Patron Part Two Previously: Mozenrath's demonic girlfriend Chroias come for a date! She has found out about Nefret. Fearing the worst (ie: Moze is unfaithful) she confronts Nef. But the Egyptian girl makes it quite clear the nothing is going on and the girls form a truce and head to Agrabah where they run into Aladdin... Disclaimer: Mozenrath, Xerxes, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Abu and Carpet are property of Disney. Chroias belongs to Kalynnn Osburn. Nefret and Anubis are mine. Rated Pg for suggestive content. Chapter Seven (by Kalynn)

Chroias smiled and stood to her full height. All in all she was about a foot and a quarter taller than the hero. "So this is the infamous Aladdin?" She said with mock respect. Aladdin had to step back to keep for leaning. Of course without meaning to his eyes caught the outfit that the green haired girl had on. His eyes got as big as saucers. "I am.." He managed to sputter out. "Ummm...." He eyed the outfit again." Your not from around here are you?" Chroias laughed." Indeed I am not. I am Chroias Dela Diabloa." She extended a clawed hand. Her index finger curled and pointed to him. "And you need to learn to keep your eyes on a woman's face when she speaks to you." Mozenrath felt his temper rise. Nefret heard the grinding of her lords teeth and promptly decided to put a stop to it. "Hi Al!" She blurted out in the middle of Chroias's glare. Both Aladdin demon and Moze suddenly seemed to realize that the plum haired girl had been standing back there. "Ummm.... hi Nef." He sounded rather confused but turned to Mozenrath. "Well, Moze I never figured you for the kinda guy who'd keep a harem. You know what with world domination and all...." "HAREM!!!" That word earned a deadly glare from both Nefret and Chroias. Chroias snapped her whip in the air around Aladdin's head. Mozenrath sat back and grinned. Aladdin had dug his own hole this time. Patron's from around the Skull and Dagger heard the familiar sound of a whip and began to gather. Blood shed was something they loved in any form. And well the fact that it was coming from a beautiful plum haired girl and a sexy lady didn't hurt the show. Aladdin backed up and looked desperately at Nefret for a moment. The plum haired girl shook her head. 'That's for the harem comment' she mouthed. Chroias grabbed the hero's collar. She pulled him up to her face. In other words she pulled hi up off the ground. The crowd around her cheered at the show of strength. "All right hero. I was intending to go easy on you. But you need a little lesson in respect." She whipped her tail forward catching the hero's legs and pulling him back. She raised her whip and got ready to deal a blow. "Incoming!" Screamed Nefret. The warning hit Chroias just in time. And the demoness was smarted to turn and see what was coming. She dropped to the floor, narrowly avoiding the circlet that whizzed through the air. "AILILILILILILILILILI!!!!" Chroias turned around and saw a sight that nearly made her vomit .A blue Genie stood in the door way, at least she thought it was a genie. She had never seen one wearing a studded leather kilt and bust combo before. "Al you ok?" The leather clad Genie called. "Yah I'm fine. Genie! Watch out!!!!' Apparently the Genie did not posses Chroias's intellect. He missed the opportunity to duck as the blue-black flame hit him. "That was for aiming at my girlfriend." Mozenrath suddenly seemed to realize what he had said and the opportunity he had given the Genie. "Girlfriend!!! Holy..." The genie caught a look at Chroias's green hair and tail. Not to mention the small horns atop her head. "UNHOLY!!! UNHOLY!!! VERY VERY UNHOLY!!!!!!" He bounced up to the ceiling and grabbed hold of one of the rafters. "Al GET OUT DEMON DEMON!!!" A cross appeared in the Blue blobs hand "Oh get thee behind me..." "Oh for the sake of Hades and all Tarturus." She swiped the cross from the Genie. "I'm Tartrisian!" She said as though that was supposed to mean something. The genie seemed to calm down. "Ohhhhhh! Dude one of Hades kids?" He zapped a cup of stemming coco and offered it to the girl. "Man haven't seen any of your type in ages. So how are things down there?" "Decent. I got a promotion in...." "Excuse me?????" The two...now four....no everyone in the Skull and Dagger turned to look at a very angry sorcerer. Not to mention a very confused looking Nefret and Aladdin. "Yes?" Chroias said "What is it love?" "Do you not yet manage to comprehend that the genie is with the Hero!" Mozenrath said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Oh!" She turned to him. "Are you?" "Yah...." Genie didn't even see the blow coming. "Damn. I was really starting to like him." She snapped out her whip and grabbed Aladdin's leg. "Well a hero with a Genie. Now that's something I haven't seen in a while." She pulled up Aladdin's chin so she could look him in the face. "You know, your kind cute for a hero." Mozenrath's face turned blood red and Nefret desperately tried to hide a laugh. It pierced the air though and Mozenrath shot her a vile, almost inhuman look. "ALL RIGHT THAT'S ENOUGH!!" He seized Chroias's hand and pulled her around, causing her to drop the hero on his butt. "Moze what do you think your doing....?" Mozenrath pressed his lips over Chroias's. The demoness froze shocked for a moment. Then returned the kiss.

Nefret wasn't sure to gag or be pleased that the attention was off Aladdin. She snuck over to the hero while the two were...occupied with one another. "Umm. If you going to leave the chance would be now." Aladdin looked at his friend. "But what about the.....?" "Don't worry about the stone I'll get it to you later. Don't I always?" Nefret nodded to Genie so he would get the idea. The two snuck out. None of them noticed Chroias's eye on Nefret. Mozenrath pulled away from Chroias. The demoness stumbled back for a moment and looked over at where Aladdin had been. "Hay where did the hero go?" Mozenrath turned around. "Damn it!!" He rushed out the door. Nefret sighed a sigh of relief. Suddenly she noticed Chroias was very close to her. "I'll get it to you later.....Don't I always?" She repeated. Nefret blanched a turned pale. She giggled nervously. "Ummmmm yah well....." Chroias almost cracked up. "I'm not gonna tell him." "Your not??" Nefret seemed genuinely surprised. "Why not?" She said suddenly suspicious. "Oh come on? I am not stupid!" Her voice turned a mocking singsong tone. "Nefret has a crush on the hero." "I DO NOT!!!!!!!!" Nefret denied completely. "He's a married man!" "Sure!" Chroias grinned her fang glinting. "Oh! Mozenrath's coming. We'll talk later." Mozenrath walked in. Well actually he more of sulked in. "I can't believe it. This bloody close......" He held his index a thumb half an inch apart. "And WHAMMM!!!! All because I just had to kiss my girlfriend!!!" "Awwwww!" Chroias slid up to the depressed sorcerer. "Is my widdle Mozzie upset?" She pulled him close. Mozenrath heard the comments from the onlookers. "Chroias! Not in front of the commoners." He whispered. His eyes went to Nefret. "And especially not in front of her." Chroias smiled....and planted a mouth open wet one his lips. Nefret's laughter was drowned out by the mocking owwwowooowoowoo's of the crowd. Chapter 8 (By me, Laura)

