A/N - Much love and gratitude (as always) to my beta, Eve Hawke. And special thanks to Etaine M for her back-up beta. If you're not reading either of these authors' stories, you should go do that (right after you read and review mine, of course). I adore you both more than I can ever say :D I would also like to thank (again) the folks who read, review, favorite, and follow. I can't begin to tell you how much your support means 3

"Andraste's flaming ass!" Zoya hissed as she dug fingers into her shoulder, rolling her head on her neck as taut joints and muscles popped. While she was stiff and sore, everything seemed to be working the way it should. She hated being pulled into the Fade against her will. Every time her spirit was returned to the living world, it was the same - she awoke in a body that bunched and pulled in all the wrong places like ill-fitting hand-me-down clothing. She struggled to her feet, her eyes sweeping over the cluttered chamber carved into the drab, beige rock. She must be in the Chantry's vault, but where were Anders and Isabela?

The sound of Anders' voice acted as her guide as she searched for her companions. Her eyes widened, flitting over the Chantry's accumulated treasures as she made her way through the repository. Just one of the overflowing chests could feed every mouth in the Alienage for years. She tucked a number of gold coins into her boots and a handful of rainbow gems into the pouch that held the potion vials at her waist. One coin would pay her debt to Alarith, and her family could live quite comfortably for the rest of their lives on just a few of the small gems.

Winding her way between the tables dripping with the Chantry's wealth, Zoya approached the vault's entrance; she could see the telltale shimmer of a magical shield covering the threshold. Reaching out with tentative fingers, she explored the barrier. It shoved back at her with an unpleasant jolt. Her companions stood on the far side of the chamber, Isabela fidgeting as the blue aura of Anders' healing magic traveled over the pirate's hands and arms.

Anders sighed in exasperation, "Damn it woman – hold still so I can heal you! What part of 'fire will burn you' do you not understand?"

Isabela pouted, "How am I supposed to fight those flamey ones if I can't get close?"

Zoya caught a whiff of soot in the air. She was too late – the demons had already breached the Veil. "Their weakness is ice spells." At the sound of Zoya's voice, Anders and Isabela's heads snapped toward the vault. Bowing her head, she grimaced as fingers glowing with her own power trailed over the barricade, gold ripples deforming the surface as its magic sparked back at her. "I'm guessing this barrier is your doing, Anders? Mind dropping it so I can help with the next wave of demons?"

Isabela grinned widely, and relief flashed across Anders' face before he forced a neutral expression. "I think it's best for everyone if I leave the barrier in place until I figure out a way to make sure you're really just you. " He swallowed hard, his face paling as he avoided meeting her eyes. "What if you're an abomination? I can't risk setting you free while demons are still coming through the Veil."

"I suppose my word that I'm not an abomination won't be enough?" Zoya felt her frustration rising as Anders shook his head, the sting of his mistrust washing over her. A cold knot of panic settled in her chest - he was right not to trust her. Not that he knew about her recent misadventures, but she'd been in the Fade, communing with a spirit who'd yanked her into that realm more than once. And she'd accepted help from Anya in the past – help that had resulted in the death of two men and led to the capture and killing of her mother.

Even so, she'd accepted guidance from the spirit again. How did she know it wasn't manipulating her? Could she be an abomination and not know it? A band of anxiety tightened around her chest as she paced in front of the barrier. The thought that she might be an abomination made her skin crawl in revulsion. But even more terrifying was what could happen if she wasn't freed to repair the Veil. Not only would the tunnels be overrun with demons, which would mean certain doom for her friends, but the demons would eventually make their way into the city and countless innocents would suffer. What if Anya was telling the truth and Zoya had been the cause of the demons breaching the Veil? She swallowed hard, trying to fight back the lump forming in her throat. "Anders, you have to trust me! If we don't repair the tears in the Veil, the demons will keep coming. Please… let me help! I know how to fix it."

Isabela sauntered over to the barrier, eyeing Zoya as if the young elf was going to transform into a monster at any moment. "Hmmm… she doesn't look very demony to me. I vote you set her free. If she knows how to seal off that Veil thingy, then we should let her. Besides… we need all the help we can get."

Anders approached the barrier with caution, his eyes locked with Zoya's. "I want nothing more than to believe that you're not possessed, but …"

Zoya raised a hand to silence him, closing her eyes as she focused on the sounds echoing through the tunnels. There was no mistaking that familiar clanking of plate armor. The word hissed past clenched teeth, "Templars."

