Each step of plated boots echoed in the otherwise quiet corridor. The one or two acolytes that he encountered on his way quickly moved aside, almost tripping upon themselves to give way to Arodamus, the Darklord, in between respectful bows and muttered greetings. Perhaps noticing if in a subconscious way or by means of stern posture and purposeful stride, his foul mood at having been disturbed that night.

He did not care for their deferential ways and ignored each one of them. Thoughts divided between the Kal'dorei he left back in his chambers and the 'emergency' one of the lower Shadowlords had interrupted with. He allowed the shadows of the cowl to hide the barest of smirks at the memory of the elf of moon hued hair and deep pink skin wrapped around his body after a long, pleasurable night for both. His though, seemed was not going to end just yet.

Now it was time to focus on the issue at hand, all concerns of his personal life stowed away for the time being. Although, and knowing her well, he wondered what she'd be up to during his absence. He scoffed mentally, soon enough he'll discover it. If not by her own willingness to share her little adventure, by means of noticing little details and hints he had grown attuned to when it came to his chosen one.

He pushed open the doors, silencing effectively any mutters and whispers between the few Shadow lords and mistresses present. A single sweep of grey eyes about the room noticed the absence of one he somehow expected to be there, in the mists of the last concern to the cult.

Lord Zeroel's absence was one easy to ignore though, if anything he did notice the presence of his consort among the scattered crowd. Ellennah stood with a few other lords, shadow aura visible in form of tendrils hugging her form. Like all the others she turned towards him after his entrance. Arodamus new enough of her relationship with the Lord Zeroel to find it somewhat intriguing that one would be there but not the other.

He strode into the room, eyes now focused on the woman being held by two Shadowlords by means of dark tendrils of their power. Another lord came to step next to him, he bowed before speaking.

"Mind's Eye." He greeted with yet another of Arodamus' titles. "This is the one found sneaking around the fortress. Set off a spell when she attempted to enter." Lord Jasodus said.

The Darklord gave a curt nod and crossed arms. The woman was dressed in dark leather from head to toe, daggers of many sizes where contained in the belt about her waist. One of her capturers had her mask in his hand.

"Do tell, who do you work for and how did you know of this place." The other lords had moved closer, making an almost perfect circle around the prisoner, the Darklord and the ones keeping the spells to contain the woman.

"Why should I tell you? Either way it is the end of me, might as well kill me now." She raised her chin in an almost arrogant way.

"No." Arodamus simply replied.

"There will be not such an easy way out. If someone sent you here, then more know of us." Jasodus paused as the Darklord unfolded arms and reached for the belt. "And you will tell us."

She tensed as soon as his hand brushed her waist. Wild eyes looked from him to the rest of the room. "Wh-what are you doing?" He glanced up at her once the belt with all daggers was removed.

The Darklord raised a brow, action hidden by the shadows of the cowl. She quickly pressed lips in a tight line, knowing well of her mistake at giving away her nervousness. Very low whispers started between the other lords gathered. He removed one of the daggers and gave the belt and other items it contained to the one lord at his side.

He turned the dagger in his hand, finally tracing a finger over a small symbol at the base of the blade. The woman glared, biting back a curse. "SI:7." Arodamus said after extending the blade to the lord. A single step brought him a breath apart from the woman, whom shifted as much as the shadow restraints allowed, trying to cringe away from him. "So the Alliance know of us." The whispers got louder.

"Silence." Lord Jasodus glared about the room.

"I do not know anything and if I did, I would not tell you." She repeated.

The Darklord gripped her chin and tilted her head up. "Oh, I think you do and will." Her caramel eyes were wide in barely supressed fear.

He released her and nodded to the two holding the spell together. Silent command well understood by both. They took an arm each and carried her out of the room. Her struggles well ignored but her shouted words difficult to.

"Rapists." He repeated, too low for anyone else to hear. Grey eyes grew darker, shadow hue merging with his natural color.

"Someone among us." He called to the Shadowlords. They all stopped talking and looked at him. "Has either become a traitor or careless. The later rather than the former, judging by this spy's words. But the damage has been done and our secrecy is endangered."

He looked from one lord to the next. Piercing gaze stopping on the one Shadow-mistress that flaunted her shadow aura in the form of void tendrils. Ellennah met his grey eyes for a long moment but averted her gaze soon after, the tendrils around her thickened in an almost nervous response. "I expect and if necessary will enforce discretion from each of you." The darklord walked past all of them, to a throne like seat at one end of the room. "Now leave and make sure to spread the message among the rest."