Mozenrath had whipped up his cloak and disappeared heading back to the Citadel to collect a few items he would need of the fire spell. After all, he had found a good use for it now. Nefret And Chroias sat at the table, Nef nervously turning her ring around her pinky. "Your wrong you know." Nef breathed as Chroias looked up. "Just because I wanted to help Aladdin doesn't mean I like him." Nef blushed as Chroias moved close. "Liar!" the demon laughed. Nef scowled. "It really doesn't matter. Mozenrath took the eye with him." Nef pointed out. "Don't you think I can read? I saw the spell as you wrote it down. You know the counteractive force! 'Sekmet is the malevolence half of Hathor, therefore any true amulet of Hathor touched the Eye of Sekmet will subdue the power, merging the two halves into a whole force.'" Chroias quoted the book. Nefret sighed, damn, didn't this demon forget anything?! Suddenly something pulled on Nefret's skirt. She yelled and kicked whatever it was across the room. Abu hit the opposite wall and mumble some incomprehensible gibber. "What the hell is that?" Chroias eyed the monkey obviously unaware Aladdin had a pet. "Just some flea bitten rat!" Nef grabbed Abu and headed to the door. "Uh, I better throw it outside or it may end up on the dinner menu. If it does I dare you to eat it!" Chroias let Nefret get out the door before she headed to spy on her. Through a crack in the wall Chroias watched as Nef pulled a small gold charm from her top and give it to the monkey. "I don't have time to explain, just tell him it could be helpful." She watched as the monkey scampered off. "A good priestess is never without an amulet is she?" Nef spun around to meet Chroias eye, well maybe she had to look up a bit. 'Oh yeah I'm dead!' the thought stung her mind. "Not exactly, that was a cheap trinket I found in the marketplace, it might not be pure. And besides the book only says the halves will merge into a whole force, but not what the force does. I may have just made matters worse!" She walked past the demon heading to the abandoned building Mozenrath had set as a rondevo point. "So go ahead and flap your jaw to Moze. You will get what you have always wanted, my death." "I have to admit I no longer want that. I wont tell him. After all, do you really think Aladdin can beat Mozenrath with some cheap charm, especially with me around?" She laughed slightly. "And hey, if you catch that hero's heart with your good deeds, I wont half to worry about you and Mozy anymore!" Nef rolled her eyes but smiled a bit. A portal appeared in the rundown humble and Mozenrath stepped through. He held a staff with the Eye of Sekmet now securely attached to the end. Nef and Chroias looked up from their conversation. Aladdin, Jasmine, and genie raced through the city on carpet, their faces marred with anger and distress. Already two buildings in the back of town were ablaze, the smoke rising in thick coils toward heaven. Screams echoed through the dark night as the citizens of Agrabah watched their homes and lives dissolving to soot. Jasmine turned to Aladdin, tears already starting to well up in her eyes, her love wrapped his arm around the princess and handed her the small charm Nefret had sent. Jasmine hugged it to her chest finding some comfort. Suddenly the three were blinded as a sharp ray of pure light raced toward the sky. They looked heavenwards stunned, all seemed silent, still, and almost peaceful. Then a coil of liquid fire snaked its way down the shaft of light to bury itself deep into the ground sending nearby building and market place stands bursting into flames. The path of destruction was slowly making its way to the palace. Nefret looked around, shielding her eyes from the bright light of the inferno. 'Of course Aladdin would have to be late! He just had to make a dramatic appearance!' Mozenrath was certainly enjoying his new toy! His laugh bubbling out of his throat in stains of joyous reprise. Chroias seemed entertained as well. "Oh by Hathor!" Nef breathed, hardly audible as the familiar sight of carpet swooped down toward the street. Hero and company landed. "What took you so long? I was starting to miss our delightful little bouts!" Mozenrath exclaimed sarcastically turning to his nemesis. "Monster!" Aladdin ragged holding up the Hathor amulet triumphantly, but he still didn't know exactly how it worked. Mozenrath turned a suspicious eye to Nefret, then to Chroias. "I never took my eye off of her!" Chroias exclaimed, while it was true it wasn't the whole story. Mozenrath seemed convinced and turned his attention to the puffy haired hero. "No matter. In just a moment you and your little trinket will be nothing but dust!" Moze growled and pointed the Eye of Sekmet to Aladdin. Chapter 9 (by Kalynn)