Anders paled, his grip tightening on his staff. "Templars? Here? Isabela, I thought they didn't patrol down here at night?"

Isabela smirked at Anders as she crossed her arms, "Well, we're under the Chantry in a tunnel crawling with demons as you sling around magic. Is it any real surprise the Templars decided to come and play?"

Shushing them with an impatient wave of her hand, Zoya listened to the sounds of the approaching Templars. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a plan to deal with both mage hunters and demons. Narrowed eyes scanned the chamber. "Isabela, what's in the barrels against that far wall?"

Isabela trotted over to them, pulling the lid on one to sniff the contents. "Lamp oil – why?"

Zoya exhaled quietly, running her fingers over her hair before lacing them behind her bowed head, "I can hear Templars moving in from the west, and our escape is down the tunnel to the east. We can't risk being attacked from both sides of the chamber or the Templars dispelling our magic. And they'll rip through any magical barrier we erect. So…"

Isabela grinned, "So you want me to trap the west entrance with the oil to slow down the Templars. I like it!"

"Unless you or Anders can collapse that entrance in the next couple of minutes before the Templars get here?" Zoya eyed her companions, "I could do it, but I'd probably bring the whole Chantry down on our heads if I even attempt it." She smirked at Anders, remembering the lack of control she'd exhibited during his lessons of basic spells. His chuckle told her he was probably having the same recollection. "Anders, do you remember the paralysis glyph you used on me? Do you think that would work on demons or Templars?"

Anders rubbed at the stubble along his jaw, "Hmm… I see where you're going with that." He turned to look at the tunnels joining the chamber, running both hands through his hair. "I think I can come up with something that will work. What will you be doing?"

Zoya quirked an eyebrow at him, sarcasm slipped into her voice as she folded her arms and leaned against the threshold. "Well… I thought I'd just stand and watch…" She couldn't stop the frustration from creeping into her words as he regarded her with wary eyes, "Damn it Anders, you're the one insisting I stay in here - that I'm more of a danger than a help. So I guess I'll just try to make myself useful by repairing the Veil as best I can from within this room." Hot tears burned as she spun away from the doorway and moved to a clear space near the center of the vault.

She took several deep breaths to clear her mind as she knelt on the stone, not wanting to listen to Isabela and Anders on the other side of the barrier. Zoya knew she needed to focus her attention on repairing the Veil, but her mind was in the other room, listening to them shifting the oil barrels as the clank of armor drew near. She heard the Templars yell out in alarm as a vibration traveled through the rock. The whoosh of flames was followed by an ominous cracking of stone that signaled the collapse of the tunnel.

The twisting knife of malevolent power in her gut brought her back to her task. Drawing on her magic, she let it fill her as she channeled it to bridge the gap between herself and the Veil. Similar to when her magic had melded with Anders' at the docks, she felt her power transforming and shifting to merge more harmoniously with that of the Veil. And like her healing magic, the energy she channeled seemed to know what to do as she guided it to fuse the tears in the Veil much as it would damaged flesh and bone.

A feminine voice and tinkling laughter sliced through Zoya's focus as a chill crawled over her skin. "You really think you have the strength to repair the Veil? Foolish child! You are fighting a losing battle... though I could help you, if that is what you desire."

Zoya shut her eyes and clenched her jaw against any reply, childishly hoping that if she didn't look at or speak to the demon, it would just go away. Rubbing at her temples, she muttered to herself, "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" How had she not realized her actions would only draw the demons, leaving her trapped in the vault with the foul creatures? Redoubling her focus, she tapped into the power flowing between herself and the Veil. Only a little more time was needed to repair it enough to discourage more demons from slipping through.

The feminine voice slithered against Zoya's ear as claws grazed her cheek in a disturbing caress. "So much desire in such a small package – delicious!"

Keeping her eyes closed, Zoya growled at the demon who knelt before her. "The only desire I have is that you leave me be while I finish my task."

