The Luckiest

Chapter 7

Dance with the Devil

Disclaimer: I don't own World of Warcraft and it doesn't own me. I however own my characters and plot line, which own me.

Also: Working on the typos. Don't worry, they won't last much longer.


Throughout my days as a young man who slept with random women, who drank ale until he was beyond drunk, who sang ridiculous songs in the bars with fellow allies, who passed out in various alleys and was most likely mugged by the peasants or gnomes that hid in the darkest caverns of the cities, who of course sought revenge on those who stole from him, who was cursed and damned to hell by many of societies' greatest role models (Neema of course!) for being a detriment to not only himself, but to society and an impressionable youth, and who was led astray by Lady Fate, I never believed that I would manage to grow beyond the chains of such meaningless days of such meaningless adventures that only brought despair and anguish in the times of sobriety.

I never believed I would be laying in a bed, beside the woman I loved and cherished after two years of hopelessness. I never believed to be just laying there... thinking about it all, and questioning if it really was reality, or if this was just a dream. A dream that was created by the Gods above me as a terrible omen. If it was a horribly cruel dream, what were these Gods trying to show? That love is a weakness? A crippling flaw? ...A joke played by the Creators upon their own creations.

But as I stared at the ceiling of my room, holding my dear elf against my withered frame, I squeezed her gently, reassuring myself that this was truly reality. There could be no demon or monster inside of me that would tear me away from Elirina. Nothing at all. Which brought up the question of Illidan Stormrage, the so-called Betrayer.

I was to meet Illidan that evening by moonrise sharp. Judging by the candlesticks and their melted stands, I realized that we must have been in the room for over several hours. It was most likely close to the time. I had to make a decision, I had to find a way out, without killing either one of us. I would not allow it. Not after I had just found her. Not after she had just saved my weary and broken heart from rupturing to pieces.

Elirina stirred as she noticed that I was gripping her tighter now, clinging onto her out of apprehension. She sat up and looked over to me, staring at me as I wandered through my thoughts.

"Nicholas I need to ask you something...," she began in a serious tone, "I have been thinking about it, and I am completely confused as to why you would be here. Why would you come here? Even if you were lost because of my own transgressions towards you."

"Because I wanted to expand upon my demonic knowledge." I replied simply, closing my eyes and waiting for her series of questions that would surely follow.

"But Nicholas... that does not make any sense at all, whatsoever..."

"It makes plenty of sense. Elirina, I don't think you realize how powerful I've become in the past year."

"Well, I certainly did not want to bring it up, but gee, it's not like you weren't torturing me earlier... I think I did realize it earlier." I quickly sat up and frowned, hurt by her words and the thought of my terrible obliviousness. But she continued, "You may have become more powerful, but look at the cost!"

"I haven't lost anything."

"Well you've certainly lost your senses! Why would you be here Nicholas? Are you mad? I can see you coming here for a matter of revenge, but why would you come here to work alongside Illidan! To aide his cause, Nicholas, not your own." She paused as I raised a brow, surprised by her tone. "Nicholas, I'm not a fool. I saw you... Lady Fate...she... she came to me in a dream when I was in Nagrand. I saw what Illidan did to you. You were just so terribly injured, and I... I couldn't do anything to help you."

I rubbed my eyes as I listened to her, but paused and looked up to her when she mentioned her vision. "You mean that was real? That wasn't a lie...?" She appeared to be startled by my question, so I elaborated. "Hesriel told me several weeks ago the same thing. I just thought she was lying to me and had betrayed my trust."

"Nicholas, why would Hesriel lie to you, after she's stood by your side as not only a servant to their master, but as a companion in a convoluted sense..."

"I don't know Elirina. Things changed betwixt us. We each saw things with two different sets of eyes. I just assumed she was lying to me, because she was afraid of my increasing strength."

"Either way Nicholas, she has all the more reason to question your actions! I mean... Nicholas, don't you remember? You're acting as if you've forgotten..." I raised a brow and skeptically glanced at her. Her expression was merely of shock and confusion. "I just... I just cannot understand it. Nicholas, your brother, Daniel, died here. Don't you remember? He died at the hands of one of Illidan's men? Don't you remember! You said you wanted to avenge your brother... You always did... Why, of all the noxious, terribly corrupted places in the Outlands, would you chose to seek refuge here!"