Chroias looked at the group. She nudged Nefret. "Who's the chick?" Nefret looked up. "Oh that's Jasmine. Aladdin's wife." She punctuated the statement and caught Chroias's eye as she did so. The demon nodded. 'I know I'm gonna regret this.' Chroias thought. She raised her arms and fired a bolt of neon green magic at the heroes. Mozenrath suddenly seemed to remember his girl was there. "What did you do that for? I had him all aimed up!!!" Chroias put a finger in her mouth and tried to look innocent. "I just wanted to help." She said. She gave Nefret a look. "You owe me." She murmured to the girl. Mozenrath growled. Jasmine turned to her love. "Who is that?" She said pointing to the green haired girl. Aladdin looked up. "Oh didn't Moze..." "Don't call me Moze!" "Tell you? He has a girlfriend." Aladdin held up the amulet again. "All right Mozenrath, you know better than to think your gonna get Agrabah with some little eye. I'll be nice and give you the opportunity to leave." Mozenrath threw back his head and laughed. "Oh please Aladdin. Are you forgetting my assets." He turned and looked at Chroias. "Asset!" The demoness looked insulted. "Is that all I am???!!!!! An asset!!" She screeched. Nefret had to duck to avoid the flame of dark green fire that had begun to grow around the pale demon. The flares spurted off in every direction. Aladdin and his friends ducked just in time to avoid becoming crispy critters. Mozenrath, to his credit, didn't move. "Chroias you know what I mean." He said in a light almost conversational voice. "And yes I do consider you an asset. A very valuable asset." The flames around Chroias simmered down. "So is that what you think?" She said in a deadly calm voice. "Do you think that the best place I can beg in your heart is as an asset to you?" Nefret looked at the demon. She didn't think it possible, but no it couldn't be... Could it??? Chroias looked at the jewel in her boyfriends hand. "Hay hero!" She called. "Catch." The eye flung itself from Mozenrath's hand and slammed full force into Aladdin's chest. Mozenrath looked appalled at the development. "Chroias what do you think your....!!!!" He turned to see the demoness and his assistant gone. Nefret looked at the pale girl. She barely had a chance to speak before Chroias ran off down the Citadel halls. Nefret slowly followed behind. As she reached her 'friends' door she heard a strange sound coming from within. "Hay Roias." She stopped. Where had that name come from. "Can I come in?" A short almost laughing sound echoed gently. "Sure, If you don't mind a little blood." For a split second Nefret panicked. Surly Chroias wouldn't try to kill herself! She opened the door and stood back in shock. Chroias lifted her face. Little red droplets were slowly tickling down her pale cheeks. 'Dear Hathor! She's crying!!' Chapter 10 (by me)

Nef approached the demon carefully, pulling a small cloth of the dressing table as she went. "Oh Roias.." She paused to make sure she didn't mind her using that name. She didn't seem to. Nef took the woman into her arms gently and began to wipe away the bloody tears, staining the cloth red. "Boy I'd hate to see your handkerchiefs!" Nefret joked, but this her sarcastic sense of humor wasn't going to help this time. "I don't know what to say. Chroias, to be honest I have been scared to death of you, but now I see you truly as you are. Thank you, my friend." "Your welcome my friend." Chroias and Nefret smiled at each other and their new break though. Nef began to hum a nameless tune as she helped Roias dry the blood and fix her face. Heavy footsteps echoed out in the hall the two women stopped dead. "CHROIAS!" came the enraged voice of Mozenrath. The women looked at each other desperately. Nefret smiled reassuringly. "I'll take care of it." The plum haired woman left the room and snuck down the hall. It didn't take long to find her lord as he stomped up the corridor to Chroias's room. "Mozenrath.." Nef began, but he pushed past her. "Moze!" she exclaimed running in front of him and placing her hands on his chest in an attempt to stop him. But even though she out weighed him by a pound or two he never slowed and she was pushed along and finally nudged aside. It was then the Egyptian woman got an idea, not to say it was a very good idea, but she really didn't have much time. Nefret raised her hands letting a small fireball spark and grow between them. As soon as it was about as big as an apple she hurled it forward hitting him squarely in the shoulder blades. Mozenrath had been the one to give her the ring, and had made sure there was no way it could be used against him. The worst he felt as a little tickle, but it was enough to grab his attention. Mozenrath spun around to face his assistant reversing his path back to her. Now that she had her master's attention Nef began a speech that she hadn't had much time to practice. "Don't blame Chroias, she did it for me." "This has nothing to do with you. My girlfriend turned against me. She did it for ALADDIN!" His words were on fire and Nef could almost feel their burn. "No! She helped Aladdin because she was mad and to help me. You see.. she feels...she thinks." Nefret began to sputter, but realized if she was going to keep his attention she was going to have be bold. "She saved Aladdin to spite you! And rightfully so! And so help me if you yell at her I don't care if you're my master, I will get my cross bow and hunt you through this damn Citadel till you agree to come to your senses!!" Nef fumed, then her face faulted as he grasped she might have gone to far. Mozenrath's face remained unchanged for a moment, but lighted just barley at first, then his lip pulled into an amused smile. "Empty threats don't become you my little minion." He pointed out. Nefret grumbled and crossed her arms. "Alright, I'll go easy on her and let her try to explain. But you keep your nose out of it! I have to deal with you latter." He began to walk away and this time Nefret didn't try to stop him. She could tell he was still mad, but at least she had managed to dissolve some of his temper. Nef turned her eyes upward. "Oh Hathor, don't let them screw this up!" Nefret asked in a pleading voice, hoping her goddess was listening. Then, almost as an afterthought, Nef headed to the kitchen to see that dinner was being prepared and to take her place setting off the table. After all, nothing smoothed furrowed emotions like a nice dinner for two. Chapter 11 (by kalynn)

