'thas." Liadrin smiled kindly and reached a hand down to him.

Kael'thas took it and she helped him onto his feet. "I don't have a choice anymore, do I?" he gained confidence. "I can't go home, Illidan is holding me hostage by threatening to destroy my city and my people if I go. But, I'll do whatever it takes. I'm still his warlock, I know all his weaknesses. That's got to count for something."

Illidan's rich mocking laughter carried through the Soul Link then. Perhaps I put the collar around your neck to make you better, old friend, but you have not changed at all. Still as arrogant as ever, though you are welcome to try.

Then Illidan's presence in his Kael'thas' mind completely faded. It was like rudely cutting him off. Illidan was gone, for now.

Lady Liadrin asked in the calmest voice she could manage. "So Illidan… he did kill Saturna. And it seems we can't even avenge her death."

Kael'thas rubbed her shoulder. "Yes. I'm so sorry. Trust me, I tried to find justice for Saturna… But the way I am now, with this collar, I can't even hate Illidan for it. He won't let me." Kael'thas looked her dead in the eye. "But you can. You think all those vile things for me, alright? And I… I'll just love my son. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe, if this is the best I can do for him."

Belorim was overjoyed to have his father back on the tour. The little boy really thought that his father left him. It was even more painful to part with Belorim a second time for the Black Temple in far away Shadowmoon Valley later that evening. It would be the first time since Saturna's death that Kael'thas would stand before Illidan Stormrage. Kael'thas knew that in order to either effectively intimidate or manipulate his old Demon friend, he would have to do it in person.

Lady Liadrin begged Kael'thas to take more than just an escort of Sunfury soldiers for his protection. She wanted him to take all of his new Bloodknight allies as well. Kael'thas quickly insisted that his healer Fennore would be enough, unless they wanted it to look like a declaration of war for Illidan to respond to just as aggressively.

Even so—and Kael'thas didn't dare share this with Lady Liadrin—the task seemed too terrible with all that help. He silently begged fate for a miracle, then hoped Illidan wouldn't hear and sully the desperate plea of a lost soul.

Much later, at the Black Temple…

Kael'thas was ordered to leave his guards behind before going into the Blackened Shrine where Illidan resided. The clever Blood Elf Prince had expected this and was able to bargain down to at least his healer with the Demon guards at Illidan's doors. Fennore and Kael'thas warily left an entire legion of Sunfury soldiers behind them and walked into the place from which Illidan ruled Outland, where he had killed Saturna three years ago, and where Fennore made the fateful decision on behalf of his friends to side with the Demon Lord in order to live and protect Kael'thas after Saturna's tragic death. That they had both survived another day to face Illidan again was a sign of their strength as Blood Elves, as survivors. Kael'thas told Fennore this as they walked. In turn, Fennore told Kael'thas that he sounded a lot like Grand Magister Rommath, and so what was he doing in Silvermoon that Kael'thas himself could not do? They should just switch places then. It was supposed to be a joke—and it was a bad one—left over from that morning.

"Weren't you a priest once, Fennore? Couldn't you have said any number of things about the Light or my soul to make me feel better?" Kael'thas looked like he wanted to hit the other man, but it was the worst possible place and time for it so he couldn't. Which he also told a now flinching Fennore.

Some feet ahead of them in the dark ruins of the Black Temple, Illidan Stormrage sat dejected in his throne.

The Blackened Shrine was a dingy room with only a stone throne and an old table along the far wall to the left. The table was covered with trophy skulls Illidan collected. They were of various races and sizes, but recently there were many fresh Demon ones. Far on the other side of the room, remnants of some cheerful red piece of furniture were piled together. The Thalassian couch had been a gift from Kael'thas to Illidan years ago, a private joke from one Elf to another… something about Illidan being a Night Elf and having a hopelessly rustic personality where Kael'thas was descended of High Elves and far more refined.

One muscular tattooed arm hung over the edge of the ancient stone armrest. Illidan's other hand barely propped up his head. The powerful Demon Lord looked ready to just give up and lie down at any moment. Kael'thas tried not to be thrown off by his friend's pathetic look though. The strong jaw was tight, the unfocused eyes still somehow pensive. He knew Illidan's sorrow was only for himself.

