We waited for night fall to wander out, assuring the inn keeper that we would be careful in our search for clues. The two of us found our way to the post outside the mayor's home. Pegged to the worn wooden sign were several parchments bearing the images of the lost individuals. Adults and children alike graced the board with their sketched faces. With my hand to my chin, I pondered over any connections aside from the time. While I did, I glanced to my side to assure myself that Heart was indeed standing beside me.

"Everyone's locked in for the night," Heart commented.

"That hasn't stopped this though, some say they were taken from their homes," I mentioned while reading over a few.

"This one is the doctor's husband?" Heart asked while looking over the sun aged and bleached paper to show it had been the first.

"Look at this one," I pointed at a soldier's poster, "Their partner reported they were heading down the same street together when he turned around briefly, then they were gone without a sound."

"Do you think it's Eilsana, she does have all those poor souls trapped as pets?" Heart mentioned, pushing through a shudder.

I gripped her hand, threading my fingers with hers to emphasize she could do the same. She did, and rather tightly. As she did I replied, "Her ring could only hold so many spells, an' she likes luring others into a web it seems. That, an' there would be some sort of traveled trail to her mansion."

"Besides, we took care of her for the time bein', an' one of these occurred the night we...the night we were there," I explained while tightening my grip for her.

"Duke...I-"

Pulling our attention from this tension and lingering unease, we turned at the sudden scampering of footsteps behind us. When we turned around nothing seemed to be there, but we could hear them scurrying down the street. Heart and I both, staying close to the other, followed the running boots we now knew we could hear.

"Who's there?" Heart called out from the end of the street.

At that far end we could strained to see a darkened figure turning to face us. They were too far away to make note of any features.

"This feels too easy," I commented.

"What do we do?" Heart asked.

Drawing my rapier I called down the street, "Hey buddy, it's not really safe out here right now!"

"It could be a new comer that doesn't know?" Heart suggested when they remained watching us from afar.

"Somethin's not right," I said while going to take a step.

However, Heart would falter in her own steps taken beside me, as though slowed down in some fashion. As our threaded fingers began to tear, I would turn around to see the runes marked on the ground while they began to glow at my feet. In that instant, I looked up just as Heart shoved me out of the circle, but was pulled in herself in my place. With an engulfing flash of light she was gone in barely a second.

"Heart?!" I exclaimed stepping in after her, yet the runes had burnt away to not leave a trace, "No! Heart!"

Looking down the street I would see the figure and gave a glare. Darting after it I would find it un-phased as it stood there. Until I realized, it was too still as it dared me to chase it. Sure enough, as I drew closer, I would find I could see through the building it had paused in front of, an illusion of some sort as Heart had mentioned to me in our talks of magic. She'd seen others use this, magicians and such. However I was too angry to be impressed as I looked around for any sign of her.

"Heart!" I called out in vain, "Heart answer me!"

As I began my search I would feel further guilt washing over me. For I realized that she must have noticed the markings on the ground, that's why she'd stopped. I had blindly stepped forward to pursue a transparent image, getting caught in their trap. Seeing this, she'd pushed me out of the way, causing me to demand to no one, "Why didn't ya let it take me instead?!"

Something in my chest knew the answer. Despite trying to hold back...even after everything with Eilsana, Heart had kept looking at me the same way. Whether she was aware of it or not, and whether I was willing to believe it or not...It was the same reason I swore as I continued my search, "I'll find ya, Heart!"

Heart:

As soon as the blinding light had dispersed I'd barely been able to move before iron cuffs were locked in place at my wrists and ankles. The chains at my arms were then pulled to where I was forced to lift them up over my head, and my feet were shackled without any give to the wall behind me. In my disoriented state I hadn't been able to fend off whatever force was trying to keep me from getting loose. Further distracting me from this were the sudden bestial roars that nearly deafened my ears. Scanning the room I would see several caged wonders watching me with a variety of fury, anguish, and envy? Why? Centaur-like creatures, lamias, a harpy, a mercreature, trolls, a manticore, satyrs, a partial giant or two, and what seemed to be two sewn together to become an infrit.