There was a pause of silence and I looked away from her, feeling a creeping sensation crawl up my spine, as if some terrible travesty had been committed, and the repercussions were standing before me, inevitably crossing my path. I pondered her words. It was indeed true. Why would I come here if I did not seek revenge? ... Yes... that had to have been my reason for coming here. I told Hesriel, the night when Iskarei abandoned me... Yes, certainly I had planned to exact my revenge upon Illidan, or at least be a thorn in his side. So what happened? Why was I here, soon to be preparing to meet this Betrayer, this nefarious creature who ruled the Outlands, who slaughtered several thousands of troops and allies to the cause of righteousness... Daniel, being one of them... What could have occurred in such a time period, that would have changed my mind? Where did I cross the gap of being a hidden spy and enemy, to an ally to Illidan?

"Nicholas, I have to ask this... did you drink anything, eat anything, or come across anything that could have... compromised your err, thinking? I guess that's the word..." Elirina asked softly, reaching over to caress my cheek. I took a moment to reply, shrugging my shoulders and mumbling a few incoherent bits of language. "I ask, because when I did see you in said vision, I noticed not only the amount of blood and such, as well as some other demonic markings on your body. I saw them again just now, as well as felt the abnormal bumps on your back."

"The markings have always been on my body, Elirina, since I sacrificed portions of my heart. You're well aware of this."

"But just look at them... they've... changed, they just look different. And explain the bumps. Those are definitely new."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I leaned back. "I don't really know what they are or how I got them."

"Certainly you must know something... Did Illidan do anything to you?"

"Well..." I paused, choosing my words carefully, "I was told to meet Illidan one afternoon by this demon Succubus named Iskarei. So, I went I suppose, you know, following orders. All I remember from the day is just standing in some transmutation circle, and waiting... and then..." I stuttered, looking at my hands, rubbing the palms slowly, "I just remember the smell of blood and the sensation of incomprehensible pain."

"Nicholas, do you have any idea what he could have done to you?"

"He said that as followers of demonic magic... that we had to be able to experiment. I assumed he meant a simple spell, summoning a demon, siphoning some magic, something... simple."

She pushed me forward gently, lifting my shirt off my frame in order to feel the bumps just next to my shoulder blades. Her fingers traced the scars of both the burn and whatever occurred on that day, trembling at the rough texture and unpleasant sensation that raced down her spine. She examined the area, looking for any sign that would indicate a possibility of an answer or an explanation. Finally, she closed her eyes and shook her head, "I'm not an expert on these kinds of things... I can't tell for myself what could have happened. It obviously isn't the work of physical contact. Whatever it is, it's under the skin."

"I... I just remember waking up in a cell, with Hesriel standing over me with the most horrified and perturbed face I had ever seen. She just stood there frightened to pieces. I just figured she was lying to me, in order to get my attention. I banished her several months ago because of it."

"Nicholas, why would Hesriel lie to you? What could she gain for lying to you?"

I hesitated before responding, having to ponder myself the actions I had committed then. Elirina didn't know the circumstances, nor did she understand what motivated me to act in certain ways. She was only seeing what was before her, not the entire picture. "Elirina, she's a succubus. A demon who fulfills tasks through deception and lust. I couldn't trust her any longer."

"But she's been loyal to you ever since you became a warlock! You used to irritate me about how seductive and charming she could be, and how comforting she was to you when you required someone to listen. What could she gain out of lying to you?"

"I don't know Elirina." I spoke sternly, confused by her persistence on the matter. "Look, you have to understand, I haven't exactly been enjoying my days spent here. It's not like this is some magical party where everyone's getting together each night for drinks and laughs. The Black Temple is a place of learning and knowledge for those who follow demonic code. I came here because it was something to do, something to keep me from losing my mind."

Elirina stared at me, her eyes widening and her fists clenching tightly. She stayed extremely still for several minutes, I guess dumbfounded by what I had said. After several minutes, she blinked and shook her head, still confused."But Nicholas... you've already lost it. You must have."

"I haven't lost anything, Elirina." I laughed, almost hysterically, at the comment. "Gosh, there's nothing else to be taken! I'm the same asshole who was abandoned by you nearly two years ago. You think I've been happy? Wondering what the hell was wrong with me these past two years? Wondering what the hell I did to make you run away, when I had expressed my love to you, given you my heart, and then watched you burn it in your hands as if it were meaningless? I wasn't the one who walked away, remember. The only thing I had lost was you. I figured you had just stayed with that fucking perfect elf, Erannar, all this time, eventually falling in love and having his child, tending to his needs, and being his wife, being his lover..." I noticed that I was beginning to choke on my words, feeling the quench of anguish overcome me. I couldn't look at her anymore; the same agonizing sensations of emptiness and hollowness ate me up inside, and I rose from the bed and pounded my fist against a wall, so hard that blood was drawn. "Elirina, did you know how hard it was to not kill Erannar on that tier in Shattrath, knowing what he was to become in your world? Do you know how hard it was to realize that I couldn't have you? Do you know how hard it was to not think about you and that man? Do you know how hard it was to understand that the love that cultivated in my chest was just worthless, foolish?