And that was Illidan Stormrage exactly: selfish, brooding, but brilliant. A tall succubus the color of an searing orange incinerate spell stood very nearby Illidan's lazing right hand. She was known as Mavia the Maneater. Fennore nudged Kael'thas then. Yes, she was one of Illidan's officers, but Fennore believed he had an edge with her because three years ago, she saved his life and then confessed to him that she 'did not want to kill him.' Fennore took this to mean far more than Mavia meant it to.

As Kael'thas walked closer he saw that Illidan was not completely put out. The black clawed finger gently caressed the outside of Mavia's thigh. She didn't look to enjoy it very much, but knew better than to say anything against her Lord. Beside Kael'thas, Fennore the Immortal didn't seem to like it either. He made a small whimpering noise deep inside his throat.

Kael'thas turned on Fennore instantly and the Bloodknight healer quickly apologized for his strangeness.

"Is this all you've got to threaten me with, Illidan? I expected more." Kael'thas did not say hello.

Illidan replied just as easily, pronounced Demon canines splitting a sly smile. "Officer Mavia is my last and most powerful Maneater. She is capable of summoning all my Demon officers from the far reaches of Shadowmoon Valley with half a thought. And she's strong enough to punish them too."

"Though there are far fewer of us than you remember from the last time," Mavia averted her eyes and complained to Kael'thas.

Kael'thas worried that it sounded like a plea of some kind. Illidan grabbed Mavia by the leg now, drew her closer and hissed something in hollow Demonic. This officer that he called Maneater clapped a fist to chest, and once more stared straight ahead after being chastised. Rarely were succubae so pliable. Either she was truly that loyal to Illidan, or Illidan had really become that much more powerful over the years, for a brazen Demon woman who'd certainly seen it all over her hundreds of years of life to give in so fast.

There was an eerie chemistry between Mavia and Illidan that Fennore winced at, but Kael'thas knew better. The Demon Lord of Outland was powerful indeed, for a succubus to have trouble resisting such influence. It had nothing to do with romance however. That Illidan had transformed into a full Demon but was still as handsome as when he was a Night Elf man was unsettling. Had he picked this form? Welcomed horrible power into his pristine body, uncaring that it would eventually destroy his life? Maybe Illidan had always lusted after power like that of the mighty warlock Gul'dan. Kael'thas imagined that Illidan smiled when he consumed Gul'dan's ancient skull so long ago. Craving violence and destruction like some rich desert. Needing evil intensely but innocently, the way a person could crave sex. So good, but yet, sometimes so very unholy…Yes, of course Illidan had. That was the great secret, all that long ago Illidan had chosen glorious oblivion over an honest but meek existence. It was not really for Azeroth or the greater good.

As a warlock, Kael'thas knew—and didn't exactly hate himself for it either—that if given such an opportunity he would have done the same. In fact, thanks to Illidan, he had… they were startlingly alike.

"And as for you, Fennore the Immortal. If you hit on my Maneater today, I will punch a hole through your stomach and rip your spine out for Kael'thas to watch." Illidan snorted dispassionate laughter. "Try healing yourself through that, Bloodknight."

A moment passed during which Kael'thas should have defended Fennore. To Fennore's disappointed look, the Prince said, "Illidan put it well enough. I'm a warlock and even I find your Demon fetish repulsive."

"I am a succubus and it angers me also." Mavia bared her teeth at Fennore.

Kael'thas sighed and turned back to Illidan. "I have come to speak with the Demon Lord of Outland about more important matters—"

"Belorim is not your son."

Kael'thas balled his fists in anger. "Do you think that saying it so many times will make it true? And why would I ever trust you Illidan! Not after what you took from me."

Illidan frowned and sank lower into his seat. His onyx hair mussed against a carving of a black dragon that grinned evilly from the high chair-back. Both of the Demon man's great horns cast a strange shadow over his violet face then. Illidan's eyes flashed yellow in that sudden twilight, like a cat.

"Kael'thas. I know that you believe it but… he does not belong to you. Therefore, I cannot allow you to keep him."

"Allow me! I'll be damned if I ever let you—"

Illidan snarled then, snapped the fingers of one hand and a vein in Kael'thas' neck tightened. The black green fel runes carved into his flesh burned and bruised his skin. Kael'thas tried to but couldn't say another word.

"How nicely it's healed since I used the collar last. It's been three years Kael'thas." Illidan taunted him. He smiled for the first time. "Three years since you ran away from me, stole my prize away to Silvermoon. Lied!"