"Do not lie to me child! I know what you truly long for... perhaps even better than you." The demon placed a hand on either side of Zoya's face. "There is the obvious – lust for the mage in the other room." The image of lovers entwined came unbidden into her mind; the sensation of warm fingers ghosting over bare skin sent shivers through her. "Ahh… but you desire so much more. There is your longing for revenge against the Templars and the humans who abuse your people. And deeper still, a need for power and wealth. Rightly so, my pet – possess such things, and you need not fear those seeking to harm you." The images shifted to shadows and flames; a small figure watched triumphantly as the Chantry burned and legions of demons overran the Templar army, feeding the corpses to the flames like kindling. "I can give you all of these things and more, my lovely elf. Just say the word, and I will fulfill your wishes."

With an effort of will, Zoya gathered her magic, building it into a fearsome wave that slammed the demon against the wall of the chamber. "That's what I think of your offer, demon. I'll never let you possess me or harm my friends."

"Stupid, naive child! I don't need your permission. Between you and your friends in the next room, I will be content for a long time." The demon's wanton laughter filled the vault as it ran desirous claws over its torso. "But it will be far more pleasant for everyone if you are a willing host. Should you continue to fight me, I will only call more demons against your friends, and there will be far more pain than pleasure in your futures."

So this demon held sway over the demons in the next room? Zoya turned her focus to the sounds of battle on the other side of the barrier. The Templars hadn't yet gotten into the chamber, but the fierce battle with the demons was taking its toll. Her companions were exhausted; she could hear it in their battle cries.

Zoya rose to weary feet, her eyes traveling over the demon. Its voluptuous, scantily clad form was sheathed in silky purple skin and horns curved gracefully from its head. The cold fingers of the demon's will crept over her, chilling her blood and turning her limbs to lead. Moving her legs as she stumbled forward felt like slogging through mud. She gazed into those dark, fathomless eyes as she sighed, "I see no other option."

Stopping within a breath of the demon, her whole body trembled as she fought to maintain self-control. Lecherous whispers drifted through her mind as the image of the creature before her wavered and shifted to look like Anders. Hunger filled the demon's eyes as Zoya reached out to stroke its cheek with gentle fingers before sliding them along its jaw to the nape of its neck.

Zoya said a silent prayer as her fingers closed around one of the many daggers hidden in her fighting leathers. With a swift movement, she buried the blade up to its hilt in the demon's chest. "This is what I think of your offer, bitch!"

The demon howled, its visage writhing with imagined pain. Zoya's heart climbed into her throat as the image of Anders stared back at her, its mouth agape. Even though she knew it wasn't Anders, her blood ran cold at the sight of him impaled on her blade. Before she could waver, Zoya twisted the dagger, pulling the creature closer. Her voice filled with restrained rage. "Don't ever threaten those I care about! You'll leave this realm and take your demon dogs with you immediately, or I'll gut you and leave you bleeding out on the floor."

The image shimmered and returned to the demon's form, its face twisting with fury. Another soul searching moment passed before it nodded, locking eyes with Zoya as she stepped back and pulled the knife free.

"You have made a costly mistake, elf," it hissed. "Our discussion will continue at a time and place of my choosing."

Without another sound, the demon sank into the floor, a dark scorch on the tan stone and the black ichor dripping from Zoya's blade the only evidence that it had ever appeared at all. Zoya collapsed to her knees, shuddering breaths wracking her body as she allowed the fear she'd been concealing to wash over her.

Smoothing palms damp with sweat over her hair, she soothed herself with thoughts of being in a cabin on The Siren with Anders' arms tight around her. But as much as she wanted to curl up into a ball someplace dark and quiet, that just wasn't an option - there would be plenty of time to indulge that desire once they escaped the tunnels and the mage hunters' grasp. The clatter of rocks and Isabela's warning shout pulled her focus back to the impending Templar threat.

"Shit!" She leapt to her feet as the air thickened around her with an ominous tension. Running toward the shimmering barrier, she pulled up short, resisting the urge to throw herself against it. "Andraste's flaming tits!" she groaned, realizing the Templars were readying their attack against Anders. How was she going to help him while she was stuck behind this cursed barricade? Pacing in front of it, she slammed a frustrated fist into the stone surround, wishing she knew how to unravel Anders' handiwork.