"Well, I see I caught something else this time," a high pitched voice laughed, pulling my attention to the front of the room, "Not quite the one I was expecting to snatch up, but I guess I won't complain too much. I'm sure you'll make a fine specimen."

I looked on with growing unease to see a frail elderly man standing before me in robes. Long ago I could guess they were once a vibrant yellow shade lined with white. Now they were a sickly shade of both, almost blending into the other with brown spots caked on here and there. Looking about the room I would see similar stains on the flooring, walls, and tables with chains and clasps to fasten in. It didn't take long for me to realize what he had in store for me. My stomach twisted knowing what I was in for, and understanding Duke would have been here in my place if I hadn't shoved him away. This gave me a brief moment of relief for his sake at least...I'm not sure what I would have done had he been forced through something like that again.

"You like my menagerie? You'll fit right in once I figure out what form would be best for you," he snickered with genuine glee.

"What are you...why...?"

"Simple, I like seeing what breaks the boundaries between us and these wondrous beasts. What can be done to make us more like them? What will the body endure to make it that far? That, and once trained they are quite the companions," he told me rather freely as a winged beast flew over and perched onto his shoulder, "Oh, this one is just my familiar. It helps me cast my spells to bring people here."

"Why are you telling me so openly?" I asked baffled.

"Simple! You won't be telling anyone!" he chuckled, "Rest assured, you will just become part of my intriguing collection."

He walked up and began examining my frame, humming the whole time as he tried to figure what to make of me. His filth covered hand gripped my chin as he made me look up, down, and sideways.

"So many choices, so many wondrous things I could link you to," he mused while grasping my held up arms.

As he did this, I tried in vain to conjure up a spell, finding the energy muted. I glanced up to see the runes on the shackles that dispelled these attempts with little effort.

"A being of magic, I see?" he noted while seeing the glowing markings, "What sort, I wonder?"

I tried to pull at my restraints now as he walked around me, his hand sliding around my waist to get an idea of my build. To this I fought and writhed to wrench myself away. He continued to look me over as he brushed a hand against my upper back now, ignoring my attempts. His hand ran up onto my shoulder and then paused briefly. He squeezed his fingers over the scales I hid with my tunic and a grin crossed his sunken in face, "A dragon of sorts? You're a rare find afterall!"

He then laughed, "Here I thought I'd be make a nothic out of a rogue, but I catch myself a scaled wonder instead!"

At the mention of Duke's possible fate I looked to see the parchment he'd gestured to at the table. Drawn in detail was the familiar frame of the rogue I knew, along with the design of a spike backed creature hunched over like a thief crouching down...no...more so...with a narrowed jaw and one large eye taking up most of it's face. Seeing what would have become of him made my stomach nearly toss what little I'd eaten earlier.

"What would you suggest for a thief, then?" he asked when noticing my lack of attempt to hide this discomfort.

My eyes narrowed into a glare at his taunting question, "I suggest you leave him alone!"

"Well, I will for now, I have work to do after all," he grinned with pure amusement, "I have a dragon to bring under my control as it is. That will take some time in deed."

"What makes you think-?!"

Before I could finish he began working on his notes, but not before he'd grabbed my chin and used mage hand to apply the gag he needed to silence me.

"Can't have you calling for help now can we?" he pinched my cheek, "I wouldn't want someone taking away my precious beasts because you couldn't keep your maw shut!"

I winced at the all too soon reminder of a similar situation I'd been in.

"Now, I'll need dragon's blood, I think I have some...just enough actually," he noted from his desk.

He looked me over, relieved by my small frame it seemed, "It should be plenty for your size. Combined with the spell I've been fine tuning to ignore the immunity you would normally have to another blood bath."

The longer he talked, the more my core twisted. Again I was spoken of as a creature one could do what they wished with. Once more, I was viewed as a prized item to covet without my consent. My body ached to be held, even carried from all of this by the one person who never did this to me. I wanted him to find me, and then we could get away. Then again...if he did find me, what would become of him?