Ellennah did not need him to look at her again to know what he was referring to. She cursed under her breath. He knew, somehow he knew of her consort's so called experiments and actions or at the very least suspected them.

"Lord Jasodus, accompany Lady Ellennah back to her chambers." Arodamus said as he sat.

The man holding the spy's belt bowed his head. "Of course, my Lord."

Ellennah knew better than to refuse. She met the Darklord's eyes for a moment before bowing her head slightly and turning to leave with the other Lord. Unspoken was that she was to remain there for the rest of the night and the other lord would have to make sure of it.

All the other hooded figures had left the room. All but one, whose frozen gaze was on the Darklord. He beckoned her closer, by both the slight flick of fingers and mental link long ago forged between master and enslaved scourgebourne.

The lowering of her hood revealed dark complexion and long bone-white hair. Expressionless visage unnerved many but him. She carried herself with the deathly confidence of a once gladiator, dark kilt and vest made of black chainmail complimented well the contrast of her whole appearance.

"Master." She greeted, stepping even closer when he reached for her and waited for his command while he traced fingers over her side as if she was a precious token. He did not need to voice that he had a task for the once death knight, the mental link was all there was needed to convey that much of the message.

"Find him. Deliver the warning." She nodded, eyes flaring to life in blue energy. The smallest of tugs of her lips, normally easy to ignore did not go unseen by him. "Do not kill him or permanently cripple him. I believe he can still be of use to us."

Standing, he cupped her cheek, not disturbed at all by the unnaturally cold feel of her skin. Leaning over, a gentle kiss was placed on her forehead. "Report to me tomorrow, my loyal pet." He lowered his hand, following her with his gaze as she left the room, on her back the blades were already glowing with runic power. He nodded, satisfied with her eagerness to please him by following his commands and knowing that the task would be completed successfully.

The room was once again quiet. Arodamus reached a low table and uncapped one of the many bottles to pour the golden liquid into a glass. He was not one of those whose powers dealt with the guessing and predicting the possible outcomes of the future but somehow knew, as the sharp liquid warmed his throat, that it was something he'd need before returning to his own chambers to deal with his elven headache.

It was not often that Kyphaz ventured deeper into the halls of the Shadowlord's fortress. This would actually be the first time in years. Even back then it was her Darklord the one escorting her through the torch lit corridors for whatever bitter sweet torture he had in mind. Tonight though, she had taken advantage of him being called away to explore more of the premises on her own.

Oh. She had no doubt he'd be ticked off when, not if, he discovered her wandering about, something he had warned against over and over.

A knock came to the chamber's door earlier that night while they were lying on the large bed. She only opened her eyes, noticing when his hand stopped stroking her hair and settled on her back. Rarely did she allow herself to lower her guard in such a way, as always though, with him she made the exception. Fingers curled in an almost possessive way over her skin. The glare he directed the door would have easily reduced it to ashes. When it did not and the insistent noise continued, he huffed in annoyance and shifted her half sleep form from his chest and down to the pillows. She watched with mild interest as he pulled on pants and opened the door, a slight smirk making it to her lips when the hooded man cringed at seeing himself face to face with the intimidating gaze of grey and shadows eyes, or perhaps the fact that he had clearly interrupted one of the more powerful lords of their cult. Few words were muttered between them, something that in her drowsy state she did not find any interest on overhearing.

Her ear twitched at his almost growled response though and quirked a brow as the door was slammed shut on the face of the other man. Moontouched gaze followed him as he got dressed, she turned propping herself up on elbows to take a better look at him.

"I have to leave, it will not take long" Finally he turned and walked to the bed. He grasped her chin and leaned down to kiss her lips.

"Okay." She simply replied, but eyes narrowed ever so slightly, wondering what would require such urgency that he had to leave at that hour. He nodded and released her, pulling the midnight hood over his head before going past the door and closing it behind himself.

She sighed, lying back down and looking up to the dark canopy. Few minutes passed and she looked about, a slow smirk crossed her lips. Curiosity killed the nightsaber her people used to say, she was about to test the theory. Once she located the pieces of her armor and had put them on, making sure the dark dagger was securely fastened for a quick draw. Her weapons of choice were usually glaives or bows. This time though, and for the sake of stealth, the shorter blade will have to do. She walked out the door then, not before making sure the corridor was deserted.

Shadows where easier to use as camouflage when it came to the forest, in the cobblestone halls the task was more complicated. She did manage to slip past the one or two hooded figures, relying on silent feet and hunting techniques long ago learned and ingrained. In quiet prowl she was able to move deeper and deeper into the fortress, until finally something caught her attention. Single door slightly ajar and a barely lit room.