The familiar feeling of the Templar's cleanse vibrated through the air when it hit; all she could do was brace herself against the loss of her connection to the Fade and hope that Anders was doing the same. Her heart sank as the barrier trapping her in the vault faltered and fell, knowing Anders had lost his ability to maintain the spell. Zoya nervously sucked at a bloodied knuckle before she reached for her magic; hope filled her as the glow of her healing energy mended the torn skin with little effort. She wondered if the cleanse hadn't reached through Anders' barrier into the vault, leaving her access to the power behind the Veil. Perhaps he would be able to regain access to his magic if she could just get him into this room.

Pulling her daggers free from the sheaths on her back, she spun them in her hands, taking comfort in the familiar feeling of her fingers gripping the wooden hilts as she slinked into the chamber. The loss of connection to her magic struck her, leaving a hollow feeling in her gut as soon as she passed over the threshold. So the cleanse had only affected the area outside the treasure room. Similar to the vault, the only evidence that remained of the demons were dark scorch marks on the stone floor. Her threat had worked; the desire demon had taken its minions with it when it retreated back through the Veil. Maker only knew what that success might one day cost her.

As she approached Isabela, Zoya was thankful to find that the woman was uninjured. Black ichor dripped from her twin blades and freckled her dusky skin. The pirate grinned widely in surprise when she spotted the elf advancing toward her. "Nice of you to finally join us, kitten. You missed all the fun. Sparkles and I make a pretty good team - he would freeze the demons and I would cut them down. Heh, I almost felt bad for those flaming bastards."

Zoya grimaced, "Isabela – can you keep the Templars distracted while I check on Anders? I'd hate to give them an opportunity to smite us. I think if we keep them busy, they won't be able to use their powers."

Isabela threw a concerned glance over her shoulder at the mage. "Anders could probably use your loving care right about now - he was getting pretty worn down by the time the demons disappeared back into the floor, and I don't think whatever the Templars did helped him any." Isabela pulled Zoya into a quick hug "Good luck, kitten..." She slipped silently into the darkness to engage the Templar moving through the broken stone at the entrance to the west tunnel.

Zoya crept along the edge of the chamber, flitting through the shadows until she reached Anders' side. The mage sagged against the stone wall, the accumulation of cuts, bruises, and burns from fighting demons catching up to him. Based on his condition, he'd been using healing magic to help the pirate but hadn't tended to his own injuries during the battle. She arched an eyebrow, the corner of her lips twitching into a nervous smile as she reached out to rub a line of soot from his stubbled cheek. "Well… I've seen you look worse. Do you think you can still fight?"

Anders offered her a lopsided grin, "It's too bad that Templar cleansed the chamber. I'd give anything for even your healing spells right about now."

Zoya ducked under the mage's arm, supporting his weight as they stumbled toward the vault. "Anything, eh? I'll hold you to that. One thing I can say about you, love… you create powerful barriers." Once they passed over the threshold, Zoya felt the magic flow into her again. Leaning Anders against the door frame, she turned to press into him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. As she sent the golden light of her healing energy over him, Anders responded with a pleasured groan that made her knees weak and brought heat to her face. Biting the inside of her cheek, she fought to regain focus. "If I give you some of my mana, do you think you could put it to use? Nothing fancy – just keeping Isabela and I on our feet?"

Anders nodded as their eyes locked, "Zoya, I…"

Zoya reached out, pressing a finger against his lips to shush him. She held her breath as he cupped her face, tipping her chin up so their lips could meet. The soft pressure of his lips on hers was joined by a pleasant tingling as the current of her mana flowed into him. Anders gasped as her energy flooded his body. As their lips parted, the sensation lingered where her hand rested over his heart.

Startled by the sound of metal boots scraping on stone, she spun to see a Templar striding toward her like a nightmare come to life. Terror froze Zoya in place as he advanced on them, his sword raised and his hand outstretched as he prepared to unleash his smite. Zoya took a deep breath as she launched herself at the armored human, her only plan being to distract the Templar and keep him from using his powers. Her daggers glanced off the smooth surface of his cuirass as he stepped back, pushing her away with his forearm.

Grunting in frustration, Zoya landed in a crouch between the Templar and the wall; she coiled herself to spring before charging the Templar again. Dipping under the horizontal swing of his blade, Zoya got close enough to slash into the unarmored underside of his sword arm. The human roared in pain and anger as his weapon clattered to the floor. He lunged at her, grabbing the front of her fighting leathers as he slammed her against the wall. As he lifted her from her feet, she lashed out with violent kicks, hoping to land a well-placed blow. Her arms were still free, and she wondered if she could angle her blades to wound him. Frantic eyes searched, but there was nothing she could reach that was vulnerable, at least nothing that wasn't encased in slick metal.