"I came here Elirina because thinking about these things, stewing in my own pity was killing me. Brooding in Shattrath, doing petty errands for bird people! Bah! That wasn't what I wanted to do, heartbroken or not. I wanted to get the hell away from my emotions, my pain, and just escape. Maybe it wasn't the best idea, maybe it was sadistic and foolish to come here, but certainly it's been better than the alternative."

I leaned my head against the wall, fatigued from my exhausted emotions as I looked at Elirina from the corner of my eye. She was standing as well, wrapping her cloak around her naked frame, then moving over to where I stood slowly. I turned around and watched her, breathing heavily and sharply until she stood erect before me. "Nicholas, it still does not explain why you would come here, knowing that Daniel died here."

"Elirina...," I growled, feeling my tension and sudden rise in emotions churn for a moment, as I thought about Daniel again. I narrowed my eyes and gave her a warning glance, but she stared at me with the same amount of concern. She moved closer, pining me back against the stone wall, her eyes fiercely looking into my own.

"Well, Nicholas, explain to both me and your brother's spirit why you would come here and aide in the malicious teachings and behaviors of those that had most likely taken part in killing your brother. Well? Go on, explain to us both. I'm sure his spirit haunts both you and this dismal temple that you call a haven, of all the ridiculous things."

I leaned closer to her, scowling at her bluntness. I searched for an answer in her face, searched for a reason to blame her more for my transgressions, until I crashed head first into the wall of my own guilt and remorse. I sighed and closed my eyes, shaking my head and acknowledging that she was beginning to make sense."I guess I became caught up in other things." I mumbled softly, frowning as her words began to make sense. Whether I was angry with my own abandonment by Elirina or hurt by her choices, they did not justify me coming to the Black Temple. It wasn't even my real reason. I remembered that at the very least. It was to indeed avenge Daniel, but as I had wondered beforehand, something had changed, but what? Why couldn't I figure this aspect out? What had changed?

I felt my heart lurch as the conflict of ideas fought for control in my mind. The part that wanted to expand upon demonic knowledge, to become more powerful, and to conquer enemies and the part that believed in Elirina's words, that could see the wrong in my previous actions, and wanted to leave the Black Temple before any harm was caused to either of us. I had to make a decision. I had to get Elirina out of the Temple in one piece, but I also had to do as she said. But first and foremost, I needed to fulfill my destiny. I needed to betray the Betrayer.

I opened my eyes and gently pushed Elirina aside. I walked over to my bookshelf, pushing some tomes off the shelves until I found the book I was looking for. It was a tome about various potions and alchemical transmutations, but inside of it was a hallow area where I kept a special vial of invisibility elixir. "Now Elirina, I want you to listen clearly, and I mean, do as I say. Don't try to be brave or stubborn, or stupid, for goodness sake. Just listen to me, do as I say." I spoke clearly, turning around and walking over to her armor. It had changed from what I had previously remembered it to be while in the Barrens the day we separated. I beckoned for her to come and get dressed as I began to explain the plan. "Now, I want you to drink this once we're ready and follow me to the rooftop, where I'm meeting Illidan. I want you to call for your stead and fly off as fast as you can to the Aldor encampment while I speak with him. Do not deviate at all. I won't be able to see you obviously, but once we are at the rooftop, I want you to gently brush against my robe, like a breeze, so that I know that you're there and about to leave." She gave me skeptical and alarmed facial expressions as she put on her armor. I explained slowly and evenly, so as to not alert her to my own growing fear. "Elirina trust me. This... this will get us both out of here alive."

"Nicholas, there is more than enough of this elixir for both of us to escape -"

"But it won't last as long." I sighed, watching as she latched on the last piece of armor, her plate bootstraps. I walked over to her slowly, running my hand through my hair out of apprehension. I stood before her and quickly embraced her, running my hands through her hair and kissing her gently, delicately. "Elirina, I love you, always know that. No... no matter what happens."