"You wanted to keep her body as some kind of sick trophy…" Kael'thas was allowed to respond. He eyed the old table covered with dusty skulls.

Illidan growled low. It almost sounded like fiendish purring. "I was not talking about her Kael'thas. Your body, your mind, your armies, you ingenuity… your loyalty! Have all become very tangible things. I will not lose them again."

Illidan released his hold then. Kael'thas glared at Fennore who was supposed to be protecting him. The Bloodknight of course, was focused on Mavia. Illidan had grabbed hold of her leg with his other hand. The teasing caress had gone aggressive in an instant.

"That isn't fair," Fennore whispered to Kael'thas. "They can't be—"

"Illidan has a harem of beautiful Demon women, Fennore. I'm sure he's not become attached to your Mavia. Now will you keep your head in it! Sometimes I feel like I have to set you on fire to keep your attention, which I'm not so far away from doing right now…"

"But she doesn't even like him. He shouldn't be touching her like that—"

"Nothing's fair Fennore, not with Illidan. Welcome to the club."

"Ungrateful!" Illidan shouted over their muted conversation. "You act as if the death of Saturna Whiteblade has changed you Kael'thas but it has not. You are still selfish and cruel. You care for no one else but yourself, deep inside your black heart. Kael'thas, you look down on me for protecting you from her, doing what any reasonable friend would do. But I saved you. I saved you and she couldn't. If not for me, you'd be chained with a real fel iron manacle around your neck, to Kil'jaeden himself!"

Kael'thas shouted back, "Will you stop speaking as if you were in some competition with Saturna? Do you know how sick that sounds! We are not brothers, Illidan, that is just some mad fantasy of yours. The real Malfurion is down in one of your fetid dungeons, or had you forgotten? Kill him already and be done with it, stop torturing me—"

"You haven't spoken to me in three whole years!" Illidan blurt out.

Kael'thas squinted an eye. "Is that what this is about?" Nearly everything Illidan said was some perversion of the truth. The powerful Demon Lord always spoke in lies, tongues of demonic language to fool his adversaries. It was hard to gauge what he actually meant.

Illidan repeated the man's words in an overblown masculine voice, like a little boy who was only pretending to be an adult. Clearly, this was the way he saw Kael'thas. "You can't give your friend the silent treatment for three years!"

"You are not my friend! I think you did quite a few things to disqualify you in that category, Illidan."

"Name one."

Kael'thas opened his mouth in shock. "You fucking… you SLEPT WITH MY FIANCÉ!"

Illidan coolly returned, "She wasn't your fiancé at the time."

"You killed me!"

"Saturna again."

"You told her to kill me. You turned her into an assassin because she was the only person I wouldn't expect to… to decapitate me, and put a collar around my neck! WHY are we even talking about this!"

"No, that was Lady Vashj's idea. And Saturna didn't have to agree to it. I saved you, Kael'thas. That is what I did. And ignoring me through our Soul Link, refusing to come to the Black Temple for anything at all, even if it was an important meeting with Lady Vashj or Akama… When we have so much important business to attend to here in Outland, you are the immature one."

Kael'thas felt he had to sit down. That was when he saw what Illidan had done to the couch he always used.

"You killed my couch?!" he freaked out.

"You gave that thing to me."

"So that I wouldn't have to sit on any of the crappy old chairs you have in this place when I came over… I had that smuggled all the way from Silvermoon. It was my favorite chair! What did that couch ever do to you—"

"My Prince?" Fennore cleared his throat.

Kael'thas stopped himself at last. Illidan had a strange smile on his face. Fighting with him in this way, driving him crazy, playing with him. This was what Illidan wanted.

Illidan wrinkled his nose at Fennore. "Now, you decide to be useful? You're pathetic."