It was disturbing to see nothing more of this man than what was visible through the slit of his visor. His eyes were filled with hatred, and Zoya shuddered at the vehemence that gleamed in those orbs. But then the rage turned to surprise, accompanied by a ragged gasp as he released her and collapsed to his knees. Isabela braced against the Templar with one foot as she wrenched her daggers from under his arms, grinning wickedly at Zoya as she flicked her blades to clear them of blood. "That makes two for me and none for you – only two left if you plan to catch up."

Zoya's eyes searched the chamber for the remaining Templars. Her jaw dropped as she spotted Anders outside the relative safety of the vault, his staff whirling in his hands as he blocked and parried the Templar's attacks. Her heart swelled with pride; Anders was using the skills she'd shown him! The mage was holding his own against the Templar's attack, but each time staff met sword, Zoya sensed the Templar had absorbed more of Anders' mana.

Anger flared within her when she saw blood trickling down one side of the mage's face. Zoya shifted her grip on her blades as she stepped away from the fallen Templar and dashed across the chamber to assist Anders. Shouting a challenge, she sent a knife spinning at the Templar's helmeted head to make sure she had his attention. The Templar whirled on her, batting the knife out of the air with his sword before stepping forward to engage her. She pulled a second blade from her boot as she moved forward to meet him.

They circled each other until he broke their stalemate, swinging his sword in a downward arc at her head. Zoya grunted as she caught his sword with her blades and deflected it to the side, the momentum of his attack throwing him off balance. Her hands and arms felt numb from force of the man's sword hitting her daggers and his mana drain, but she managed to maintain her grip on their hilts.

Zoya skipped back from the armored human, shaking out her arms. From the corner of her eye, she saw Isabela head through the crumbling tunnel opening and Anders striding toward her. She narrowed her eyes, trying not to lose her focus on the Templar, "Anders... don't worry about me - help Isabela!" She spun and aimed her daggers at the gap in the Templar's armor under his arm, but he shifted at the last moment and the blades skidded off his cuirass. Before his sword could connect with her again, she danced back out of his reach and the wary circling resumed. Blades flashed as she spun, blocking and slicing as she advanced on the Templar.

The Templar's sword bore down on her, and again she caught it in crossed blades. Before she could twist out from under his attack, he withdrew his sword, catching her by the front of her leathers and holding her firm. He spoke in a deep voice that echoed from within his helmet, their deadly duet leaving him winded. "I once encountered an elven apostate who fought like you do. It didn't help her any more than it will help you."

Images of her mother's death, lifeless eyes staring skyward, flooded her thoughts, but she clenched her teeth and pushed them away with firm resolve. She tried to keep her face neutral as she felt the Templar's cleanse dissipate and her connection to the Fade returning. Her voice was little more than a growl when she spoke. "Is that supposed to scare me, mage hunter? I've had a really bad night, and you're not even the most frightening thing I've come up against..." A cold ball of rage blossomed in her center and joined with the power she drew through the Veil, mixing with fear as he gathered his own power.

Once the energy built to its zenith, Zoya's magic burst forth, knocking the armored man from his feet. Before he could rise, she straddled him, wrenching off his helmet and grasping his throat in her small hand. The violence in his eyes shifted to terror as she channeled her wrath into him, warping the healing magic to destroy instead of repair. Even through her fury, bile rose in her throat and she shuddered in horror at what her power could do; the man convulsed, his armor rattling as blood flowed from his nose and bubbled from his mouth.

A warning shout from Isabela dragged her attention away from the dying human. Focused on the man's last moments, Zoya hadn't noticed the final Templar gathering his own power to strike. She had assumed that Isabela would dispatch the man as easily as she had the other two. But there was the pirate, collapsed to her knees and bleeding out on the stone floor, already dismissed as harmless by the Templar now advancing on Zoya. Where was Anders? The last time she had seen him, Zoya had sent him in pursuit of Isabela.

She felt the weight of worry lifted from her shoulders as he emerged from the tunnel, looking worse for wear but alive and combative. He looked around with bleary eyes, one hand alight with healing energy and clutching his head. Their gazes locked and she twitched her head toward the gravely injured pirate, "Isabela needs your help more than I do!" Anders nodded and moved to kneel beside Isabela, his healing magic knitting the woman's torn flesh.