I grew sicker to my stomach as he voiced his notes of what he would put me through. Trying to ignore him didn't work, as I would only then see the others he'd done this to. Without my spells to even call out with a message someone might hear, I didn't know what I could do. In my desperate attempts to escape I would fold my fingers over my palm of the hand he'd held. In some way it was still warm from his own hand...and I dreaded the sensation of it growing colder the longer this went, grasping for someone that wasn't there.

Duke:

I'd searched all through the night for my lost companion. No matter how many times I called out her name, no matter the corners I turned, there was no sign of her or her captor. My exhausted attempts brought me back to the inn with a look of shame in my remaining eye. The inn keeper and his wife spared me their "I told you so's" and simply offered me a meal to give me back my strength. Despite feeling too sick to take a bite initially, I forced myself to take their offer. For once I was done I would go back out and look with the daylight to aid me I hoped.

Yet a day passed and the same results were found. That next night I tried to use myself as bait, but nothing happened much to my surprise.

"They may know you're looking and want to throw you off the trail," the doctor told me.

"I'll find her, an' the others," I assured him and other townsfolk that I spoke to.

My search took me through the village and back through the woods a bit. I didn't go anywhere close to Eilsana's domain just yet, convinced she was still locked away. If she wasn't I did't want to venture closer until I needed to. Even with her ring dismantled, I had a feeling she wouldn't be thrilled upon seeing either of us again. I also wasn't convinced that she was behind this.

None the less the longer Heart remained hidden away, the more I grew worried for her sake. I blamed myself for her not being beside me in search of a solution. My core twisted as I imagined what may have befallen her in my place.

Heart:

A day or so passed as the mad caster prepared his ritual for me. When it was time to eat he held up soup and I barely wanted to partake in it...only the need for strength made me drink it. My nerves jumped when he began filling an emptied pool with a crimson liquid well preserved in enchanted compartments. He'd replaced the gag in my mouth, so I couldn't ask. Yet he knew to answer,
"Been saving it! One of these warriors was a dragon slayer, I'd caught him right after a battle and was able to drain the dragon and make myself a hearty troll out of it!"

My eyes widened in horror as he was able to fill the bath well enough to douse me in. I knew once I was unlatched this would be my only chance. However...he showed how prepared he was for this sort of thing when he approached me. With a chilling touch on my shoulder I felt myself growing quite fatigued, my will once again faltering to bend to another. Fear gripped my chest as I tried to summon some sort of fury to fight back with, but this proved to be useless.

"Please..." I begged, "I don't want this...I just want..."

Saying I was scared simply wasn't enough. The memory of a shifting body shook my core, and the fear of Duke being found to suffer as well sickened me. I just wanted to be left alone, to be with him! Yet here I was, being used as someone's doll to manipulate once again. What if once this was done my mind went again? What if I didn't recognize my friend when I saw him again? What if I was used to hurt him?

"Duke..." I murmured with growing dread as my shoulders sank from the wave of fatigue crashing over me.

The twisted mage scoffed, "Don't worry, I'll track him down soon enough. If you have any requests perhaps I'll accommodate as long as you obey me?"

"No...just leave him alone..." I pleaded as I was unhooked from the chain and dragged towards the crimson filled pool.

I dug my heels in as best as I can, but my knees wobbled until they gave in on me. At last stumbling to the ground he was able to pull me over to it's ledge. As I knelt there, hopelessly wriggling to get loose, he would take a hand and yank my head back a bit. Forced to look up I would see him placing a mask over my face, pressing it firmly over me despite my struggles to get it off. His grip on my hair tightened as he laughed, "I'll need you to keep the face he'll recognize to lure him in!"

"No! Please stop!" I screamed, "I don't want this! I won't hurt him!"

"You won't have any control over this!" he barked as he secured the mask to my face.

Tears began to well in my eyes as I grew too tired to fight it. They began to fall as I was pushed into the bath of blood he'd prepared. He started to chant his spell, and the scarlet liquid would bond to me bit by bit. Scales spread over me much more rapidly than they had before. He continued to lower me until all but my face was covered by the blood. The mask kept most of it dry, though some seeped in at the sides, causing some scales to grace my cheeks. Horns began to sprout, curling out from my bangs. Several minutes later they had grown quite long, and a tail had stretched out from the base of my spine. My hands grew into a blend of human and reptilian, complete with claws. My feet did the same. My ears curved and became semi-frilled.