Chroias was still weeping when she heard the footsteps of her boyfriend entering the room. Her red eyes glared angrily up at him. "What do you want?" She said accusingly. "Don't you dare get angry with me!" He shouted suddenly. "What did I say that set you off anyways?" "What did you......?"Chroias's face contorted to an ungodly posture. "You called me an asset! You may as well have degraded me to being one of your minions!!!" She glanced at Nefret in the doorway. "Nefret not included." she said as a side note. Mozenrath blanched. He had never meant it in that way. He had certainly never thought of his Girlfriend as one of his Minions! But the problem was going to be explaining that to Chroias. "I......" he started. 'Damn I never was good at apologies' "I didn't mean it like that." "Then why'd you say it?" Chroias was still angry. The bloody tears were continuing to fall down her cheek. "And in front of the hero's too!!!" She looked slightly helpless for a moment. A thing Mozenrath had never seen before. "You acted as though we had no sort of discernable relationship at all." She grabbed her lover's hand and tore the gauntlet from it. "What do you think your doing?" Mozenrath barely said before Chroias placed the bone hand on her neck. Mozenrath and Nefret froze. "Are you completely forgetting what we were?" Chroias said quietly. "Back when Destain still ruled you?" Mozenrath's eyes darted to Nefret. For the first time Nefret saw a small amount of humility in her lord. The turbaned head lowered. Mozenrath was thinking his own thoughts. "I remember." He said softly, head still down. "I can't forget." He murmured. "Then don't pretend like I mean absolutely nothing to you." She whispered. "I am sorry about the eye of Sekmet. But you'd be better of thanking me for it." She said slowly slipping back into her old attitude. Mozenrath suddenly remembered why he had been mad at her in the first place. "And why would I be thanking you for removing it? I had Agrabah very close to destruction and then I say one wrong word......" "Well if you really wanna know......" She glanced over at Nefret momentarily. 'Am I really gonna betray her after what just happened? Am I really that low?' "The eye was a fake!" she blurted suddenly. "Some sorcerer filled it with just enough power for somebody to get themselves in trouble with then it will explode." Nefret almost smiled. She had suspected that the demon might use her to get back in Mozenrath's good graces. But apparently.... Mozenrath turned to look at his minion. "All that crap about the card game and the damn thing was a fake?" Nefret shrugged. "Hay can't win 'em all." Mozenrath gave her a sour look. He caught the double auntaund in her statement. But he digressed. Slowly he turned back to Chroias and let a slight smile take his face. He picked up a corner of his cape and dabbed it to her face, wiping away some of the blood Nefret had missed. Chroias looked up and rewarded him with a smile. No fang or teeth, just a calm smile. Suddenly Mozenrath remembered his assistant. Nefret had an almost adorable look on her sweet face. She caught the withering look on her lords and decided to go ahead and break the romantic tension. "Awwwwwwwwwwwww. You too are just so cute together." Mozenrath's mouth began to pull at the edges. Nefret knew she had to push the final button. "Do I hear wedding bells??" "All right that's it......" Mozenrath spun and grabbed his minions arm. "You are so going to get it for this one." He began to mercilessly tickle her. "Girl I know your not forgetting me!!" Chroias went for the rib cage as Nefret began to panic. "Wait a min... You have CLAWS!!!!!" None of the group noticed a gray eel sitting in the shadows. Xerxes was not looking pleased, first the Nefret moves in and now his girlfriend!!!!!!! That was almost too much. Chapter 12 (by me)

Nefret stopped at the door of the kitchen just long enough to watch Mozenrath and Chroias take their seats and exchange small secret smiles. With a sigh she continued on her way past the bread ovens and small cooking fire to the preparation table where she had instructed her meal to be set. Roias had pleaded that she take dinner with them, hell even Mozenrath had agreed! But it was just better this way. 'Not exactly a sight to spark your appetite.' Nef thought as she watched the mumluks putter around the large cooking area. She let out a heavy sigh and reclined in the chair, slowly tracing the small scratches on her abdomen. 'Damn Roias and those claws!' She smiled playfully. It seemed things were all patched up, and Nef hadn't been this happy in years. 2 years to be exact, ever since she had sold herself to Mozenrath. Sure, the relationship between her and her lord was friendly, but she had missed the sisterly bond she had had with the other priestess's in Dendera. Chroias somehow filled that void. Nefret thoughts were broken as Xerxes entered the room slithering up to the table. "Did Moze throw you out? Is something going on in there not fit for polite eyes?!" She joked. A positively demonic look graced Xerxes face as he drew back his head and spite in her face. Nef sat sunned for a moment, then in a flash her hand darted to a butcher knife and she took off after the retreating eel. Mozenrath and Chroias looked up surprised as Xerxes flew threw the room followed by Nef. She stopped dead in her tracks caught in their stare. "Have an enjoyable dinner my lord." She wavered trying to hide the knife before hastily walking into the hall. The sorcerer and demon looked at each other and exchanged shrugs. "Um shouldn't you rescue your eel?" The green haired woman asked. "Na, this happens a lot. Nefret will only corner him and give him a bit of a scare. She's never hurt him." He explained passively "Oh." Chroias breathed still not quite convinced as a crash echoed from somewhere far away. Nefret sat in her room a few minutes latter nursing her wounds, that eel had sharp teeth! She had never seen him so hostile. Sure he had never liked her, and took every chance he could to cut her short, but never had he attached her like that! Chroias cracked open the door and crept inside, this time making sure no reflective where close by. She was about a foot away when..... "Hello Roias." Nef grumbled without turning around. Chroias face dropped. "It's no fair!" she crashed on the bed as Nef smiled at her. "Your just no fun! I did come up here to invite you to eat desert with us, but if your going to be that way." Chroias put on a show of mock anger, it was to transparent. Mozenrath rose quickly to pull out a chair for his girlfriend, who took it graciously. Nefret cleared her throat. Moze rolled his eyes, but he would humor her request, he was in a rather good mood for once. Nef sat down in the chair her lord offered. Both the woman laughed. Xerxes scowled at the doorway. It was late that night when Mozenrath returned to his own bed, and wearily fell into slumber. Xerxes crept into the room. On the dressing table he spotted what he was after, the gauntlet. It had been bad enough when his beloved master had come home with an assistant (as if he wasn't enough) but now moving in his girlfriend? That was the last straw! 'I'll get be the favorite of my master yet! No matter what it takes!' He chuckled in a hissed whisper as he swam out into the hall with the gauntlet in his mouth. Chapter 13 (By Kalynn)

