10/4/09

A/N: The story is almost complete, but fear not! I am already working on the sequel. I hope you enjoyed this because it's not going to last much longer. But for now demoness vs. dragon battle! Yay violence!

Disclaimer: I do not own Drizzt and co. as I have said many, many times before and I never will. I'm not going to steal then I'm just putting them in various situations for my own entertainment. My characters are: Kitana, Hitori, Moranosvae and everyone I mentioned before but I already killed.

Warning: This story includes- Violent ideas, violence, foul language, religion bashing and a bunch of other stuff that I said before that will not be in this chapter. If you do not like these or those previously mentioned I don't understand why you are even at this chapter. But have a good day and do enjoy yourself.

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Chapter Thirteen: "What if I love you?"

Small insects swarmed in large clouds around the companions, the incessant buzzing near driving them mad. The wind had all but stopped therefore offering them no reprieve from the annoying little things that found them to be a delightful treat. Only Kitana seemed to not be covered in whatever these insects were. Another loud slap caught her attention enough for her to actually turn around and see which one it was this time. Kimmuriel stood behind the others furiously scratching at one of many small bites that covered his ebony skin. He glared up at her still scratching. "How much longer until we reach this border you spoke of?" he demanded.

She raised an eyebrow but her stance softened as she took note of the severity of his bites, the insects seemed to have taken a special liking to him. "Not much longer." she replied eying a few gouges on his arm that were just starting to bleed. "Half an hour at most and stop scratching those, you're only making them worse. Here." she added as she handed him a small jar from her belt pouch. It contained a white, strange smelling cream which the psionicist knew enough to rub on his bites. Much to his surprise the itching stopped almost instantly.

"Why could we not have just used one of my doors?" he asked after he finished inspecting himself.

"Because you don't know where we're going."

Kimmuriel scowled but gave in, she was right of course. With any luck, if he tried, they would end up in some random mysterious place that he would not be able to get them out of. "How much longer until we find this enemy of yours?" he replied sourly.

Much to his dismay, Kitana simply shrugged. "Once we get to the border there will be several hundred caves to look in. Fortunately I will be able to smell him when we get there so you really have nothing to worry about. However I think it would be wise for all of you to get some rest when we get to the border, he didn't have many followers the last time I battled him but it has been almost forty years since then so we cannot know if it is the same."

"What exactly are we supposed to do against this enemy of yours?" Jarlaxle inquired. "All we know is his name and that he, at one point, had wings. Is he some sort of demon or and archangel perhaps?"

Kitana laughed. "No." she said, "He's a dragon. A black dragon." She laughed again at the others' slightly paled faces. "But don't worry about Morae, I can handle him myself. There are two more wizards that I want you to take care of, they are likely in the cave with him."

Entreri let out a disgruntled sigh. "Wizards and dragons." he said flatly. "Why is it always wizards and dragons? I should just stop traveling with you." He continued accusingly, turning to Jarlaxle.

The mercenary looked up at him curiously. "How is it my fault?" he asked innocently. The assassin just glared at him and continued on towards the border. The others quickly fell into step behind him.

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Sunset was falling over the edge of the desert by the time they reached the border. As Kitana had promised, it had only taken half an hour once they got back on track. The air was cooler here and offered the much needed relief from the swarms that had bombarded them earlier. A slow wind whistled through the cavernous wasteland, bare except for a large number of caves and a few stunted trees. The companions could see an increase of foliage several miles ahead in Tethyr but ignored it for the moment, their business was in Calimshan.

Kitana led them down into a ravine by way of a narrow path she had discovered long ago. The landscape was much the same as it had been forty years ago, like the rest of the country, nothing much changed here. She could sense Moranosvae within a few miles of their current position, finding him would not take much. Likely he was sending out his energy for her to follow. Kitana found a shallow cave for her and her companions to shelter in for the next couple of hours. After she returned with a small pile of sticks she made a fire and they all sat down around it. Nothing was said as the others ate their small meal. The companions stared at Kitana still trying to figure out the extent of her change. She didn't need to sleep, she had explained on the ship from Waterdeep. She didn't need to eat, though she would if she wanted to. She was much stronger than them, though she did not tell them the exact difference. Her senses were much sharper, to her even the darkest night could seem like day. She could catch the scent of specific targets from miles off provided that there was not too much conglomeration. But what did it all mean, they all silently wondered.

The companions let themselves rest, albeit uneasily. Kitana stared off into the sapphire and diamond sky.

