A/N: Here you have 13 ad 14 combined. Please be reminded that the demon guy Malice is talking to is called Zakhra (Zhock-ruh). Rhymes with the word chakra. His prisoner is Nira (ne-ruh).

Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters.

The plot thickens...

Chapter Nine: The Whole Story?

Preparations were well underway. The battlements were armed and ready for an attack that could happen at any time. There was always the possibility that no attack would happen, but it was better to be safe.

Kagome was now walking to one of the larger barracks. If they were going to do things right, they would need an extra hand. Shiara had contacted her last night. He had discovered that the rest of the drow were hiding somewhere near Memnon. He didn't say how he had come across the information, but Kagome felt that it had something to do with the still nameless person he had with him.

Regardless, they would need all the help they could get.

Shiara had also told her before that the matron was looking for something. Some kind of magical gauntlet, but there was more, she was also looking for someone. He didn't know who. He had also relayed that while in the dungeons he had sensed another strong demonic aura. She was working with a demon lord whose name he did not know.

Kagome passed through the inner gates and into the courtyard. Her former rival was there.

"What do you want Girlie?" Kitana said from over her shoulder.

"Are you up for some work?"

Kitana shrugged, "Depends on what kind."

"We've tracked the drow matron to just outside of Memnon. We need you to get information. Yuri thought it would be a good idea since you're technically a native," Kagome explained.

Kitana nodded. "Alright. I can do that. I was heading to Calimport anyway. I have some business to take care of."

"She also wanted to know if you could find out anything you can for Hitori."

"Well obviously," the demoness snorted. "I would do that anyway. Are you all going to Memnon?"

Kagome thought for a moment. "Most likely. I think that Hitori might go as well. We're not going straight there though. Yuri told us there's a few things that need to be done first. She gave me a map to this cave that she said we had to go to."

"A cave?"

"Yeah. I don't know why, she wouldn't say much. She also wanted us to stop in Silverymoon."

Kitana nodded. "Of course, Alustriel might know something." She tilted her head to one side and her long blonde braid fell off her shoulder. "Can I see that map?"

Kagome handed it to her. She recognized the location immediately. "Is it time?" she whispered when the shock wore off.

"Time for what?" Kagome asked. What was the demoness talking about?

The latter shook her head. "What do you know about Artemis Entreri?"

"He's a former assassin and rival of Drizzt. He's from Memnon and Calimport. He's a hidden blood. The list could go on," the girl stated.

"He's a hidden blood," Kitana repeated. "Do you know why?" Kagome shook her head. "His mother sealed her power and his blood before he was born. She and her mate were on a mission in Memnon against the priests at the Temple of Selûne. They were working for a demon lord and Shanali and her mate meant to destroy them. The demon made a gauntlet that would repel the power of the Charon's Claw so he could take it from her. She and Nira were poisoned. Nira was taken away and the priests turned Shanali into a human. That's when she sealed her power and Artemis' blood. "

Kagome stood there silently in shock. "Does he know?" She sputtered a minute later.

Kitana shook her head, "But he will soon. Or that's what it looks like."

"How do you know so much?"

"I was sent to get information on what happened to Shanali a few years ago. Yuri wanted to try to get the whole story.

"And is the Nira you mentioned the same one in the cave that we were teleported to that one time?" Kagome asked.

The demoness nodded again. "The very same. I know the location because I walked out of there remember? I'm the one who drew that map."

Kagome let out a deep breath, "That's right I got teleported out. You're going to leave for Calimport soon?

"I'm leaving tonight."

Kagome stared up at her ceiling later that night. As much as she knew she should sleep, she found that she could not. She kept thinking about what would happen when they reached Nira's cave.

Kagome had heard bits and pieces about Shanali's story before, but never as much as Kitana had told her. And Artemis Entreri didn't know anything at all...

She had sensed his changing blood when she first met him and had known immediately what he was.

A shudder ran through her spine. He had no idea that he used his mother's weapons. He had no idea that he wore the very gauntlet that had led to her death.

But he was going to find out soon. What would that be like for him?

Artemis Entreri thought he was a human. He had no idea he was a demon and immortal. And because he believed he was human, he had aged like one for the most part. But he was about to find out that he wasn't what he thought.

Not to mention he was about to meet the father he had never known. Nira had been in the cave for his whole life.

Kagome sighed, Entreri was most likely not going to take this well. She could understand what was going to happen. She knew that she wouldn't like it if someone came into her life claiming to be her father (whether it was true or not) and then telling her that she wasn't what she thought she had been her whole life. She felt bad for Entreri, at least she had known her father for a little while and she knew who he was.

"He doesn't know..." she whispered to herself.

"Where are you taking me?" Vierna asked again. The elf had made no mention of where he was heading when they left and she was determined to know. He had taken her after all.

He still said nothing.

All of the sudden a large form jumped out of them. A monster of which the likes she had never seen. Vierna screamed and fell back. Shiara remained calm and easily drew his sword. The monster charged at him and was quickly dispatched. Its head rolled off the path and into the woods.