Seeing Zoya's focus waver, the Templar took the opportunity to strike, lunging with a slice of his sword that would have cleaved her in two had she not tumbled out of the way at the last moment. She was barely on her feet before he was advancing on her, his sword whirling in a silver blur. Zoya parried, evading the Templar's attacks as she watched for a chance to incapacitate him. She used her greater agility to her advantage, darting to slip behind the Templar and lashing out with a vicious kick to back of his knee.

Retreating out of his reach, Zoya yanked power through the Veil and forced it into a malevolent orb, snarling as she released it in a single blast. The violent energy had just left her control when Anders snuck up to attack the distracted Templar from behind; she shouted a warning, but it was too late. Anders' attempt to block the spell with a barrier wasn't enough to avoid damage as he and the Templar hit the stone wall together in a tangle.

Zoya loosed a keening wail as she rushed to the mage's side, hastily disentangling him from the Templar's still form. She put her head on his chest, letting out a relieved breath - he was still breathing, his heart thudding in labored beats. He groaned as his eyes fluttered open, "Remind me not to get in the way of one of your spells again. Or to ever get you mad enough to kick me."

Isabela rushed toward them, her clothing tattered but her body mended by Anders' magic. "We need to get out of here now! More Templars are going to come looking for their friends and we don't want to be here when they do..." She helped Zoya pull Anders to his feet; they each ducked under an arm, helping to hold him upright. Isabela shifted the mage onto Zoya as they reached the vault, ducking into the room to grab her pack of loot before they fled into the tunnel. "It would be a shame to leave empty handed, don't you think?"

Zoya bit back a nasty reply about the pirate caring more about her profit than her injured companion, but it wasn't Isabela who'd wounded Anders. The pain of her guilt cut her to the quick as she was again reminded that her magic only ended up hurting or killing people. This time she had twisted her power to kill Templars and ended up injuring Anders as well. The terror on the Templar's face as her magic shredded him from the inside out writhed in her gut - she didn't want to believe she could use her magic for something like that, but the memories of the human's horror and Anders crumpled at the base of the wall were all the evidence she needed.

Zoya swallowed hard, shaking her head to clear it - now wasn't the time to grapple with her conscience about the darker side of her power. As she listened to the sound of armor clanking behind them, she knew she needed to focus on speeding them through the tunnel to the landing. At the rate the Templars were gaining, it was unlikely the companions would be able to escape the tunnels before they were intercepted.

By the time they reached the crack in the rock leading to the landing, Zoya knew what she had to do to get her companions to safety. She wouldn't let the Templars capture Anders again. They'd nearly killed him once already, and she doubted they would just drag him back to the Circle if they seized him now. Panic settled in her gut as she listened to the echo of metal on stone - they didn't have much time before the Templar patrol reached them.

They slid into the inky blackness of the crack, and Zoya channeled energy into her hand to light their way. Once they reached the landing, the women eased Anders to the ground. Zoya knelt next to the mage, letting her magic roam over him; she sighed with relief when she realized he hadn't been injured as badly as she feared. She'd been lucky this time - her magic could have killed him. It wasn't much, but at least she could use her healing energy to soothe the mage's wounds. His face relaxed, the expression almost peaceful as the golden aura blanketed him.

Isabela stood watch at the opening in the stone, her eyes shifting between peering into the crack and eyeing Zoya with concern. "It's not your fault, kitten."

Zoya chewed on her lower lip as she brushed back a stray lock of Anders' hair, tracing her fingers over the lines of his exhausted face. Tears blurred her vision as she turned to look at Isabela. "If I distract the Templars, can you safely get him out of here and back to your ship?"

Isabela regarded the elf for a moment before she offered a sad smile and a slight nod. "For the record, I won our little contest - I wore that last Templar down before you finished him. So the final score was two and a half for me to one and a half for you."

Zoya smirked at the pirate, "If that's the way you count them, then I'd get an assist for that second Templar you killed. So we'd actually be tied - we each took out one on our own and each assisted with one." She chuckled at the confusion on Isabela's face as she tried to work her way through the elf's logic. But then her expression turned melancholy, "I'd promise to buy you a drink at the Pearl once we're out of here, but..."