Kitana woke them after three hours and patiently allowed them time to ready themselves. She herself had dozed off for maybe ten minutes. The night was full now but no one had any trouble navigating. Kitana led them easily through the ravine, if her memory still proved correct, Moranosvae's cave lay at the very end. Typical for a dragon really, an obvious hard to get to place. Many adventurers would be lucky just to get into the ravine unscathed, but then, Kitana and her companions were not ordinary adventurers. Kitana cautiously sniffed the incoming wind for any sign of danger. Nothing lurked about them, the area was uncommonly still. She chose to take that as a good sign though it likely meant that the dragon had commanded the area's inhabitants to leave her alone. It had been much the same forty years ago.

She had been traveling through the area hoping to pass unnoticed into Tethyr for an assassination job. The demoness had known then of Moranosvae's interest in her for he had frequently sent her invitations to his cave. The invitations had spoken of possible future business arrangements, a guise for what he really wanted. Thus, when she had to pass through his territory he had been delighted and had sought her out. Wanting to be rid of him she accepted his invitation to a small dinner in his cave. The meal itself went well enough, he told many tales of his past hoping to impress her into his bed. However, when he came to realize that she had no interest in him, he became furious.

Kitana remembered asking him why he was so surprised. She had ignored all of his letters for a reason. This further angered him and he changed form hoping to force her into giving him what he wanted. Still unimpressed, she had merely launched herself into the air and attacked him. His wings had shredded like parchment under the power of her claws. He was forced to return to his smaller human form bleeding profusely and cursing her. She struck him twice with her whip, scarring him further and left not caring if he lived or died. She found upon her return through the area that he had indeed lived, though then he made no attempt to get revenge. His current attempt was laughable at best. Kitana was not surprised that it had taken him all this time to concoct his 'master plan.' She was sure he knew by now that Delmorae was dead and wondered if he had prepared for that event.

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Moranosvae watched through his scrying crystal eagerly awaiting the moment Kitana would come to his cave. He had better plans for her this time. The dragon had guessed that if the first poison failed to kill her it would not work again. But there were different types of Demon's Bane as it was so generically named, still it was true enough. Moranosvae looked over to the table behind him. A single bottle and two wine classes were all that adorned it, the dragon smiled, she would never know. He knew she would likely share the wine in effort to mock him then attempt to kill him for his attempt on her.

But he wasn't planning on killing her, no now at least. He had made the cure that went with the poison. The dragon planned to poison her, have his way after bribing her with the cure and then poison her again. She was going to pay for what she had done to his wings, for ever denying him in the first place.

Of the others, Moranosvae thought little for he figured them a small threat. Still, they could be good bait against her. Torture her more with the lives of those she had let get close. It was a shame he had not been able to find the half drow, he would have been priceless. He thought briefly of trying to locate him again but then decided against it. Moranosvae turned back to his crystal, he didn't have much time left before she arrived. Perhaps once he had her he would look again, another twist of the knife as the demoness liked to say.

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The cave loomed high above them, though the entrance did not at all look large enough for a dragon to fit through, not even a young one. Kitana explained this off by informing them that Moranosvae used his human form to go in and out. Not that he really used his true form anymore. It was, after all, a huge shame for a dragon to have its wings torn off by a non-dragon. If any other dragons found out about or saw the state of his wings he would be laughed at and likely condemned to a human form for the rest of his life.

"He doesn't need to worry about that though." Kitana stated. "I'm going to kill him tonight."

"You are sure you can take on a dragon by yourself?" Drizzt asked still feeling a bit worried for her.

"I did before, didn't I?" she returned. "Don't worry so much, I'll be fine. I have an idea of what he's going to try and I already took several precautions against it. I've already prepared my means of killing him, which really shouldn't be all that difficult. It'd be easy even if I didn't have a plan, look what I did to him last time."

Her unwavering confidence was hard to dismiss and the fact that she did indeed have a plan comforted the companions somewhat.

"You are certain you plan will work?" Entreri asked. He was more than concerned for her. He had spent long hours trying to convince himself that he really couldn't feel anything more for her than friendship even if they were lovers. Or had been. The assassin was still unsure of that particular status. But he was wrong and he knew it, there was more. Somehow, he had fallen again, only this time it didn't bother him so much. He just didn't want to say it out loud. What if she hated him for it?

After Kitana had made sure there were no traps, mechanical or magical, she motioned them to follow her inside. The entire cave was silent as far as the companions could tell, there wasn't even the normal sound of dripping water. Kitana seemed completely unhindered by the lack of noise and strode evenly down what could be called a natural corridor.

It ended in a large cavern which was heavily decorated and random piles of gold lay strewn about. A small table sat purposely in the middle of the room and its single occupant sat at it with two poured glasses of some kind of wine. "Kitana." he said. "How good to see you again. Why don't you join me?"

The demoness smirked, "And why would I do that Morae? You should of course know that I've come here to kill you."