She casted a glance over her shoulder before getting closer to it. Slowly the door was pushed open and she walked inside. A pale brow rose at the look of the place. Manacles had been placed all along the walls and a few tables in the middle of the room as if they were set up for a less than agreeable audience.

The solid tables felt cold under her fingers, stained wood had probably beard witness to many atrocities she did not allowed herself to think about. She paced along the walls, noticing similar stains here and there. Finally she stopped in front of a broken clasp, raising a hand to trace the metal. A frown appeared between her brows, what could have been strong enough to break free from something like this.

"Well, what do we have here." The mocking tone broke her mental tirade. Slowly she turned to face him. No need to react without thinking, if the man had been silent enough to sneak up on her, he would have easily killed her by now.

Immediately she knew she was in front of another Shadowlord, faint outline of shadows only the most powerful knew how to hide surrounded him. As if the cowl in dark purple shade was not enough to show for his status within the cult. Close trimmed goatee, a devious smirk and tanned skin was all the hood allowed to see.

Her eyes narrowed, not one she had ever dealt with before. Fingers curled slowly, itching to hold the reassuring weight of the dagger in her hand. She shifted her stance, something that not many would have noticed but somehow the lord facing her did. His lips lost some of the mocking overconfidence, turning into an almost challenging baring of teeth. A predator that enjoyed the hunt, not only a man with dark power.

"Think you can fight your way out of here? Amusing. I have to say, it's not often someone volunteers so readily to be a subject for my 'experiments' but I can already see you will be a perfect vessel." He prowled closer, there was no other way to describe the way he moved. Not in the graceful way nightsabers did on silent paws, more of the cocky way a wolf closed to the cornered prey. "Do tell, elf. Have you ever felt curious of how a shadowspawn is born?" Prey, she was not.

"I have heard." She replied, allowing him his false sense of security as he approached. In her own experience distance fight with one of his nature would end up badly for her. A close fight and she might be able to cause enough damage with the dagger before he muttered the first spell. "Not something I am interested on though."

Dark brown gaze met her silvery one and smirked. "Is that so?" He stopped close to her, his dark robe almost brushing against her bare midriff. "Tsk. Perhaps you will reconsider once the spawn grows inside you. Then again…" And he leaned in, placing hands at either side of her head. "That depends if you will live through the spawn cla-"

The point of the dagger firmly pressed against his throat, cut his babbling effectively. She smirked at him. "No. I do not think I want to test that theory."

His eyes bled to a deep amber color and a low growl vibrated against the blade. He pressed closer, regardless of the blade almost puncturing his skin, letting her see the beast that peeked through his eyes. "Feisty. Yes, breaking you will be entertaining." She could almost see him becoming larger as the shadows around him turned visible, thickening, readying for the change. His hands grew, dark claws forming and his teeth elongated.

She had never seen a worgen's change that close, it was almost hypnotising, nevertheless hesitation lasted only a second. Her eyes narrowed and shifted to push in the dagger, but was too late.

He jumped back almost as if her closeness had burnt him. Shadows coiled back into his body, once again under control. Smirk gone and replaced by the tightening of lips. The dark cowl had shifted back from his face, revealing more of his features for her to commit to memory. "What are you doing here?"

He spoke as if he knew her or more likely of her. She raised a brow but did not lower the dagger. "I have my reasons."

"I bet." He muttered in a low growl. "Leave before the Mind's eye finds out his favoured pet has escaped from her leash."

She narrowed eyes but her initial retort died on her lips as she tilted her head slightly. "You are scared of him."

A blast of shadow crashed on one of the racks, engulfing it in purple flames. He turned to her, dark gaze turned into a similar void's hue. "I'm a good match to the Darklord, elf." He said the last as if it was an insult. "I do not fear him or anyone else."

She scoffed, glancing from the burning pieces and back to him. "Impressive fireworks. Your temper says otherwise though." She smirked.

"Leave." He growled through gritted teeth. "And remember, one day you will not have him to hide behind."

"I do not hide behind anyone. Nor I back down for fear to another's threat."

He regarded her for a long moment. "So I've heard." He looked over a shoulder, to where steps and the unmistakeable sound of chains approached, someone whimpered. The devious smirk made it back to his lips. "Ah, they arrive. Stay to wat-"

She heard him scoff and mutter under his breath, but she was already making her way back to the Darklord's chambers. Using the second long distraction, she had melded back into the shadows and slipped from the room. She did not want to know whatever it was that he had planned to do, especially did not want to see the one that had whimpered in fear. Battles are to be carefully chosen, she knew well, and that one was not one she was fit to fight on her own.