"Nicholas, don't say that -"

"Just listen Elirina." I spoke softly, rubbing her cheek with my thumb. She knew that the circumstances were dire, that things had to be taken care of. Neither of us knew the future. Neither of us could rely on visions or thoughts anymore. We now were forced to rely on our reasoning and our actions."I'm saying that I love you Elirina, and when we get out of this God-forsaken land, I..." I lifted her chin so that her glowing green eyes peered deeply into my own. I barely was able to audibly whisper the words to her, "Elirina, I... I want to know if you'll be my wife."

Her eyes widened, which began to frighten and alarm me. God damnit Nicholas! What the hell do you think you're doing! You only just re-met her, and you already go and pop the question! Are you trying to scare her away again? My conscious thoughts were self-defaming and I felt my pulse begin to pound as I stood there dumbly, just staring back at her. I had thought about marriage quite often during my days spent wallowing in my own malicious thoughts and misery, waiting to hear of the news of Elirina and Erannar Asterian's wedding. It made me think about my own parents and about the passionate love they must have been in. I also thought about Neema and Samuel Anderson, who were an old, wise couple with experience in multiple areas. They each knew the ins and outs of love and it's trials, as Samuel had discussed with me the night Elirina and I arrived in Southshore. I thought about how marriage was something completely different from any regular relationship, that opened hundreds of doors. It made me think about my future. And then that vision from the Lady of Light came, where I was sitting with Elirina, who was my pregnant wife in the vision. I thought about marriage even more after that. I thought about the chances of being a good, loving and supporting husband. How was I to make money? I certainly couldn't be the same hired mercenary for the Alliance and most likely not for the Horde either. And the idea of children. Could I be a father? Me? A father? The idea almost seemed like a sick joke. I was an alcoholic who's mouth ran miles faster than his brain, who delved into the demonic arts, who had slept with countless other women and demons, and finally who had an absentee father throughout his childhood. However, these thoughts usually brought on the usual drinking and pain, because I knew deep down in my gut that it was not possible. But my desperation caused by both the anxiety in the air as well as my own love for Elirina made me close my eyes and lean forward and capture her lips both roughly and tenderly, pulling her even closer to me. I needed to have her just this once, just this one time... before the world came crashing down.

The seconds after we parted made me hold my breath as I backed off. I was breathing somewhat heavily from the stress, but she closed her eyes and touched her lips, still feeling my presence there. Her blank face turned into a soft, tender smile. She opened her eyes and stared at me fully. She took my hand and held it tight. She nodded sincerely. She breathlessly whispered, "Yes, Nicholas."

And just like that, the world had meaning again.


The steps leading to the final level of the Black Temple, were steps that led to either to victory or to my fall. There was a mixture of feelings lingering in my stomach. Some of cowardliness, some of fear, others of ferocity and anger. I clenched my fists tightly as I begin to recall Elirina's words and the memory of Daniel's funeral. Illidan ultimately killed Daniel, directly or not. Illidan started that chain of events. It was Illidan's fault. It was his wrongdoing. I needed to ultimately plan a way to find a form of closure, a distinct way of exacting my revenge, without killing me in the process - it needed to be done somehow. So I approached the doors that opened out to the rooftop. The place where I Illidan waited. I hesitantly placed my hand on the magick rune in the center as I glanced behind me, wondering if Elirina followed my orders or not. I hoped deep down that she didn't go off, get lost, or do something reckless. She could do things like that sometimes. Thankfully however, I felt a cool breeze brush past my cloak. I assumed it was Elirina waiting for the door to open.

Once the door was unlocked, I saw Illidan kneeling in the distance, holding the Skull of Guldan in his hands. My heart began to race and my palms began to swear as I slowly approached where he stood, yet again glancing to my side hoping that Elirina was making her escape to the opposite side of the roof. Once Illidan noticed my presence, I saw an impish grin appear on his face. He stood up and flapped his wings mightily, before pushing off the ground in order to hover in mid air. "It's good to see you Nicholas. You're late."

I was indeed late to our meeting. I looked over my shoulder to see the hanging full moon in the sky, eerie and misty as it's rays, both luminescent and perfect in all forms, shined down upon this scarred land. It was past moon-high. I began to worry that Illidan would be suspicious. "I'm just assuming that the prisoner that one of the fellow naga siren's sent took longer than expected, yes?"

I nodded slowly as I moved closer. "What was it you wanted to speak about, Illidan?"

"Nicholas, look out across the Valley." He beckoned me to look beyond the horizon. I saw the entire desolate land, the Fel Fire spewing from geysers, the lava flowing out of the small volcano in the middle of the land, the hideous creatures moving to and fro, and finally each of the two encampments, the Scryers and the Aldor. I also looked into the night sky, in search of Elirina's mount floating in the distance. Nothing. My pulse pounded again as I wondered if she were following my orders yet again. There was no way I could tell other than trusting my hopes. "Do you see what's there?"