"Do you think this is funny, Illidan?" Kael'thas flared, more serious now than ever. "You're living your dream now, aren't you? Malfurion is locked away in some prison and he hates you. But you've replaced him with me. Now that I'm your 'play' brother, we can fight and argue, and have fun together, right, share toys… Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I didn't say that—"

"I will not share Belorim with you. That is the one thing I refuse to do. This is a life, an innocent life, and you aren't capable of appreciating that. I have a son, Illidan Stormrage. He is mine. Not yours by default because you already practically own my soul. Forging a Soul Link with you when I first came to Outland was surely a mistake, my mistake. I will not have Belorim suffer because I gave in, between Lady Vashj's lies, the arcane crystals and your Demon magic, I gave in. But Belorim Sunstrider is my flesh, my blood, my magic… and your head if you dare lay a hand on him!" Illidan was ready to repeat his assertion about Belorim's parentage but Kael'thas spoke over him. "Three years ago, you lied to me about Saturna wanting to kill me, out of hate. I will not stand here and listen to filth that my own son is also an imposter. Everything you've ever told me has been a lie Illidan."

Illidan mocked, "Three years ago you lied to Saturna, about wanting to marry her, out of love. I will not stand here and listen to filth that my own friend actually feels love in his heart for another creature. You mourn and pout but you just want sympathy. How can they hate you for your role in all of it if you appear to be something like a downtrodden widower? And you leave me here in the Black Temple by myself to rot while the whole world feels sorry for you, accomplice! Everything that you told Saturna and that you told me and everyone else back then was a lie to cover what you'd been doing with the Legion."

Mavia flinched on hearing it. Fennore looked a lot less surprised.

Illidan shook his head. "Of course… he has become your confessor, a royal confidant. So then your bringing the Demon-lover was not about healing magic. It was about privacy, keeping more secrets. You were afraid of what I might say, weren't you Kael'thas? Do you see how you even hobbled your own efforts to protect your Belorim? Just like with Saturna… you'd rather come with one Bloodknight you can trust to cover your dealings with the Legion than to bring all of them here at once and threaten me. To, at the least, make a sound go at it. No, you really have learned nothing over the years. Especially when you REFUSE TO KEEP MY COUNSEL!"

Kael'thas swiftly changed the uncomfortable subject. "I can see what you are doing. You will not turn my own Bloodknight against me Illidan."

"Enough of this. You two have wasted enough of my time already. Maneater! Undo that Fennore and then summon the others, so we can punish Kael'thas for his insolence once and for all. What's that look, Kael'thas? Did you think I allowed you in here with guard as a kindness? Did you think you still have power over me? No, you are completely at my mercy, and it is not just the collar. I've learned. I've grown."

Illidan stepped down from his throne and Mavia dutifully followed. Kael'thas was too proud to back away, though it really did feel like this was the end. He threatened to call his soldiers, but Illidan made a fist and the collar prevented Kael'thas from finishing his sentence.

"No Kael'thas, my Maneater and I have great entertainment planned. You've come back to the Black Temple at last, and I have not forgotten your treachery. You will pay for going against me and then you are going to stay here whether you like it or not. Mavia and I are going to remind you of your place, brother."

Illidan pointed at startled Fennore and ordered Mavia to kill him. Her reluctance resembled something like a demonic apology, though Demons were rumored not to feel remorse…

"I will not." She tossed her whip onto the ground. The small sound echoed into something much greater in the Blackened Shrine. "Though I greatly dislike him, Fennore has done nothing wrong. Nor has Kael'thas. He is a powerful warlock and even I can respect that. My Lord, are we not all allies? This is not why I came to Outland, and chose to serve you my Lord. If Kael'thas has spawn, then let him raise it—"

"Thanks, Mavia." Kael'thas cringed at how she put it.

"I am not done yet." Mavia stepped courageously forward on little cloven feet and moved Illidan's lustful hand away from her leg. "…I do not deserve this treatment either. I have done nothing but serve you loyally for years, and so have Kael'thas and his minions. But you treat us worse with every season. We've been like this before with the other officers. How many of them did you ask your Maneater to summon and help you 'punish?' I see now that they did not truly deserve punishment. You only wanted to torture them. It is not just your madness my Lord. Ever since the death of Saturna Whiteblade, you lash out, strike from a guilty heart—"

Kael'thas was taken aback. Illidan was shamed by the revelation and lunged at his officer.

Illidan shoved Fennore aside when he tried to intervene and picked Mavia up by her neck. She winced and dug her claws into Illidan's great hand.

Kael'thas helped Fennore up then forced the jealous man to stay back.

Kael'thas said gently, "Illidan. Please just… put her down."