Her way back was almost as easy as before. She passed empty after empty corridor until she reached the chamber. She sighed and silently stepped through, closing the door behind herself.

"Did you enjoy your midnight stroll, Kyphaz?"

Crap. She glanced forth to see the Dark lord's form standing in the middle of the room. Hood pulled back and arms crossed in a stern posture.

She felt a smirk crossing her lips. "Was a unique experience."

Frost hued gaze glinted with necromantic energy. She stepped into the torture chamber as silently as death herself and had settled with stern posture in a corner, hidden by its darkness. Not the screams, nor the cries of the woman chained to the wall or the devious laugh and taunts of the shadow lord perturbed her. She simply observed, emotionless to everything developing in front of her.

It had taken some time, for the man to become bored with his 'toy' but she had patiently waited. Taking all in to later on show her master, the Dark Lord and the one that had sent her to deal with Lord Zeroel.

So only when Zeroel had called for his personal servants to take the woman away, she stepped forth. The one of noble blood snapped around to face her, his deviant smirk wiped from his otherwise sensuous lips. Palms already forming dark energy, readying himself to unleash his power on the one spying. It took him but a moment to recognize the woman with dark skin and bone-white hair, not to mention the eerie blue gaze which characterized the scourgeborne. Shutting down his power, he returned to his overconfident cockiness he was well known by, the smirk slowly spreading on his lips much like the wolf when he caught sight of an easy prey.

"Kadijha." The name rolled on his Gilnean accent as a slow caress. "What is the Mind's Eye's favoured slave doing here? Have you found something to your liking? Perhaps the little show is something you'd like to experience by yourself." No need for him to deny it and even if caught red handed in something that was frowned upon even by the other lords of the cult, he did not care. With each word he took a step closer as if expecting her to back down. He should have known better. She just looked at him, impassive. "Let me guess, the Mind's Eye ways are too tame for you. Such a precious weapon should have a real master and not one afraid to take the necessary steps to achieve greatness."

He stopped close to her, so much that shadow aura and frost presence were bound to interlace. "The Mind's Eye has sent me with a message for you, Lord Zeroel." She simply replied, not moving from her place, not even when he made a tsk sound and placed fingers over her side, slowly tracing down the cool flesh.

"Whatever the he wants can wait, let's take some time to get to know each other better. Hrm?"

She glanced down to his hand for a second, then back up. Her unreadable expression was kept in place, not annoyance or any hint to being pleased by his advance showed.

"No."

He growled low, the beast taking over his eyes and turning them into the feral yellow of the worgen. "All the more fun for me."

He splayed fingers over her side, attempting even to slip his hand around her waist and into the battle kilt she wore and pull her closer to the front of his body. She did not move but his intruding touch was soon stopped by her hand on his forearm. The summoned power showing but with the extreme change in temperature from cool skin to frozen, and cold fumes coming from her hand and body. He did not have time to react, bone broke in a loud snap by the seemingly effortless pressure she applied.

Falling to his knees he screamed in rage and pain, holding the broken arm close to his chest. His voice was a lot more of a growl than anything else. "You are going to pay for this slave!"

She paid no attention, not once her visage changed but she silenced his cursing effectively by raising him by the throat. He grunted in protest, teeth bared in a furious snarl. "The Mind's Eye knows of your experiments. His message is the one and only warning you will receive. The Alliance has already sent someone to investigate so they at least suspect, women gone missing only to be found months later, dead, with signs of abuse and with their flesh torn open. Need not to see the kind of damage they have been caused, as well known are your 'tastes' within the shadowlords' circle. You have exposed us and will suffer accordingly if another is found or if more spies are sent our way." The message was delivered without the smallest sign of emotion, tone calm and distant, no strain shown even with the man struggling as she held him up.

He was just about turning darker by the lack of oxygen, her suffocating hold was unrelenting. "Understood?" She finished, piercing gaze meeting his.

A nod, as much as he was able to with his movements becoming sluggish, was the only reply. She did not say anything else but disposed of him as a rag doll. He crumbled on the floor, gasping for air and cringing against the pain of the broken arm. The marks of her fingers showed clear on his throat, both by bruising and frost burn.

Not another word was exchanged; she turned and left the dungeon. He glared, killing gaze trained on her back until she slipped into the darkness of the corridor.