"It's just the valley. Nothing has changed."

"Plenty has changed." Illidan spoke cryptically, "The Burning Legion is moving closer, advancing onto our territory. Kil'Jaedan is angered that I did not kill Arthas on the Frozen Throne. He'll hunt me down until my own punishment is received."

"What does this have to do with me?" I asked calmly, folding my arms. "Sounds like your problem, my lord."

"It has plenty to do with you."

"Then please, elaborate."

"It's simple. In order to fend off the Burning Legion's armies, I've been creating my own set of armies to fight against his own. Kael'Thas, Lady Vashj and I have been creating weapons to use as a secret weapon, if you will, against the abominations that will lay siege upon this land. There are creatures whose bodies have been mutilated beyond imagination. Weapons for limbs, toxic chemicals for blood, and steel armor made from the blood and tears of their enemies. The three of us have been diving into such matters as well. Kael'Thas has been creating arcane constructs that can kill on command, Lady Vashj has been training Naga that are far more intelligent and agile than the average Naga. As for me, I've been developing hybrids."

"Hybrids you say?" I asked, feeling my blood suddenly halt in my veins, as I listened closely to Illidan's next words.

"Yes, Nicholas." Illidan spoke carefully, watching me intensely. "We both have our enemies, you and I. We each have to find new ways of outsmarting them, thinking ahead, and planning. You said you wanted to gain more power Now, it really is a matter of whether or not you realized it. You already were partly a hybrid. I simply went the next step farther."

"And what was that?"

"Awoke each of those components, and created an entirely new creature. One that could actually morph into a combined version of each of those demons. In simpler terms, let's just say you've met your inner demons."

So that was it. That was what Hesriel was talking about.

"And how did this happen-"

"It was a simple transmutation. The Skull of Gul'dan can do wondrous things, as I'm sure you're well aware of." A sinister laugh erupted from the Great Betrayer as he began to walk off. "I had to test it on someone, this spell, and luckily you came under my nose when I heard about your incursion in Shattrath on the tier. Quite lucky indeed. Was worried I'd have to test it on one of my own men."

"And how does this affect me! Obviously it hasn't... er, come out of me since then!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Illidan's grin turned into a maniacal smirk as he began to laugh wildly, madly, as if he had lost whatever portion of his sanity on the very spot. He closed his eyes, arched his back and got a good laugh out of my comment. He soon opened his eyes and looked back at me, hunched over, clutching his precious Skull of Gul'dan tightly. "It affects you in more ways than one. You've become far more aggressive, more agile for a man of cloth and casting, increasingly intelligent, and far more tolerant of alcohol. You've been unable to sleep at night, unable to lose the feelings of loneliness and unhappiness because of your tolerance, and more persistent. You thought it was your personality. You thought you were just changing emotionally. Well, I'm afraid to inform you that it's more of a physical change, rather than an internal." My blood ran cold as I heard these words. They made complete sense. All of these characteristics - I had been well aware of them, Hesriel knew that something was wrong... even Elirina sensed it. But I continued to ignore these signs. I faced Illidan sternly and felt my throat clamp up as panic began to take its hold on my inner strength. Illidan continued as he noticed my tense and apprehensive form. "These changes will continue and become more apparent. You soon will be unable to keep a grip on your own mind as the demons take control. You'll find yourself weak and unresisting to their claims, and you will willingly give into them. Their words will be stronger than your own reason. You'll find yourself uninterested in others, and will only be concerned with one thing - power, what every demon ultimately desires. In the end, you will completely transform into this creature. But in the meantime, intense emotion, pain, or strife can be the catalysts to this change."

A dull ache rose in my chest as realization consumed me. My mind became completely distracted by Illidan's words. So this was the reason why everything was spiraling out of control. This was why I acted so obnoxiously with Hessa, this was why I acted so brashly. I was losing my mind. I was losing my mind, just when things seemed to be taking a turn for the best. I was with Elirina, we made love, we expressed our undying love for one another, she was going to be my wife, we were going to get old together, live life together... but this... what did this mean to all of that? Those hopes, those aspirations? Were they to be extinguished for good? I panicked. I began to fear the worst as I fell to my knees, clutching my face in my hands. That's all I was. An experiment to Illidan. Everything, everything was suddenly out of my control. I couldn't predict when this monster inside of me would burst from its catch and consume me whole, or worse - consume the ones I loved most. I needed answers, I need a way to exercise whatever demons lurked inside of me. I needed to get the hell out of the Black Temple, revenge or not, I had other priorities. I looked up at Illidan and narrowed my eyes.