"You're still so beautiful when you're angry." the dragon purred swirling the wine in his glass. "I do enjoy it and I enjoy your pet name for me as well, the way it simply falls from you lips though you speak to me in contempt. Perhaps, we can come to some kind of agreement."

"I doubt that." Kitana snorted. She looked quickly around the room searching for hidden foes.

"Looking for the wizards?" Moranosvae observed. "Don't worry my darling, I have already taken care of them for you. They do get quite irritating. But you already knew that. The way you killed that fool Delmorae was most excellent by the way. I could not have done better myself. Now please, my dear, sit down."

The sound of muffled cries came from behind Kitana, she spun around to see that her companions were now entangled by some form of slippery black tentacles. She turned her gaze back to Moranosvae who was smiling callously.

"We can't have them getting in the way of our date." he explained tartly. He grinned widely when the demoness finally crossed the room and lounged easily into the chair he had provided for her. "Why don't you try the wine?" he suggested. "Let's make a deal."

"I already know what you want." Kitana replied flatly, her expression cold. "You can't have it." She sniffed the wine as if exploring the flavor and noted a sharp scent about it. The dragon had done exactly as she knew he would, too bad for him she had experienced this particular poison before. Not that he needed to know. She sipped the wine delicately, hiding her smirk as an eager light reached his eyes.

"Do you like it?" he asked a bit too expectantly. He licked his lips in anticipation.

"It's a bit dry." she commented.

Moranosvae chuckled softly. "I would imagine. But that does tent to be an effect of poison doesn't it?" All eyes except for Kitana's went wide in shock. The companions struggled more furiously against their bindings but to no avail. The tentacles only held them tighter.

"So it does." Kitana replied softly still not giving away that the poison was having no effect. She watched indifferently as the dragon stood and came over to her. Her gently lifted her face to his and made to kiss her.

"You are going to pay dearly for what you have done to me." he stated calmly. "I will have what I want." His lips would have met hers except that as he closed in her fist met his belly and he was thrown across the room. He hit the wall with a loud thud and crumbled to the floor. Moranosvae winced as he stood, she had managed to break one of his ribs with that single hit. He noted now, clearly surprised, that she was much stronger than she had been forty years ago. He slapped himself mentally, he should have known. But it didn't matter his poison was flowing through her veins, she would not last long.

Kitana rose from the chair and tilted her head to the side, "I'm sorry, did that hurt?" she asked in an innocent tone.

He growled loudly. "It doesn't matter. In but moments you will be on the floor begging for mercy, it is not the same poison from before my darling. This one will have you. I will have you!"

"Fool!" Kitana declared laughing. "Your poison has no effect. It's a variant of the one from before and I am already immune to it. You, however, are not immune to mine." She watched with more than a little satisfaction as the dragon's eyes went wide with fear. His hand went to the now visible wound on his torso.

"You! I'll get you!" Moranosvae roared. A current of wind from nowhere rose in the cavern with a violent gale. Moranosvae roared again as his form shifted and stretched creating the shape that had been in the backgrounds of the wizard Delmorae's portraits. His wings were skeletal and warped beyond any use. "You may have taken my wings you little wretch but you cannot defeat me." The black dragon inhaled sharply. Then faltered.

"What's the matter Moranosvae? Aren't you going to try to melt me with your bad breath?" Kitana chided. "Or do you need a little more incentive?" Kitana leapt into the air with her claws pointed out like daggers. They sliced easily against the weakened flesh of her enemy and adding more poison with the impact. While the others had been sleeping she had made a poison of her own, one she had prepared just for dragons. She had brushed it onto her claws and though it had been applied a few house ago, it had been reawakened with the dragons blood casing a sinister reaction. Moranosvae could not use his breath against her and the more he fought the weaker he became. He was effectively wasting away from the inside at the moment.

She easily dodged as he lunged at her, hoping to catch her in his mouth and tear her to shreds. "Alright." she said as she landed on his arm. "If that's how you want to play. Eat me!" She laughed as he obliged her dare, foolishly. His wide toothed maw attempted to close over her but she struck the fleshy inside of his mouth and then rolled away. Moranosvae's head reared back as he roared in pain, black waves of energy wrapped around him and he was forced back into his human form.

He lay moaning on the floor in a pool of his blood. He tried to crawl away as she steadily approached. Moranosvae sensed that his other spell had just failed. The demoness's friends were walking in alongside her. "Please...please don't kill me!" he begged. "I was a fool! A fool to ever move against you!" He tried moving again but failed utterly. "Please don't kill me." he tried again completely pitiful.

"Sorry Morae." Kitana said coldly. "What's done is done. I will not allow you to live this time." She kicked him up off the floor and her hand dug into his chest. He screamed one final time in agony as his heart was torn from his body. Kitana simply dropped him and left him where he fell. "Take whatever you want." she said turning to her companions. "I'm sure he's got quite a bit lying around here."