Isabela pulled Zoya into a tight hug, "But you're broke until I give you your share of the loot. Isn't that right, kitten?"

Anders' elegant fingers closed around hers as he struggled to get up. "I'm not... leaving you here... to deal with the Templars alone!"

Zoya silenced his objections with the firm pressure of her lips. She sighed as she pulled away enough to look into his eyes, her hand caressing the stubble of his cheek. "We don't have time to argue – they're almost here. If we stay together, we'll be caught for sure. But if I'm alone, I can probably sneak past them." Resting her forehead against his, she whispered, "Don't worry about me – I'll be fine. I'll see you back at the tunnels."

Before he could stop her, Zoya rose to her feet and ducked into the crack in the stone; she paused just long enough to weave a barrier over the opening. Tears burned her eyes as she crept through the rough fissure back to the man-carved passage. A mocking voice in the back of her mind chided her, "You'll never see him again… and you'll never get past those Templars!" She pressed her fists against her eyes, pushing her self-doubt away. There was no time to think about what she was doing; she'd made a plan and now she had to carry it out. While her chances for success weren't in her favor, she had to trust, to hope that she'd escape the tunnels free and unharmed so she could leave with Anders and Isabela.

The Templars were close - it sounded like there were at least two patrols approaching. Slipping back into the lantern light of the smooth-walled tunnel, she waited just outside the crack, her head pounding as hard as her heart as her exertions began to take their toll. Her hands pressed against either side of the opening as she drew power through the Veil, amassing it at her center before sending it through her limbs to gather in the stone. Zoya directed the energy into the minor faults and fissures spider-webbing through the rock, using it to expand the cracks.

Heart thudding loudly in her chest, she watched as the Templars moved cautiously into the tunnel, gathering their power to disrupt her magic. Just as she felt their impending attack reach its peak, she sent one last burst of magic into the stone, stepping into the Between as the stone fractured and collapsed the crack and the walls of the tunnel around it. Rock dust and debris filled the passage as she slipped past the stunned Templars.

It didn't take long for their shouts of alarm to echo along the stone, but Zoya focused on continuing to move as quickly as she could, letting fear speed her feet. She knew she needed to get through this long, narrow stretch of tunnel before she encountered another patrol. The air of the Between rippled around her, the drab stone glimmering red as it billowed and flowed. The odd perception of the passage lengthening away from her as she ran along it on unfeeling feet only added to her apprehension.

The sounds of the Templars mobilizing behind her reached her ears as she heard the forward patrol advancing. In this place Between, the clank of their armor was muffled and dull, and she had to strain her ears to hear it. She swallowed hard, willing her feet to move faster.

Her blood ran cold as she reached the patrol; they'd sensed her magic moving toward them, and were waiting as she approached. The vibrations in the air of the Between increased in frequency, forming into a high-pitched shriek as the Templars gathered their power. As she fought not to press her fist to her ears, she couldn't help but wonder if this was what her mother had experienced as she fled the Templars that fateful night on the docks. Her heart climbed into her throat, but she didn't slow her feet, instead keeping her eyes focused on the tunnel beyond the humans.

Zoya didn't know what would happen if she touched one of the humans while they were gathering power against her, and she didn't want to find out. Ducking and swerving, she threaded her way around the heavily armored men, careful not to make contact. Just as she moved past the last Templar in the corridor, hope swelling in her chest, the humans loosed their cleanse. It came screaming toward her in a visible wave of darkness; her vision blurred as she sought her exit in advance of the Templars' spell, nearly tripping as she transitioned out of the Between into the living world. Her heart threatened to burst, a cold sweat prickling between her shoulder blades as she felt their eyes targeting her now exposed back.

A bend in the tunnel up ahead beckoned to her, but the air was again thickening with the Templars' cumulative power. She wasn't quite fast enough to beat the excruciating force of their smite as it slammed into her from behind, smashing her into the stone wall with enough force to knock the air from her lungs.

Zoya lay dazed at the base of the wall, helpless to do anything other than watch the Templars approach with swords drawn. Two of the men hauled her up from the ground, their gauntlets digging cruelly into the flesh of her upper arms. Struggling ineffectively between them, panic set in as it fueled her need to fight; she tried to wrench herself free, twisting in their grip and kicking at their legs to trip them up. The world around her exploded with light as something crashed into the back of her head, and then all went dark.