Illidan's rich voice faltered. "She's lying…"

Fennore's anxious swallowing was all the noise made during that tense moment. Kael'thas was a lot less affected. He saw at last that Illidan had a real weakness, one that he could use as leverage…

Mavia didn't have the heart to struggle anymore. Defiant to the last, she craned her neck tempting Illidan to do what he would regret the most. For when she died, his connection to the few remaining Demon officers who respected him, even if it was misguided, would be lost. And that sort of violent end appealed to the despairing succubus. It would be a kind of twisted justice at last…

Kael'thas took a step closer. He knew Illidan very well. Sometimes, it was useful to indulge the Demon man's madness.

"Brother… Illidan, you know that I am your brother." A difficult pause. "I… love you. Don't do this. And… if you do feel guilty, for what you did to Saturna after all these years, I would understand. You must know that. Perhaps then we could make amends, at last? If you put her down, and let me have Belorim to myself in Tempest Keep, I would know that you are really a good man deep down. I might… forgive you for hurting Saturna."

Illidan slowed his breathing. The muscles in his shoulders began to ease…

"Illidan, you need Mavia to remain in power here in Shadowmoon Valley. Don't kill your own officer. That would be… the wrong thing to do. Trust me in this. Spare her life for acting on her feelings. It is the first step. A step I must also take to… forgive you. It was what you used to tell me, wasn't it? In your heart, you were only acting on an impulse to protect me." The way he put it, it sounded as if Illidan had no conscience at all, and Kael'thas fully understood this.

Mavia choked, grimaced against the pain. It was awful even for a succubus. At last, Illidan opened his hand and she fell to the floor. Fennore rushed to help her. But Illidan had wanted her to suffer, at least in this way. He raised a heavy claw to strike the Bloodknight…

Kael'thas placed his red gloved hand firmly at the center of Illidan's chest. "No. No, Illidan, that's enough."

This was what Illidan and Kael'thas had come to in Outland. A warlock slave and a Demon man who was no better than an animal, a monster. So many souls at the mercy of this twisted symbiosis.

Kael'thas quickly changed the subject. "Illidan, look at me. Maybe I have no absolute proof that Belorim is mine, brother. But don't you understand how I might need him? The way that… you need me? I think I finally see that now."

The gentle plea threw Illidan off. It appealed to the part of him that was still so Kal'dorei and wounded by thousands of years of hurt: the abandonment by his once love Tyrande and his very own brother Malfurion, the betrayal of so many others including Kael'thas. But if just one of those people was trying to come back to him, to fix things… Perhaps Illidan knew that Kael'thas was not Malfurion or even Tyrande for that matter, but that did not mean he wanted a reprieve from the pain any less.

Illidan took a breath and went back to sit on his throne. He watched Fennore try to help Mavia up. She was proud but kept slipping, though Fennore urged her to take her time and get her breath first. As Illidan thought over Kael'thas' offer, his large demon wings flexed slightly then wilted across his back.

"Take Belroim then Kael'thas. What can I even do… Please just take him."

Kael'thas made a signal to Fennore and turned swiftly to leave. "You gave your word, Illidan. In exchange, we'll… workon our… relationship." That part was really hard to get out. Kael'thas made a face. "Come, we're done here Fennore."

Fennore didn't want to leave Mavia there, but he had to. She gave him a panicked look.

Illidan stood and shouted, "What, you aren't even going to thank me for being so generous! Do you have any idea what I've just given you, Kael'thas?"

At the doors, victorious Kael'thas sneered under his breath, "I will thank you Illidan, when you are dead."

More than likely, Illidan had heard him anyway because of the collar. But Kael'thas sensed it didn't matter now. His Demon friend would believe what he wanted to, or at least take this sliver of possibility and indulge blowing it out of proportion, driving him completely crazy. Going along with Illidan's mad fantasy made Kael'thas feel sick. Maybe it was a horrible lie, agreeing to even pretend to forgive Illidan for destroying the woman he loved. But this was the sacrifice he had to make for Belorim, to protect her son. It was dangerous to continue clinging to the past at this point.

Then, with a pang, Kael'thas realized this might feel like raising two children. Playing with a little monster as well as a big one... He cringed and began to rub his temples, felt a migraine coming on…

Mavia hobbled after them into the ruined great room just beyond the Blackened Shrine. Sunfury soldiers milled about crumbling black columns and deteriorating half statues of Orc warlocks. There were far fewer of Illidan's Demon soldiers now as Mavia insisted. Even his harem women were dwindling. Illidan had practically been consuming them, with Mavia's succubine help. Her fate was surely going to be the same…

"Prince Kael'thas!"