Xerxes carried the gauntlet around in his mouth. What to do with it was clear in his mind. He slithered down the hallways and in to Nefret's room. Oh, man master would kick her out for sure now. Nefret laughed as Chroias did her impression. "Ok what am I now?" She stretched her mouth back and pulled the skin below her eye to make it bigger than the other. Nefret giggled. "Xerxes!" she squealed. Chroias and Nefret collapsed against each other. They had been up for hours now, cementing the newfound friendship. The two had come to find they had far more in common that just tormenting Mozenrath. In fact the two shared almost twin like reflexes. Nefret pulled herself up and sat back down. "OK ok what we need to do is play truth or dare." Chroias nodded. She had been just about to suggest the same thing. "Ok you go first." Nefret sighed. She had been hoping the demon would say that. "Truth or dare." "Truth." Chroias said without hesitating. Nefret got ready to tread carefully. "Do you...love Mozenrath?" Chroias's blanched momentarily. "Now that's a question, I hadn't expected for a while." she nibbled at a claw thought fully. "I have been with him a very long time." she said in an almost wistful voice. "How long?" "Almost seven years. Since he defeated Destain. And a little before." she murmured. "Seven years!!!!" Nefret yelled. "Most girls would have expected a marriage proposal by now." "Yeah well to do that he'd have to meet the parents." she said with a grin. "And not to many guys are willing to come and meet my dad." She giggled a bit. "Can you imagine a meeting between Hades and Mozenrath?" Nefret giggled in suite. "But that still doesn't answer the question. Do you love him?" Chroias smiled and motioned for the girl to come closer. She whispered something into her friend's ear. As Nefret pulled away a small smile graced her lips. "But you can never tell him that. I won't risk him knowing." Nefret questioned. "Why not?" "Think about it!" Chroias said harsher than meant. "If he knew that I... I mean what would he do? Propose?" She gave Nefret a get real look. "Can you imagine Moze down on one knee?" Nefret giggled. "Oh Horus no. I can't." She realized how cruel it might sound. "Oh I didn't mean..." "No it's all right. I realized a long time ago that Mozenrath would never be ready to ask a girl to marry him. No really because he doesn't want to. But more because he's just as afraid of rejection as the next guy." Nefret smiled. "So your willing to live with just being his girlfriend for the next century or two?" Chroias smiled. "I'll take him anyway I can get him. Nefret took a sip of the punch. "Your turn." "Truth or dare." "Truth" "Are you a virgin?" "OH YOU LITTLE!!!!!" Nefret began to pelt Chroias with pillows. Xerxes sneered as her swam by. "You gonna get it." He murmured as the two continued to destroy each other with the upholstery. Chapter 14 (by me)

Nefret and Chroias collapsed in a pile of pillows, feathers and the odd knickknack that had been knocked off the table in their playful battle. Both were out of breath but continued to try and hit one another till their arms refused to lift. "Truth or dare?" Nef breathed. "You're not going to answer the last question? That's the whole point of the game!" the demon was catching her breath. Nef rolled her eyes to her with a little smirked. "So truth or dare?" Nef repeated determined. "The only dare that would be challenging to me right now is to stay awake a moment longer." Chroias breathed standing up and heading to her room. "I agree! Goodnight Roias." Nef turned on her side and shoved her former weapon under her head. "Sleep well Nef." Chroias murmured stopping at the door before turning into the hall. Xerxes "ear" was plastered to Nef's door. As soon a he heard her breath even out into the tell-tail rhythm of sleep he let himself in and looked around. It couldn't be too obvious, the reminded himself. Mozenrath stretched and yawned, throwing his legs over the side of the bed with a huff. It was morning, but still a bit dark outside; of course it was never very sunny in the Land of the Black Sand. He stocked to his dressing table to wash up and dress in his usual outfit. As was his habit every morning he reached down to the table to retrieve his gauntlet. His fingers grazed the wood and searched a bit, but came up empty. Mozenrath looked over a bit surprised, the table was without a doubt bare. Mozenrath forced himself to stay calm as he began to hunt the rest of his chambers, in the end turning everything over. "Something wrong master?" Xerxes asked fending innocents. Mozenrath pushed past his familiar and into the hall. The door was flung open in Chroias room, succeeding in waking her quite rudely. "Hey, I'll have you know I was having a nice dream. Have we came for another early morning visit?" she inquired seductively, but for once Mozenrath paid no attention to that oh so familiar tone in her voice. Instead he proceeded to search her room thinking he might have left it there in the time he had spent here last night. "What in Hades's name are you doing?!" she cried as half the items resting her bedside table crashed to the ground. "The gauntlet! It's gone." His voice was on the verge of panic. It was then that Chroias noticed his skeletal hand was bare. Her room was in complete shambles by now, and still no trace of it. Chroias followed Mozenrath as he stomped out the door and back out into the hall. His next stop was Nefret's room. "What?" Nef's half sleepy voice asked before the door was pulled open. She was in he robe and her hair was half brushed. "I know I'm a bit late, but Chroias and I..." she was unable to finish before Mozenrath interrupted. "Have you seen my gauntlet?" He was trying to remain calm. "It was on your hand last night. Isn't there now?" He answered her by holding up his arm and wiggling his bony fingers. "Oh... well then.... no I haven't seen it." While she had lived with him for a good 2 years she still hadn't gotten used to his hand. "Why is it..?" again she couldn't finish. "IT'S GONE!" Mozenrath cried. The girls had quit their search and meet each other in the dinning room, each giving a shrug. Neither had had any luck. Nef crashed into a chair and began munching on a pear she had found in the panty as Chroias sighed and sat down on the edge of the table. Mozenrath stocked in, his hand still bear. "It's not in the library, lab or study." Chroias reported. "It's not in the throne room, pantry or any of the parlors." Nef added. "Not in halls!" Xerxes entered the room. "What room hasn't been searched?" Mozenrath asked himself fingering his chin thoughtfully. "We search bedrooms?" the eel inquired, knowing exactly where to direct the conversation. "Only mine and Roias's. Those are the only chambers I was in last night. "But I suppose we should check Nef's, we've looked in all the other commonly used rooms." "It has as much chance of being in there as it does being in the stable." Nef snorted. She was getting slightly annoyed, Moze looses something and all the sudden it's everyone's job to help rectify the situation. The four of them, well three and the eel, entered Nef's bedroom. The first order of business was to pick through the pillows still lying on the floor, nothing. Mozenrath moved to the bed and lifted the mattress. "Really Moze, how in Hades would it get there?" Chroias quipped looking up from the writing desk she and Nef were going through. "How should know? Sometime I think that thing has a mind of it's own!" He joked. The bed checked out and Moze opened his assistant's trunk next. Kneeling down he began to take out its contents. A few linen dresses, jewelry, Nef's secret stash of coins, which were no longer so secret Nef thought with a roll of her eyes. He froze as he uncovered something hidden at the very bottom. Chroias looked over curiously as she heard Moze draw in a sharp breath. She joined her love at the trunk, paling a bit (if that's possible) as she saw what he was looking at. "What?" Nef asked a bit unnerved by their expressions. Moze and Chroias looked at each other than to Nef. "What is it? Is something wrong?" Chapter 15 (by Kalynn)