"What was that thing?" She asked when she regained her breath.

"A demon. A low level one at that," He replied offhandedly as he helped her to her feet.

"They are common?"

"Usually."

Kagome and the four companions set out together once again. None but Kagome knew the reason for them going to some remote cave, but even then she didn't understand why.

None of them complained though. They were used to hard travel and the cave itself wasn't that far away. The dense woods were only a minor problem, they were still wondering what it was with caves lately.

The whole time Entreri felt the strange tingling feeling. It was growing stronger, he was smart enough to connect the feeling to the cave they were heading to. The feeling caused a small twinge in the back of his mind, he instantly conjured up the blurry image of the beautiful woman's mate. Is that where they were headed to? he wondered. And if so, why?

Entreri put his hand on the hilt of Charon's Claw. 'What do you know?' he asked the sword mentally. He felt it recoil. The sentient sword was definitely afraid. 'Who is she?' he demanded. The sword told him nothing but the cowering feeling remained. He removed his hand and pondered this. He had never known the sword to be so afraid before. Entreri knew for sure now that they were going to the woman's mate. The question still remained though, what did this have to do with him?

After about an hour of walking they came to the mountain side where the cave was located. A high pitched humming brought them to the entrance, along with a curious little figure. She jumped up upon seeing them and started talking so fast the her worlds all sounded as one.

"Oh! Master, my Master! But how did you get out of your cave!" Her little wings beat rapidly and she flew over to Entreri and attached herself to him. "Oh but should it matter not, my Master. For Saraphyll is here to do your bidding once again!"

Entreri pried the pixie from his shoulder as gently as he could not knowing what to think. The fey removed herself from his person as soon as his hand touched her. "Oh forgive me, my Master, but Saraphyll is so glad to see you and-" She cut herself off and stared at Entreri, then burst into tears. "You are not my master!" she wailed. The rest of her words became incoherent within her sobs.

The pixie fell to the ground and continued to cry. Kagome gently picked her up and patted her head lightly with a finger. After a few minutes the fey sat up in the girl's hand having calmed herself. "Saraphyll is sorry. I thought you was my master. Saraphyll did not realize that you is not," she said to the former assassin who nodded.

"Your master is in there?" he asked her.

"My poor, poor master... He has been stuck within for so long..." The pixie shook her head in dismay, "He waits within for his son to come. But his son does not know he exists! But he telled Saraphyll, he said that his son would know soon. And then my Master will be free! Oh yes he will!" She was becoming too excited again.

"What if we wanted to see your master?" Entreri asked. "Can we go in?"

Saraphyll nodded eagerly, "Oh yes, yes you can! My Master never has visitors! He's so lonely... But you can go in, yes! Saraphyll will show you in!" The pixie hopped off of Kagome's hand and fluttered towards the entrance. "Follow Saraphyll, Saraphyll will show you the way!"

Nira knew that he had visitors before they had entered his home. However, when he examined their scents he was surprised.

His son was here.

The moment he had been waiting for four decades for was upon him.

The five entered the room behind the pixie and saw him in the adjoining one almost immediately. "Master look! Saraphyll has brought you visitors!" The pixie said excitedly.

Nira nodded and examined the group as they examined him. Four of them had no idea who or what he was, his son included. The other one had been in his house before. She had been teleported in with a demoness she had been battling almost a year ago. She was the first to speak, "Nira, we found him. This is Artemis." She pulled the latter forward.

Nira allowed himself a slight smile, though he knew it was sad, "You look just like your mother."

His statement had put the former assassin on the defensive, "How do you know my mother?" he demanded. He had an idea what was coming.

"I was her mate," Nira replied sadly.

"Who the hell are you?" Entreri growled. "Why did you call her your 'mate' my mother was human!"

"No.." Nira's voice began to tremble a bit. And with that simple word, Entreri knew that this person, whoever he was, was telling him the truth.

Entreri took a few deep breaths to calm himself and then repeated his first question softly.

"My name is Nira," the demon replied.

"Why did you call my mother your mate?" Entreri continued. He voice was barely above a whisper.

"Because she was. And you are-" Nira didn't let himself finish the statement. He knew Artemis wasn't yet ready.

"I'm what? Your son?" Entreri snorted. "Do you know how many have claimed that?"

"I do," Nira whispered.

For a moment, Entreri stared and said nothing. What the hell was going on? But then, something came to him. The one thing that would reveal the truth of the person before him. "How long have you been in here?" he asked, his voice had returned to its previous soft tone.

"Forty-two years," It was the right reply. This person, this 'Nira' was telling him the truth. "Your entire life."

But it also made him angry at the same time. "You abandoned her!" he accused. His statement made Nira look like he was about to cry.

"No!" the demon whispered, he could not control the trembling any longer. "Never! You don't know the whole story. You don't know what happened. I'm trapped in here and I have been since before you were born. A single tear made its way down his cheek. "You don't know what happened," he repeated.