Suddenly a sharp pain would cause me to try and burst out from that pool. I immediately remembered Duke holding onto me as my own shoulder blades and back began to shift under my skin this time. Yet I had no one to grasp as the mage made sure I was kept in that bath. I begged, screamed, and cried for it to stop. Why was this happening again?! My eyes shot wide open in that panic as my own wings broke free, a scream ripping from my throat as my sharpened teeth shredded the gag, "DUKE!"

As they unfolded, I fell limp from the pain and shock. Soaked in that blood, I tried to keep my mind focused on anything I could. Yet the panic began to set in as I questioned inside...where was he? Why was I still being used like this? Was my magic really something to be proud of when all it did was cause myself to become a target like this?

"Now, now, that wasn't so bad was it?" the mage taunted with some intrigue, "Now just bask in your bath a bit longer to make sure these changes don't reverse. Then I'll get started on the rest."

"The...rest...?" I asked weakly.

"Don't fret over that...yet," he replied with a sick smile.

I tried to dart a set of claws out at him, but he was ready for that too. He pulled back just enough to avoid my all to weak swing. Then he held me down to keep me in that bath a little over an hour.

When it was time for me to come out, he gave a cruel chuckle, "Now, just allow yourself to rest my new pet. That's it."

I felt my eyes growing heavy as I wasn't allowed to pull myself free of his spells in time to counter the next one. I would barely hear him say, "It's time for some altercations to make certain you do what I need you to."

Before I could dread or ponder this much I collapsed onto the table he'd lead me to, murmuring once more, "Duke...where are you...?"

Duke:

Days passed in my search for Heart and the others. Since that night no one else had been taken that anyone had known of. This had given me some hope that maybe she'd been able to deal with the threat and was just trying to find her way back. Those runes could have taken her quite a bit away from the town with the right spell. Yet I knew this was very wishful thinking on my part. Until I was certain she was back I continued my quest to find her.

I'd even begun scouring the woods outside of town, all the way back to Eilsana's manor. There was no sign of anyone remaining nearby that I could find. In fact, the place seemed to be down right deserted when I snuck in and out. Even the dungeon we'd left her was empty, but the cell door was still locked up. Though there was no one inside of it. This didn't bring any further comfort.

The only ease I could find was knowing I'd destroyed the ring personally to keep it from being used again.

Another day or so and went by and nothing changed.

"I'm goin' to get more white hair if I don't find her soon," I said in half jest as I pulled the long strands back into the semi-messy ponytail I usually wore.

"Did you hear about the attack last night?" a merchant getting some breakfast asked the inn keeper as I stepped into the tavern.

"Aye, they were nearly torn apart from what I heard," the inn keeper shook his head with a grave look in his coal eyes, "They're lucky the beast got distracted."

"What beast?" I questioned while hopping onto a bar stool at the counter to try and get information as well as breakfast.

"I'm surprised you didn't come across it in your search, Duke," he commented with raised brows, "The thing's been attacking travelers for the last couple of nights."

I shrugged, "It must have come from the other direction than Eilsana's place."

"I hear this monster's been circling outside the town, hunting bit by bit," the doctor from before mentioned, "Though all of it's victims have been able to get away thus far. It's quick, but seems to get distracted."

"What does this creature look like?" I asked, "I'll be headin' out again tonight."

"I'd be careful of that," the inn keeper warned, "This search of yours is going to drive you mad."

"I can't give up on her," I replied with a firm tone, "Now what does this thing look like if ya don't mind me askin'?"

"That's the other odd thing...no one's been able to get a decent look at it. It hunts at night, some see a beast, and others claim it has a woman's face; but it's not like any other beastie such as a naga or anything like that."

I immediately thought of a certain escaped drow and wondered, "She might be lookin' for new pets..."