"Illidan, I'm not going to stay here anymore." I uttered, waiting for his reaction. "This isn't what I signed up for."

"You wanted power. I grant you power, and you push it aside." He scowled and pushed me aside with a swoop of his huge arm. I crashed onto my back when I collided with the cold ground. "What really is your reason for wanting to leave, hm? Reality catching up with you?"

"Does it matter? I came here voluntarily, I can leave whenever the hell I want to."

Illidan released a mocking laugh from his throat, as he walked closer to where I lay, my back aching from the crash. "Really? Is that what you think? You have a debt to me, Nicholas. I didn't just experiment on you for no reason."

"Then enlighten me, alright?" I snarled, feeling a heavy pressure lodge itself into my chest. "Quit fucking around and get to it."

Illidan knelt down before me. I looked into at his blindfold and scowled, seeing the glow of his eyes. "I remember someone who looked nearly exactly like you, Nicholas. Acted nearly as bold and ridiculous as you. Thought he had the world in his hands. Thought he knew what he was doing."

"Oh, and who was that?"

"Why, your mother didn't tell you? Your brother, Daniel." The smirk grew wider on Illidan's face as I watched him jeer at me. I quickly forced my body up and felt sensations creep over my frame. I felt fire and brimstone sear my flesh, felt my muscles expand and stretch, as well as noticed that my back was making me hunch forward. My breath quickened as I saw claws grow over my hands and that my skin had become a deep and heavy hue of orange. The scent of sanguine blood filled my flaring nostrils as rage ate away at my thoughts as I glared at Illidan. I only was aware of two things: One, that I transformed partially, and two, that Illidan knew about Daniel. I jumped into the air with the intention of crashing into Illidan, but he side stepped and flapped his large wings so he was levitating in front of me. "Come now Nicholas, you're surely quicker than that. You'll have to be, if you want to even think of scratching my surface."

"Tell me what happened to Daniel! Tell me!" I yelled as Illidan continued to cackle.

"Do you really want to know what he did? Do you really want to know the truth that obviously was hidden from you? - Well fine, I'll tell you. Your brother Daniel came here to the Black Temple under a guise. He supposedly was serving under the command of the leaders of Shattrath. He was sent here in order to fulfill a reconnaissance mission. He infiltrated my temple until he reached the Blood Elf areas. A concubine found him wandering around, and I have little idea of what happened in the time lapse between his discovery and his presentation before me. My guards brought him here, to this same rooftop where you are now. He was valiant at first, but after serious persuasion, he decided to join my side. I'm sure you were told that your brother died here. But I have other news for you. Your brother, Daniel F. Archavon - was nothing of the sort. He instead agreed to serve under my command. He realized the futility, the ignorance in standing for something as ridiculous as the guards of Shattrath, where he could never find the power he truly desired. Your brother instead was believed to be dead and forgotten, dying valiantly in these halls. Instead, he served here for several years, until I decided I wanted to test out the same spell upon him. He welcomed it with open arms, embracing the darkness, the Fel Magick that was so attuned to his veins by that time. He loved it. He loved being a creature of hellfire and damnation. And you know where he is now? Hah! You really don't want to know..."

My eyes widened. No. That couldn't be true. Daniel's body was sent back to Stormwind... it was impossible. Illidan was lying. He had to have been. "I don't believe you! My brother's corpse, my honorable brother's corpse was sent back to Stormwind, I was there! I saw the casket!"

"But did you ever look inside this casket? Hm?"

I paused, searching through my memory for some recollection. No, I hadn't. Mother wouldn't let me. She said that it was so mutilated, so grotesque, as the people of Shattrath had stated, that it could not be seen by mortal eyes. "It... It can't be true... it's impossible..." I mumbled as heavy waves of dizziness rocked my core. "IT CAN'T BE! MY BROTHER... HE WAS AN HONORABLE FELLOW MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE! HE SERVED WELL, HE DIED HERE! DON'T YOU DARE DEGRADE HIS NAME! HOW DARE YOU!"

"BUT IT'S TRUE, NICHOLAS!" Illidan yelled back with the same amount of force. "HE DID NOT DIE HERE! HE TRADED HIS HUMAN, MORTAL BODY FOR A DEMON'S, JUST AS YOU DID! HE'S STILL HERE, ALIVE AND WELL, BUT NOT AS A HUMAN!"