Chroias looked closely at Mozenrath's face. "Moze..." she murmured. But he ignored her. "Nefret come here." he said quietly. The minion gave Chroias a half afraid look. "What is it?" she questioned. Mozenrath had an angry gaze in his eye as he brought forward the gauntlet. Nefret's face went blank. "Moze..I don't know...I really don't...how...it gotten." Mozenrath glared at her. Chroias grabbed her lovers hand. The skeletal one and held him back. "Mumluks." He called to the patrol passing the room. "Put her in the dungeon." "No!" Chroias called. "Mozenrath you can't be serious! Why in Hades name would she take the gauntlet?" Mozenrath pushed past his girlfriend." Put her in the dungeon. I'll be down later." Nefret's face paled. "Down for what?" she panicked. "What in the hell do you think you'll be coming down there for?" Mozenrath gave her a half pitying look. "I think you know perfectly well what a dungeon is for." he said with as cold a voice as possible. Chroias spun and grabbed Mozenrath. "Are you insane?? Mozenrath you can't do this. She was with me all last night! She couldn't have possibly gotten out." She pulled the sorcerer around to face her. "Mozenrath are you even listening to me?" she said franticly "Damn it Mozenrath...." Mozenrath turned and grabbed her chin. "Don't try me Chroias." he said in an almost disappointed voice. "Don't talk to me right now." he walked away.

Chroias heard a sniggering voice in the corner as Mozenrath vanished from sight. She growled sharply as she tugged the curtain back to reveled a sniggering Xerxes. Eye's red and snarling, Chroias grabbed the plum tailed eel and wrenched his neck. "WHAT'S SO DAMN FUNNY?" Chapter 16 (by me)

Chroias pulled open the heavy wooden door that lead to the holding cells. All lay empty and quiet, but for the very last one. There at the end of the dark, dank, musty room stood two undead guards at their post. They didn't seem to mind as the demoness approached, they were there mostly to keep a certain someone in her place. Roias looked, Nef was silent, almost frightenly silent. Her head tucked between her knees, her back convulsing in cries that she would not utter. "Nefret?" the red-eyed woman whispered. Nefret's head whipped up and she scrabbled to her feet flinging herself at the cell door. "I didn't do it! You know I didn't! I fell asleep right after you left." She pleaded her friend for acceptance. "I know, I know. I believe you." Chroias clawed hand reached between the bars to wipe away Nefret's tears, as the other woman had done for her once. Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall, growing increasingly louder. "Mozenrath is coming." Nef sighed. Chroias was about to open her mouth, but Nef walked away and sat on the bench. "Leave me. Leave Me!" Nef stopped Chroias from protesting. He woman hesitated a bit before slowly phasing away, but not to far. She was still with hearing distance. Mozenrath opened the dungeon door, pausing momentarily to swallow back his disappointment. Nefret turned her eyes to Mozenrath as he let himself into her cell, the mumluks closing the door behind him. She watched as he walked to stand before her in stony silence, he wrung this gauntleted hand. There was complete silence for a moment that stretched endlessly into the darkness. "I'm disappointed with you Nefret. I have always known you weren't as loyal as you could be, but.... I guess I misjudged your level of treachery." His eyes stared into hers. They sent her blood cold, all the friendship they had built between them was pushed back to a dull spark surrounded by cold resentment. "The only thing you misjudge, my lord, is the situation. I did not betray you!!!!! I did not! Look into my eyes. Look at me!" The corners of Mozenrath's mouth flexed a bit, but his face remained largely unchanged. "Do my cries land on deaf ears? Then do as you wish! But when you discover it was not I who took you gauntlet, I hope the guilt of what you have done eats away at you until the hour you die." Her last comment was strangely calm and comforted. Mozenrath reached into his collar and pulled out a familiar object. His fingers wondered over the shark's tooth with a hint of sadness. "You have given me life, I can't take yours. But you will not go unpunished. Tomorrow morning you will be exiled from the Land of the Black sand. You will be given nothing but the clothes on your back. You will be unable to enter Agrabah or set foot in Egypt, I will make sure of that. I don't ever want to see your face or hear your name again. Oh and Nefret?" She looked up at him just in time to see his raised hand come crashing down onto her face. The slap wasn't as hard as it could have been, but still left a stinging burn behind. He turned his back on her and left. As the door closed Mozenrath hear the pitcher of water hit the opposite side and shatter. An unearthly cry followed. Chroias fell behind her lover tying to get him to look at her. Xerxes slipped out of the cover of darkness and snickered. "Bye bye!" she hissed just as a hand shot out of the cell to grab him, but he managed to elude her grasp and continue on, beaming proudly all the way. Chapter 17 (by kalynn)

Chroias grabbed Mozenrath's arm. "You can't be serious!' she shouted. "She's your best assistant." Mozenrath kept walking. "She's my best friend." The demon pulled her lover around and back till he was an inch from her face. "Doesn't that mean anything to you?' Mozenrath grabbed his girlfriend's hair. "Don't I mean anything to you?" Mozenrath pulled roughly on the green locks. "Chroias without my gauntlet I'll die. Literally!" He let her go. "I have to do this. Be glad I'm letting her live. Chroias wasn't satisfied. "What about everything she's done for you." Chroias felt the warm blood tears slip down her cheeks. "How can you be so cold." Mozenrath turned back around to look at her. "Chroias do not try me today. " "Oh like you care!" She hollered in his face. "That little eel means....." She stopped dead in the middle of her sentence. 'That little slimy bastard'

Mozenrath looked at her curiously. "Means what?" Chroias looked up at her lovers face. "Nothing." Her voice turned silent. She turned and ran from the corridor. Mozenrath almost ran after her. "No let her cool off." he said out loud and to know one. Chroias however knew it would be a while before she would cool off. She winded her way down the dungeon steps and to Nefret's cell. "He did it." she said in an icy cold voice. Nefret sat up and walked over to the bars. "Who?" "That eel. That slimy perverted disgusting ass kissing eel!!!!" She shrieked. Her red eyes turned a deep crimson as her fangs seemed to grow. Her hands reached forward to rip the bars from their holes. Another howl echoed in the dungeon as the shock of anti-magic ripped through her system.