"Maybe, but still be careful out there. I wouldn't rely on luck if this thing gets a hold of you," the merchant offered with true concern.

"Thanks, friend," I replied with genuine appreciation.

Still, I knew I couldn't give up. Not until she was back beside me. Looking to the empty seat beside me, I gave a bit of a sigh, and ate my breakfast with little cheer to be mustered up.

My day was spent as the others had been, talking to folks in town to gain an sort of lead and looking over the outside passed the gates. This, however, lead me to tracks I'd never seen before in my years of adventuring. While I wasn't exactly a woodsman, I knew for certain these weren't from any natural animal. Not in these parts anyway. They were indeed reptilian from the impressions of scales in the dirt road, but they were pressed in from the weight of any large lizard I knew of, and they were too small for a dragon or similar creature to make. They seemed to go from bipedal to being from that of a quadruped, back and forth like the creature couldn't make up it's mind. Occasionally there was a brush mark from a tail behind the tracks. I followed them to then see them suddenly vanish without another trace.

"What is this thing?" I pondered while brushing over one of the "hand" prints I'd found.

I realized there was only one way to find out.

So once again I was preparing for a late night's search when the inn keeper tried to warn me again, "You're going to get yourself killed over this girl."

"She's worth the risk," I said with a bit of a smile, masking my own guilt resurfacing.

"Just be careful. If she cares about you half as much as you seem to with her, I'm sure she'd want you to be?"

I gave a nod, "She's the only one that ever wished such things for me."

With that I headed out and began my nightly routine. Again things were rather quiet in the town itself. Though it wasn't long before something outside the walls caught my attention. Keeping to the shadows, I made my way just beyond the gate and listened carefully. Yet all I found were a few traces of general wild life.

Suddenly a scream tore through the otherwise silence around me. I quickly turned and headed towards the high pitched cry for help. Hopping over brush and ducking under thick branches, I made my way a bit far from the road to find a couple of merchants trying to get to the town. In the deep of the night surrounding us, there was certainly something heard growling among the trees. As I drew closer, whatever it was grew louder, sounding rather feral...and yet like a scream of sorts as well.

Before me the merchant couple I found were huddled together, trembling from the growls emerging from the canopy above us. Drawing my saber, I hurried over to divert it's attention for them.

"Careful stranger! A demon stalks these woods!" the wife urged with a healthy dose of caution.

"On my signal you make a run for the town, I'll hold it off," I told them.

At this I would hear a strong swooping in the air as whatever it was descended towards us. With a swing of my saber and stepping forward, I said, "Now!"

Just as a collection of what looked like knives came rushing at my side, did I block with my rapier. The dagger like claws pushed back just as much as my own blade. As the two ran, I turned back to see a pair of furious eyes narrowing at me. With this, a startled gasp escaped my scarred lips, and my remaining eye widened.

Disengaging to jump back, was the altered frame of a woman. Her stance was weighed down forward slightly from her forelimbs being too heavy to stand upright with. This kept her in a crouching form when not attacking in an attempt to balance. Deep cerulean scales shined under the soft moonlight that peeked through the canopy above us. A pair of curved horns had emerged from her temples. Her ears now came to a point and were more draconic now. Now her hands and feet bared claws in their more reptilian nature. A wicked blue tail lashed out around her in warning. From her hips down to her ankles were a pair of bunched up pants. She also wore dark leather armor that left her upper back and shoulders exposed. This was due to the wings she had emerging from her back. However, rather than simply unfolding outward as a dragonborn's typically would, these wings were altered. Instead, they were more like a bat's in nature; and the woven cord down each arm all the way to her wrists kept them that way. The familiar strands of burgundy and ruby were cut short so whoever had done this could get at her back better.

"Heart?!" I exclaimed when I looked into her eyes, finding her familiar sapphires.

However, there was something quite off about them now. The warmth of knowing who I was seemed to be gone, and replaced with a chaotic fury. Almost like the eyes of one holding a shattered mind it seemed.

In fact, at my saying her name she tried to hop back and give a growl in warning. I immediately lowered my sword, and then sheathed it all together. Again I attempted, "Heart? Wh-What happened to ya?"