My eyes widened as the reality of the situation crashed onto me. My brother... he really, could he really be alive? Could he really have not died? I didn't want to believe it... but it seemed so possible, so real. It couldn't be true. Because if it were true, then the blame rested on his shoulders. Everything rested on his. My mother's death, my decision to become a warlock, everything...

I felt torturous pain sear my back, as if something wanted to be released from my insides. I groaned and fell to my knees again, wretching and stewing in my agony as I reached back and felt warm goo. I looked and saw that it was fresh blood. In only a matter of seconds, I lost it. Blood splattered from my back, as wings unfolded and stretched themselves. I moaned in agony, feeling my flesh tear and rip. I heaved and felt the world spinning - I couldn't stand up straight - I couldn't move without feeling nauseous - and then, darkness.


I followed Nicholas all the way up to the rooftop of the Black Temple, my pulse pounding and blood rushing rapidly through my sore body. I wanted to leave this hellhole, I wanted to just be free, to run away and be safe in another land where the darkness that enclosed this heinous place was miles away. I wanted to escape with Nicholas, however. I did not want to leave him here, whether or not he commanded it of me. I refused to abandon him again, whether or not he wanted me to stay or leave. I did not want to lose this chance, this moment. I wanted to be with him, and damnit! I was going to stay with him.

I walked slowly onto the rooftop, watching Nicholas approach the intimidating Illidan himself. I had never seen him before, Illidan. I had heard plenty, but none of those petty words could describe the grandeur and wild fury that encompassed him. He was terrifyingly tall, grotesque with his two large, bright green Blades of Azzinoth that rested his back.

I ended up ignoring Nicholas's words. I watched from afar as their conversation unraveled from being one of questions without answers, to answers that brought up more and more questions that Illidan only could answer. I watched as Nicholas became infuriated by Illidan's actions, saw the disbelief and agony sear in his stomach as we both realized it - he was going to become a creature of neither Hell nor Purgatory, a monster, if you will. I tried to suppress my fear, my unrelenting desire to just run to Nicholas and pull him off the cliff, where we could just fall forever - fall, but never be forgotten, or separated, but rather bound by eternity. The Lady of Light did not speak of this. She didn't even mention this kind of treachery. I had to make a final decision. I had to either leave Nicholas to deal with this battle on his own, as well as follow his orders, or I would stay and help him.

In the end, I ended up staying and moving closer under my shield of invisibility, well aware that at any moment, it could fade away from me and I would be exposed and thus would become a burden upon his mind. But the stakes were far too high. I made my decision. I would rather die than be left out in the depths of Shadowmoon Valley alone, with my actions and determination put in vain, and Nicholas dead on this horrid rooftop. I would rather die by his side. It was therefore settled. I could not walk back. I was staying and going to help Nicholas with whatever demons he had to face - literally or figuratively.

I crept closer to Nicholas, alarmed now by their heated and intense conversation regarding Daniel. I listened to Illidan's words, and I saw the horror appear on my love's face. I saw the hellfire burn inside him, the rage and the confusion twist and contort into madness. I saw him tip over the edge. I saw the wings burst from his back and release themselves. I saw the danger. I saw Nicholas become something unimaginably heinous and frightening. I realized the consequences. I needed to act fast before something terrible happened to him.

However, Nicholas fell to the ground, exhausted and passed out cold. I quickly ran to his side, falling to my knees as I noticed that I was not invisible anymore. I heard Illidan's gasp as I covered Nicholas with my own body, yelling, "Illidan! I won't let you hurt Nicholas. I won't. Even if you have to slice me to pieces, I will not let you harm him anymore than you have already."

My courage did not last as long as my creeping fear did. I became anxious as silence followed my outburst of bravery. I looked up and saw Illidan hovering in the sky with a scowl on his face. He had unsheathed his two blades and was glaring at me head-on. "So it seems you're the one who kept Nicholas busy. You're the reason why he was late."

"It doesn't matter, Illidan, I'm taking Nicholas and leaving this dreadful place. Whether he becomes a monster or not, I won't leave him under your command, like some filthy puppet. You may have gotten to his brother but you will not do the same to Nicholas."

"You're just like the other girl. Merrai. She said the same thing when she realized that Daniel was here, by his own will, I will remind you. You do realize that you are the reason why he is here? You're the reason why this has happened to him. He came here because you left him. It is your fault that he is in this condition. Not mine. Nicholas was forced here because of you and you alone."