Nefret took her friends hand in hers. "It won't do us any good to rip at them. You have to find a way to prove Xerxes did it." Nefret "And how do you propose I do that?" she asked. "The slimy little shit isn't a genius but he knows enough not to leave a clue behind." Nefret shrugged. "I don't know but if your gonna do it you'd better do it fast. I only have five hours before sun up. And exile from everyone and everything is not my idea of a vacation." Chroias smiled at her friends attempt to keep humor in her voice. "I'd better start now." she turned to go. "Nefret." The plum haired girl looked up momentarily. "I know...this isn't much of an offer. And I doubt you'd take it. But....if this doesn't work...I mean if I can't prove that Xerxes did it..... I would love it...if...if ...if you'd come and stay with me for a while." Chroias connected eyes with her friend. "I know Tarturus isn't exactly the way one would imagine spending the rest of their lives, but we do have the Elisyian fields. And they would suite you just fine." Chroias smiled. "Just in consideration." Chapter 18 (by me)

Evening was closing fast in the Land of the Black Sand and, though she thought and plotted, Chroias failed to come up with any plan or any evidence by the time night fell. Mozenrath had been largely unavailable, 'he's no doubt stocking around some where with that damned hell bound eel!' Roias growled lowly as she an image of that smart-alecky, bulgy eyed face flashed in her mind. She could just throttle till his eyes popped out of his head. But sadly that wouldn't help the situation any, maybe make her feel better, but nothing else was likely to change. Night was falling fast outside Chroias window when a wonderfully simple plan formed in her mind. But it would have to wait a while, she knew by now Mozenrath would be in bed, and Xerxes had undoubtedly followed. In her own bed, Roias's plan was becoming more and more solid and complete. The only catch was that Nefret would first have to be exiled and she would have to find somewhere to stay while she waited for just the right time to spring her plan. She knew just the place. Morning dawned misty and gray, small rays of filthy looking light streamed through the small high window in Nef's cell waking her. 'Nothing good could come of a morning like this' Nefret moaned silently to herself as the cell door was opened and two mumluks approached her. They grabbed her forearms, but Nef wasn't one to be dragged, and she fought herself free to walk on her own two feet. It was a long ride from the Citadel to the edge of Mozenrath's kingdom. Nef was bumped and jostled in the back of the chariot, but finally saw the horizon go from black to tan colored sand, and at the junction stood Mozenrath, Chroias and Xerxes. The sorcerer was silent as his assistant alighted her transport and faced him. Mozenrath bent down and undid her anklet with a special combination of moves only he knew. He stood and held out his hand, Chroias thought she sensed a hint of sadness, or perhaps disappointment in his eyes. With an ice-princess look Nef pulled the ring off her finger and dropped it in his hand. The set of Mozenrath's jaw told the girl there was nothing more to talk about and she turned to go. But not before looking to Chroias, no words passed between them, they weren't needed, her expression said it all. 'I'm sorry, but I'll make it right. You know where to go.' And in that moment she did, and she knew her friend would be sure to get her there. The 3 remaining residents of the Land of the Black Sand watched until Nefret was nothing more than a speck on the horizon, before Mozenrath whipped up his cloak taking them all home minus one. A few moments later Nef also left the desert, phasing out and appearing in the Elisyian fields. "Thanks Roias" She whispered. It was late when Chroias rapped on Mozenrath's chamber door. He had expected her to be rather mad at him, but as he opened the door he was greeted by a warm smile. "Are we feeling a bit better?" He inquired of his lover. "Yes, a bit. You did what you thought you had to do. But right now I have something else I want you to do." Her eyes flashed. "And I bet I know what it is." He chuckled ruefully. "You might be surprised." She laughed back as she entered the room and he closed the door behind her. Another morning dawned, slightly more cheerful than the last. A certain green-haired woman practically skipped into the dinning hall startling Xerxes who was waiting for everyone to join him for breakfast. The eel eyed her uncertainly, Chroias was all dolled up and her face was plastered in a broad grin. She looked all too happy. "Where Master?" the eel hissed warily. "He'll be down shortly!" she answered in a sing-song voice. "Why you so happy?" He slithered around the back of the chair at the head of the table, Mozenrath's chair. "What's not to be happy about?" Her face was blank and Xerxes gave her a knowing stare. "Oh that! Like I said what's not to be happy about? What you thought I liked her? HA! That little minx thought she could weasel her way into my place. I was only being nice to get on her good side. After all it's so much easier to take some one's head off when they trust you not to do it." She explained happily. "I was going to get rid of her, but she did a decent job of that herself. Now I have him all to myself! Well almost." She added as her eyes fell upon the eel and flashed. Xerxes gulped, it seemed if he didn't want to share Nefret's intended fate he would have to make good with Chroias. "Want to know a secret?" He slithered to her and around her shoulder as she nodded. "It was me. I took gauntlet and got rid of her for US!" The last word proudly escaped his lips. "Than I owe you a great deal. Perhaps I was wrong about you, you could make a good ally. Now why don't you go see if breakfast is ready yet." As soon as he was out of sight Chroias cleared her throat loudly. At her signal Mozenrath appeared from just outside the door. "Get all that?" she inquired. He sighed deeply. "Every word." Chapter 19 (by kalynn)