He didn't turn around and Blood Elf soldiers in red plate became agitated at her chasing the Prince. Fennore grabbed Mavia around the waist and swung her around off her feet to make her stop pursuing him.

"Hey there, calm down… I'm sorry but we have to leave. I can tell Kael'thas later that you are grateful to him though, for saving your life." He winced. "I wish… so much that I could do more for you Mavia. But I'm not a powerful Bloodmage like he is. Nor a Prince of Quel'thalas…"

Demons did not feel fear. Just anger, hate, pain… and Mavia was in pain now, from what Illidan had done to her, and what he had still yet to do. She dug her claws into Fennore's plate-covered arm. He winced at the sight of it.

She whispered. "Tell me… does Kael'thas already have a pet succubus?"

Fennore began smiling then. "Well… we never see her, but the guys and I have a theory that he does. He is a warlock when you get right down to it and there is no way Kael'thas got through three whole years without a woman—"

Mavia became infuriated with Fennore then. "Just answer the question, none of your jokes!"

"The answer is yes!" Fennore panicked at the deadly look she gave. "I can assure you that Kael'thas has a pet succubus. I'm not able to prove it, as that would be ungentlemanly, but I do swear it. Why do you ask Mavia? I've never seen you like this…"

Mavia began to breathe rapidly again. She did not want to go back into the Blackened Shrine with Illidan. The Sunfury soldiers were gathered about mages who conjured several portals back to Tempest Keep. Once the Blood Elves were gone—and it could be another three years for all she knew, maybe even more if there was a child involved—Illidan would never let her near Kael'thas again. Not after her damning outburst.

Fennore hugged her. "I love you Mavia. Everything is going to be alright. I'll talk to Kael'thas for you. Maybe I can convince him to do… something. If not, then I will. I promise."

A familiar strength weighted Fennore's tone just then. It reminded Mavia of Kael'thas, and her first warlock master over a hundred years ago. She looked up at Fennore curiously. The capacity for wielding Nether magic had always been there but the problem was he never used it. Fennore didn't know how to, he didn't even know what the impulse was and that frustrated him. It was the reason behind everything…

Mavia the Maneater gathered all her strength, told herself that she would like it. Seduction, for once, was going to be a very disturbing experience. The Demon woman made a face and then pulled the Bloodknight down into a passionate kiss.

"Come back. See me again. Soon."

"But Kael'thas might not let me—"

"I will kill you if you don't."

"Oh? Well… then I'm sure I can find some way…" Even though her threat made no sense considering the circumstances. Clearly Fennore saw what he wanted to see in Mavia.

"MAVIA!" Illidan's roar carried through the closed doors to the Blackened Shrine. Fennore hugged her and did not want to let her go, but she did not belong to him. There was nothing he could do for the terrifying Demon woman that he irrationally loved.

"FENNORE!" Kael'thas yelled next. He and only a handful of Sunfury soldiers remained nearby the last disappearing portal back to Tempest Keep.

Reluctantly, Fennore and Mavia parted.

The odd Bloodknight jogged up to Kael'thas smiling. He reasoned that despite everything, he still had a good reason to. "She likes me, did you see that Kael'thas? It's like I've been saying for years. She really likes me!"

Kael'thas raised a blonde eyebrow. "I win my son a safe home today and that's all you can think about?" To further bubbly excited resistance uncharacteristic of a man Fennore's age, Kael'thas turned Fennore gruffly around and shoved him hard through the portal.

Then Kael'thas smiled briefly before passing through the blue light himself. All in all, it had still been a good day. And one had to admit, sometimes Fennore's tangents could be endearing. It reminded Kael'thas of his own exciting moments when he first learned about Nether magic as a boy back in Silvermoon. And now he had a son to teach, to raise however he wanted in Tempest Keep… and thanks to Mavia the Maneater of all people.

"Fennore, you weirdo." He laughed, "What in the hell will you be telling us next?"

Hello Kael'thas.

Yes, Illidan? What do you want, I'm about to leave.

A long silence then, I was just testing it out.

In his mind Kael'thas growled, Our Soul Link is not a toy, Illidan. Are you smiling about this!

…No.