She didn't answer in words, but Heart continued to glare at me as though I were merely prey to strike down. In her crouched position she seemed to be looking for an opening. As my rapier was set in place at my hip, she found it, and pounced at me. I turned in time to slide to the left, just having her miss me, "Heart?!"

The dragonblooded woman slid to a stop and spun around to attempt again. This time she managed to knock me down on my side, for I had been turning to face her. Though I did managed to catch her by her hands as she went to swipe her claws at me. In our scuffle, I twisted enough to be lying on my back as I struggled to overpower her. Despite her smaller frame, she was much wilder than she'd ever been before. She furiously lashed out without so much as a word or a look that connected us before. She tried to wrench her wrists free of my grip, growling as she did this.

As I tightened my grasp, one set of claws nearly brushed over my remaining eye. I gave out a growl of my own as I pushed her back by her wrists. Her tail attempted to coil around my thigh down to my knee as I went to kick her off of me.

"Heart stop!" I pushed as I held her by both wrists somehow still, "It's me!"

"Let go!" she finally shrieked with electricity starting to spark around her in warning.

Knowing what she was trying to do, I held her arms in vice like hands. Still she grabbed for me, her claws inching towards my face like a feral cat.

"Heart!" I pleaded just as she got one hand free and went to strike.

I instinctively closed my eye tight and tried to turn my face to protect it, "Heart!"

I don't know what was different from this crying out of her name, but whatever it was caused her to suddenly come to a pause. As she did, those claws gently brushed over my eye-patch. Over where the gem she'd stolen for me was in place. Then she ran her hand to my cheek, before having me tilt my face back to look up at her. When our eyes met, she ran her free claws very carefully along the strap of my eye-patch, as though trying to remember something. With my free hand, after taking a brief deep breath, I pulled off the covering to show her my face. When I did this she jolted as though startled. By now we were both gasping our breath from the scuffle. As she did, she caressed my features near my deepest scars.

"It's me, sweetheart," I breathed out softly.

She pulled her hand back sharply as though unsure for a moment. I didn't dare move for fear of her either striking or trying to run.

"What happened to ya?" I asked.

She looked down at her own claws. A grimace twisted the features of her face, the only thing about her mostly left, that I knew. Then she ran a clawed hand down along the cord woven into her arm and altered wing. The suture markings were still reddened from the procedure she'd been put through.

"Who did this to ya, Heart? Tell me," I requested as I sat up carefully and rested my hands on her shoulders.

Heart shook her head, as though the answer wouldn't come forth. She winced at my touch though.

"We're goin' to fix this, I won't let anyone hurt-"

Before I could finish she pulled free of my grasp and jumped back. Sliding to a stop in the dirt road, Heart paused and studied my careful reaction. I'd tried to get up to reach for her when she stopped suddenly. Now kneeling before her, reaching my hands out with caution, I attempted, "Heart, it's okay."

"No...stay out! Monster! You'll be..."

"Heart, you're not a monster," I attempted sharply as she went to turn and run, "Heart, listen to me!"

"No! Won't let you...hurt...stay away!" her voice came in and out in growls.

At this, I paused with shock running from me. As this realization washed though me, I recoiled a bit. Looking at the ground and then back at her, I said, "Heart...I'm sorry...I shouldn't have let ya get hurt again...I know I screwed up...but let me try an'-"

She suddenly jumped away as I reached for her again, "Heart please!"

However, she was already sprinting away as I was scrambling to get up. As I tried to chase after her, suddenly something struck itself into my back. Next thing I knew, I was crumbling back down to my knees, barely staying awake. I managed to look up when I heard a familiar giggling voice.

Then Eilsana's grinning smile came into view. At least I thought it was her. However, she seemed to be much taller than I remembered her being. She brushed her hand against my cheek, causing a slight shudder to wash over me. It was cold, and sharp as she then caught my chin in her hand, "I missed you, my pet. So I came to find you. I'll see to it that we're not separated again."

I glanced to see that Heart was long gone from sight. In a way, some relief escaped my lungs before the world tunneled, and then it went black.