Chroias took Mozenrath's hand. "I told you he did it." she looked at her loves eyes. "I told you Nefret didn't do it." She made sure their eyes meet "I told you..." "All right all right!!!!" the sorcerer said in a slightly defeated voice. "He looked pointedly at Chroias. "Now where did you hide Nefret." Chroias blanched a moment. "Umm...." "Please you think I didn't know?" he swept up the demoness in his arms. "You are a demon by birth alone. And I know you view Nefret as a sister." he smiled. "I expected you would have a place set up for her." "Oh you little !!!" Chroias half snapped at him with her fangs. "And I went through all that trouble to hide it from you!!!' Mozenrath smiled gently at her. "I know I know. I am just too much sometimes." Chroias rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah way too much." She looked at where the eel had last stood. "And now what are going to do about lard lips?" Mozenrath's smile turned vindictive. "I believe the accused should have the joy of administering that particular punishment." Chroias smiled. "Ok but I think your going to have to do one thing." Mozenrath looked at her questioningly. Chroias smiled at him. "You'll see." she waved her arms and a dark green haze surrounded them. As Mozenrath opened his eyes he was sure he needed to blink again. A thousand books and descriptions of paradise could not have come close to actually saying that Elisyia looked like. Fruit trees and grassy meadows blanketed every corner. Anything a living or dead person could ever desired was at the beck and call. Mozenrath blinked. "If this is hell why do we need heaven?" Chroias laughed. "Hon this is the Greek version of Heaven. Basically their all the same, but depending on your belief you get to go to a different version of the same place." she shook her head. "Daddy just doesn't understand why I spend most of my time here...." she nodded in a southern direction. "Instead of there." Mozenrath turned around and immediately wished he hadn't. He decided to put what he had just seen directly out of his mind, other wise he might quit being a sorcerer, or at least an evil one. "So umm where is Nefret." he said trying to regain composure after what he'd just seen. Chroias pulled a map seemingly from nowhere. "Huummmm! She's Egyptian so she should be over in Anubis's sector." she pointed to a mark on the map with a Jackals head. "I just hope he hasn't mistaken her for one of the dead and decided to weigh her heart." An almost panicked look took over Mozenrath's face as Chroias laughed. "Moze I'm kidding. I sent her down here with some of my best people. Anubis knows me to well to even think about messing with one of my buddies." Mozenrath walked along the floor. "Now don't eat anything." she said as he began to pluck a ripe pomegranate from a tree. "I managed to get Nefret special permission to eat and dink the food of the dead. But if you do it you'll never be allowed to leave." she looked back behind her. "And with what you did during life I doubt daddy will let you stay in Elisyium." she smiled as Mozenrath shuddered. "AHHA there she is!" she called out as Nefret came into view. Mozenrath gulped. "Well I certainly didn't expect her to be enjoying herself this much." Oh Nefret seemed to be enjoying herself all right. She had arrived to find out that as Chroias's privet guest she got the, shall we say, royal treatment. Her clothing had changed considerably. The simple white and teal clothing had now a gold and green color, and Mozenrath was with out a doubt that they were completely gold. She didn't seem particularly unpleased be the 'gentlemen' servants that were adhering to her every whim. And none of them could be considered less than gorgeous. One of the most handsome ones was serving her peeled grapes from a silver platter. Mozenrath gulped as Chroias nudged him forward. "I think you'd better ask real nice Mozey I could arrange for her permanent retirement here." Chapter 20 (by me)

Nefret shifted her weight in the overstuffed couch and happily let one of her attendants pop another grape into her mouth. All right, maybe she was over doing it a bit. But hey why the hell not? In her short stay she had found heaven quite agreeable. She had been treated like the priestess she was, something she had been denied the last few years, come to think of it she was more on the level of royalty here! "Damn Chroias has good connections!" She sighed blissfully. "Glad your enjoying her hospitality." A familiar voice resonated in her ears. Nef looked up rather surprised to meet the pale face of her former lord. In that moment several emotions coursed through her veins. The first being something like relief and happiness, then next was most defiantly anger, and the third was something like a pit in her stomach that came with the realization that this could mean the end of her stay in heaven. Mozenrath emotions where a bit harder to read, as always his face was locked in cool disinterest, but it was only a thin mask concealing something that seemed very much like sheepishness. Nef laughed inwardly, she had never seen her lord show much emotion about anything, but somehow with Roias around he was easier to read. "Somehow this doesn't seem like much of a punishment." He turned to the demoness a bit. "Well I'm guessing, by the fact that you're here when your exact words where 'I don't want to see you face or hear your name again', that you've acquitted me?" Mozenrath's lips twitched and there was a tick above his eyebrow, he hated when he was caught in a mistake. "Yes, I'm having a wonderful time. I'd like you to meet my two shawabits, tutmose and hotep! They've been very kind. Would you them to serve you something, a grape, wine, humble pie?" The girls and the servants chuckled. "Alright! So you're innocent! Can we go now!" his face was becoming red, more of anger than embarrassment. Nef's face fell blank and her mouth formed a perfect O. "Go?" she repeated trying to sound rather dumb. Mozenrath's pallor when to a rather grayish white. He was hoping this would head in a different direction, but it was fast heading into a frontier he didn't want to set foot in. "Yes, go. Go home, where you belong." He tried his best to sound cool, but he knew what was coming and he looked to Chroias for help. Her expression told him he would get none. "Uh huh, don't think so. I'm in exile. And I think I've found a new home!" With that she popped a grape into her mouth, secretly wondering how far she could milk this. "Need I remind you of your contract?" His voice rose a bit. Chroias, who seemed to have a habit of producing thing from thin air, handed him the scroll for reference. "No, you need not. I remember. Hand me that will you?" He did and she began searching the lines of Arabic. "I hereby surrender my services blah blah blah.." She muttered. "Oh here it is! I am resigned to Mozenrath for 20 years, or until the event my body no longer romes the land of the living." She pointed out the line of text as she read. Mozenrath silently cursed himself for being so damned poetic. Why couldn't he just said 'until I die'! Nef rewound the scroll and with a flick of her wrist offered it back to him with a now-what-are-you-going-to-do face. Mozenrath gulped and again looked to his love and was meet with nothing more than a smirk. "So you wish to stay here?" He inquired; her face remained blank and indecisive. He sighed slowly knowing his worst fears were coming true, he might have to say the dreaded 'P' word. "Nefret, you have an entire afterlife to enjoy this place, but for now come home." "Why?" "Because you're needed at the Citadel." He growled in admittance sitting down. She seemed unimpressed. "Come back. please." The last word was hardly but a harsh raking sound as he forced it through clenched teeth. "What? I can't understand you when you grind your teeth like a cow!" "I said... I want you to came home PLEASE." He pronounced the words deathly clear. "Well..." she gave Chroias a playful look. "Okay. You only had to ask nicely." The girls beamed happily as Mozenrath collapsed against the back of the couch looking a bit ashen. ------------------------ Xerxes returned the dinning hall followed by several mumluks bearing trays of fruit, wine, bread and cheese. A sort of celebration feast for him and Chroias the eel figured. But the hall was empty, as was the rest of the Citadel he soon discovered. The only thing missing was the preverbal tumbleweed bouncing its way through the halls. Something made Xerxes gray skin crawl as he heard footsteps coming from around the corner. They were dotted with the click of claws and sparsely sprinkled barks. The eel knew that noise very well, it was the sound of Anubis greeting his owner. Cautiously he edged one eye around the corner. The sight made the pit in his stomach grow heavy and hard. His master was walking with one arm around Chroias and his grin was cast upon his newly recontracted assistant.