Please note that all characters, places and information in this story from the Black Jewels Trilogy completely belong to Anne Bishop. Even those created by me belong to the author for they involve her races and worlds. No profit is being made from the creation of this tale and it is purely for entertainment.



11 / Kaeleer

Lucivar's emotions finally reached a breaking point and Daemon had to throw a shield around the demon-dead warlord. Geoffrey appeared from around the corner, looking apologetic.

"I thought I told you to wait," Saetan snarled, voice low and crooning. He took a step towards the warlord who shifted uneasily.

"I don't care," the warlord said, finding his voice. "I'll send myself to the darkness if that is what it takes to keep the Realm safe."

Jaenelle eyed the warlord with interest. "Your name?"

"Connar Valin."

Lucivar seemed to recognize the name and relaxed, a little.

Saetan narrowed his eyes at Connar. "I've never seen you in Hell."

"Never been, High Lord."

"The concerns of the living realms do not involve the dead."

Connar's eyes turned pleading. "My grand-daughter has gone mad. She made the offering recently and found herself without the drug lithen that has kept her complacent for centuries."

Lucivar snorted. "I see Terreille has changed since the purge."

Daemon turned to stare at his brother, who now looked drained and beaten. Lucivar shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the windows.

"Lithen?" Geoffrey sounded shocked. "Are they mad?"

"My son hasn't exactly been a model citizen," Connar snapped.

Saetan noticed the pain and betrayal in the man's voice. "We will deal with this later, Connar. There are more pressing concerns for our family right now. Leave us."

Connar glared at the men and turned to leave. Before closing the door behind him, he gave a feral smile and said, "Did I mention she's a black jewelled Queen?"

12 / Kaeleer

Marian stared at the floor. "You're going to find her?"

Lucivar tensed, hearing her speak for the first time since he told her about Evarian. He turned to stare at his wife. Her long hair had fallen to cover most of her face. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap. But it was the set frame of her jaw that made his knees weak.

"May I come with you?" she asked.

"I don't think-"

Marian climbed to her feet and took the two steps that placed her directly in front of Lucivar. "You're right! You don't think!" she yelled at him, eyes filled with tears. "Shelter me, lie to me all you want simply to keep your past from me. I'm sick of it!"

"I didn't know," he snarled, teeth clenched to keep back the rage.

"This has nothing to do with her. She is your child. When we married, I accepted you and everything that came with you, good or bad." Marian took a deep breath before continuing. "When we were taken to Terreille, I met that bitch who chained you and Daemon; that vile cunt that destroyed your life. I then realized why you kept so much from me. But please, don't shut me out anymore."

Lucivar stared down at his mate, his wife and wrapped her face in his hands.

Marian wrapped her arms around his neck, tightly. He could feel her tears trickle down his skin.

"Bring her home to us," she whispered, kissed him softly on the mouth and left the room.

Once hearing the door close, Lucivar turned and slammed his fist into the wall.

********

Connar stood in a place he never thought to be, directly between the Sadist and the High Lord of Hell. Saetan noted the man's unease with a mild smile.

"Do you know where she might go?" Daemon asked.

"We might as well go to Askavi and see my son," Connar said tightly. "There are a few choice words I'd like to say to him."

"May I ask you something?" Saetan said softly.

"Yes," Connar replied.

"What is she like?" he asked.

"Before the lithen, even at age three she was a force to be reckoned with. After, there were still flashes of her self that managed to be brought forth in times of strain and anger," Connar said with a smile.

Just then Lucivar walked around the corner and stopped abruptly, staring at them. His assembled group of Eyrien's stopped behind him. Connar nodded to Hallevar and then turned his attention back to Lucivar.

"Considering everything, the only thing she inherited from her mother was that incredible voice. Otherwise, she is the female image of her father."

Lucivar approached them impatiently, and snarled, "Let's go."



13 / Terreille

Evarian walked incessantly through the forests, following a strange summoning into an uninhabited area in the mountains of Askavi. Until she could reclaim a hold on her emotions, it was better to remain far from anyone. Perhaps it was better to soothe her rage on the Jhinka. Although, it had been a wonderful feeling to splatter Linar all over the floor.

"Damn it!" she cried, scratching her arm on a bush.

The strange summons forced her to her feet.

Evarian's head jerked up as she felt the presence of a dark jewel, one darker than her own. Impossible, she thought. At least she was no longer being controlled.

The man's body slowly took shape. He was tall with black hair, gold eyes and tanned skin. He knelt down in front of her and studied her. He raised a hand and lightly brushed a finger down her cheek. She slapped it away, and took a step back.

He laughed at her, genuinely amused. "You are the first of my line that I've found, but strangely the blood that flows in your veins is stronger than I'd believed possible after all these years." His voice was low and hypnotic. He lowered his hands and placed them on either side of her head. She flinched when he pushed through her barriers without problem. He was inside mind and searching for the link to her body. She panicked and tried to fight back but couldn't even call in sword; couldn't move to stop him should he choose to destroy her completely.

Finally, he released her and she stared at him, completely dazed.

"I have something to offer you, my child." His voice was pulling her in again. "Join my family and become mine. And in the end, you will have power beyond your imaginings."

She blinked once, trying to block out his voice but he had disappeared. His psychic scent still lingered in the air.

"What the hell have I gotten myself into," she muttered.

She stood and shook herself, smiling absently when she noticed the scratch on her arm had healed. Needing peace, she spread her wings and vaulted into the sky.

********

Knowing Evarian would soon need to contact Colthvar, she hesitantly stepped into an inn and settled herself down at a table. She'd do it after dinner. The innkeeper eyed her apprehensively, obviously recognizing her from somewhere, either from the pit fights or from her travels with Jolandar.

He handed her a menu and pointed to the back of the inn. "Someone would like to speak with you."

Evarian turned and saw a dhemlan woman with tangled black hair.

"Evarian?" the woman's voice was strangely rusty but unthreatening.

She nodded, and studied the woman who approached her. No threat, she thought.

A thin hand tentatively touched her shoulder. "May I speak with you?"

She stared at the hand. "Why?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"It relates to your mother and father."

Evarian narrowed her eyes. "You knew my mother?"

"And about the man you met in the forests of Askavi."

Evarian's stifled a shiver. The man who could invade her mind as easily as she could snap this woman's neck. A fear similar to that she had first felt for Jolander seeped into her being and she nodded.

The woman sat down and said, "My name is Tersa."