"That's not true. He thought that his brother had died here, not that some demented creature had twisted his thoughts and kept him here as an oblivious prisoner!"

"They both made their decisions. They wanted to be here. They each wanted power. So I gave it to them. But you're just the same as her. Merrai thought that her lover, Daniel, wanted to leave. She thought she could handle the consequences of his true form. You know what happened to her? She was murdered the moment he woke up. Nicholas will never be the same. The man you knew is gone."

"I won't believe that, I have faith! I have to believe in something that Magick nor weapons can destroy. I believe that things will be fine, if you work at them. I will save Nicholas, and you will not be able to stop me."

"It won't be myself that you will have to stop." Illidan laughed at me before taking off from the ground and flying away. "He's your problem now!"

I watched Illidan fly away, hearing his cackles fading in the distance as he faded from my sight. I glanced down at Nicholas, holding his body in my arms. He was drenched in his own blood, and I suddenly felt a wave of tears overcome me as I felt helpless and uncertain of what to do. I attempted to heal his wounds with Holy Light, but the spell barely tended to the wound. I continued to pour as much energy and strength into each spell, but overall, I was left exhausted and Nicholas hardly healed. I coughed sharply, rubbing my brow of whatever sweat rested there. I lifted Nicholas's head up and caressed his cheek, holding him in my lap. I called upon my demonic horse to come to my aide so that we could make our escape, but it did not respond to my call. Helpless and lost, I clutched Nicholas tighter, feeling my tears drench my cheeks."Oh Nicholas, what am I going to do... I can't... I don't know what to do... I can't carry you out of here... I can't...-"

And then he began to wake up. I blinked out of disbelief, tapping his shoulder lightly, trying to draw him back into consciousness. "Come on Nicholas, wake up, please."

He woke up, but the eyes that stared back at mine were not Nicholas's. They were that of a demon's. The pupil was thin and straight, piercing into me like daggers as I called for him, my Nicholas, to return back to reality. "Come on Nicholas, don't do this... don't... don't let that creature do this to you, FIGHT IT!" I screamed, holding onto him tightly. He sat up, dazed by my actions. Hope began to leave me vulnerable as I began to think that he was returning to me, that he was fighting it, and that it was safe to stay by him. "Elirina..." It whispered to me as it lifted its claws and scratched my cheek roughly. I winced and struggled to move away because he drew blood, but I noticed that he was now holding onto my wrist, keeping me still as he hurt me. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine that it wasn't him, that it was just some monster. That it wasn't Nicholas hurting me. It had to be something else. It had to be an illusion; this had to be fake. I struggled in its grasp, but his grip was firm and solid. I couldn't escape. "So... lovely that you're here."

It wasn't even his voice... it was like it was someone completely different. Some other monster that had consumed the man I loved, some other nefarious being from the depths of Hell that decided to possess Nicholas. I had to do something, I couldn't just let this creature win. I had to fight back. That was before I felt a sharp and sudden pain infiltrate and spread from my stomach. I gasped and moaned in agony as I looked down, opening my eyes to see the creatures claws completely inside of my stomach, as well as the pool of blood forming in between us. I groaned, feeling a sudden rush of tears fill my eyes. "Oh God..." I cried, feeling a wave of light-headedness surge through my body. "Nicholas,... please, wake up..." I cried, closing my eyes and arching my head backward. I cried out again when it pulled its claws out, only to slice them completely through again, rupturing portions of my body. "Oh! God...! Nicholas! Please!..."

Exhausted and wasted by the sight of massive amounts of blood as well as the stress caused by my own strife, I collapsed backwards onto the cold, unwelcoming stone floor. I coughed blood and felt my insides lurch. I also began to lose feeling in my body, first in my legs and arms, then in my back and neck. I was breathing excessively heavy and each time I took a breath of air, my lungs felt like they were shattering into pieces of glass. I cried out one last time for Nicholas to help me, begging him, pleading for aide, a touch, a caress, anything to know that he was Nicholas again. Anything to know that help was on its way. But before I could hear either the laughs of the monster or the urged pleas of Nicholas, I passed out into darkness and emptiness.

I died on the rooftop, without ever knowing.


A/N: Took forever to finish it. But I wanted to write a long chapter, so this is it. Lots happened, to put it simply. This is not the end of the Luckiest. Also, I'm looking for serious feedback about the character we all know as Elirina. I really want to know what you think of her. Serious feedback will be praised and welcomed. You readers all go on and on about Nicholas, but I never know anything about Eli. Please, by all means, let me know. Hate her? Love her? Okay with her? I want to know.