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After the lair had been raided and the companions had taken their fill of treasure Kitana bade Kimmuriel to return them to Waterdeep. They arrived behind the last inn they had stayed. Together they left the alley choosing to board in a different place. The rain was keeping most people indoors so the slick streets were empty of the usual liveliness.

One figure caught their attention immediately for she approached them. She pulled back the hood of her lavender cloak revealing that she was an elf. "I thought I'd find you here." she exclaimed happily. "You are very difficult to keep up with Kitana."

"Who are you?" the demoness asked cautiously, her hand going to her whip.

"Oh don't worry about me." The elfmaid laughed. "I'm not interested in hurting you. Actually, I was wondering if you would work for me."

"Since when do elves other than the Serpent and drow need assassins?" Kitana replied flatly.

The elfmaid laughed again. "I'm not interested in your skills as an assassin. You have many other abilities that I could benefit from, though of course you would receive an equal share of the profits." She said the word 'profits' with more than a little delighted ring.

"You're a mercenary." Kitana said.

"I run my own organization." the elfmaid confirmed. "I would just love to have someone of your caliber working for me. Your friends are invited as well."

Kitana raised an eyebrow, there was something a little too familiar about this elfmaid. She resisted the urge to look behind herself and see if Jarlaxle was still standing there. She knew he was without having to though. "Who are you, and what is this organization of yours called?"

The elfmaid's smile widened. "The Devious Angels. Originally it was the same name in elven but most of the members couldn't pronounce the words correctly so I changed it to the Common tongue." She replied answering the second question first. "As for me, just call me Silver."

It took Kitana a moment to process the fastly spoken words. This one was a talker. "I'll think about it." Kitana said to her nonchalantly. Saying that was most likely a bad idea but she wanted to be rid of this annoying elf quickly.

The elfmaid let out a delighted squeal. "Very good!" She turned and vanished without another word.

Kitana and the others chose not to comment as they too left the alley. They stepped into the inn across the street and were miraculously awarded four rooms. Entreri fell into step behind Kitana silently asking if they were going to share. She gave no signs of rejecting him so he stayed.

"I have an odd question for you." he said after the door was closed. She looked up at him waiting for him to continue. "Do demons have the same feelings as humans?" he obliged hesitantly. The assassin had no real idea what he was getting at by asking her that question but he could not think of anything else to say at the moment. Kitana's head tilted to the side as if she was having a hard time understanding what he had said. "I mean like sadness, anger or-"

Kitana gave him a half smile. "Love?" she finished for him. He swallowed hard and nodded. "We have all the same feelings as humans and all of the other mortal races. Most of us don't usually act on them unless it's anger or maybe greed. I personally don't think too much of it."

"So it's possible for a demon to fall in love with a human?" Entreri continued.

"It happens. Actually, the most powerful of the dog demons is currently mated to a human, though their son leaves much to be expected. More frequently it's the human that falls in love with the demon. Again, I haven't had much use for the love thing. I can't exactly say that I've met many humans or otherwise mortals I would want to fall in love with. I guess that's just a side effect of killing for a living."

Entreri's eyes widened. "How long have you been an assassin?" he asked hoping to remove the growing feeling of awkwardness.

Kitana shrugged. "Eighty years, give or take a few." She stood there still looking at him curiously as though she knew there was something he still wanted to say. He crossed the room and took her in his arms, holding her close like he had missed.

"Do you know," he whispered as he buried his face into her neck, "that we haven't been together since that last time in your grandmother's house?"

She laughed softly as she reached her arms around him. "That house was actually mine. But yes, I do know that." He shifted his position and once again lifted his face to meet hers.

He was about to kiss her again but for the fact that everyone's favorite mercenary chose to loudly enter their room at that moment. "Look who we found!" Jarlaxle declared. He motioned to Hitori who followed noiselessly behind him. The half drow gave the two assassins a silent apology as Jarlaxle began to describe how he and the others had run into him. When Jarlaxle finally quieted, Hitori stepped forward and took Kitana into his arms.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't help you this time." He whispered.

Kitana's eyes widened and she stared up at him incredulously. "Couldn't help me? Hitori, if it wasn't for you I would still be stuck as a human. You've done more than enough, my friend, believe me." She pushed him out to arms length and continued. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came here looking for you. I figured you would find an out of the way place to stay after you killed the dragon. I asked a few well placed questions and they led me here." Hitori replied. He chewed his lip slightly as though he was hiding something.

"Hitori." Kitana pressed. "What more is there?"

The half drow cleared his throat loudly. "Why don't we go downstairs for a drink? It's been a while since I've seen you."