Diablo 2: Longing to be with you (Chapter 9)
By Amethyst Haze

***

Disclaimer: I do not own Diablo II, its concepts, its designs or anything else related to it. Those are the property of Blizzard Entertainment, this story is simply a non-profit tribute and parody. This story is Rated R for moments of sexual content, offensive language and violence.

Amethyst Haze's comments: If this story sounds EXTREMELY familiar to you.... then you've read the original fanfic as the NC-17 version when it was under my old pen name. I will not be writing like that anymore.

***

"No! He didn't fuck her!"

Krysta's eyes narrowed, "Are you certain?"

Elzix struggled against Krysta's strong and lithe body. His biceps were sore from being held tightly in the closed space behind each of the assassin's knees as she sat upon his chest. At the same time, he was strangely aroused at the woman's crotch area being so close to his face, but, the sight of the katar lying within a close distance to Krysta's reach upon the bed stopped him from enjoying the dominatrix atop him.

"I'm certain! I swear it!"

The assassin hesitated, unsure of what to say. As much as she wanted to believe this to be the truth for her friend's sake, it did not add up in her mind. How could it be possible? As though her skepticism was written on her face, Elzix cried out the explanation, "It's Warriv's fault! You must believe me!"

Krysta's eyes flashed angrily. Warriv... she thought darkly. That no good worm... Her hand flew down and grabbed a cheek, pinching it firmly with her gloved fingers. "Explain, boy..."

Fearing the dark glint in her eyes, Elzix cracked like an egg. Sentence after sentence spilled from his mouth, each word full to the brim with truth; it poured more anger into Krysta than she could bear. "No!" she hissed. "You're lying!"

Elzix paled, no longer looking like the tough ex-bandit he claimed to be. "No! It's all true! The goddess' was given to Nevia by Warriv so Erix could enjoy her, but we don't know for sure if he did! Rune then was going to screw her, but he fell asleep because of some sleeping root!"

She narrowed her eyes, "What the fuck is goddess'?" When he explained, she rolled her eyes in disbelief and slapped him for insulting her intelligence so boldly.

"I'm not lying! He told me, I swear it on the graves of my family! You can even ask Atma!"

The frosty tinge in Krysta's voice deepened. "You better be telling the truth or you will be joining your family." Her grip on his throat eased and the innkeeper inhaled deeply, savouring the incoming air. She smiled cruelly, her hand trailing down and reaching behind her towards the spot just above the apex of his thighs. That soft target lay snugly against her leather-clad buttocks.

The poor innkeeper let loose a tortured wail. He could feel the assassin's hand pressing down hard against his penis. His genitals screamed in such an exquisitely agonizing pain. To him, it felt like a million sperm crying out in unison.

Krysta watched with unrestrained glee as he writhed in pain; his head turned side-to-side as his face twisted with suffering. She wished she had removed her gloves and opene his pants to let her nails join in the fun. But, even as her hand gripped tightly around the cloth-covered genitals for an angry squeeze, her thoughts were in a knot. Something still didn't make sense to her. If what Elzix said was true, that Rune didn't sleep with Nevia and Erix had slept with Nevia, then why would Rune claim that he took Nevia's virginity? Erix could easily call him out on that lie by admitting to rape.

But... that's impossible... Krysta thought. Erix loves Nevia... and he doesn't seem like the kind of rogue that would dishonour a woman in such a fashion. But also, even if Rune didn't sleep with Nevia at al, Erix would have had a chance with Nevia had he not slept with Fara...

Her hand stopped its torture.

A missing piece finally became obvious to Krysta. She had forgotten all about the wine bottle she left at the foot of the bed. She instantly turned her sharpened gaze back upon the innkeeper, who was watching her face hopefully for any sign of compassion; there was none. "What do you know about Fara and Erix doing the nasty?" She leaned in closer to him. "Do you know who's responsible for that, or do you have anything to do with it."

He gulped. "No."

A smile crossed her face. She was pleased that he chose to lie to her. "Oh, now... I don't believe you. Nevia said you brought her something... what was that?"

"I don't know."

"Lies," she charged, slowly getting off of him to retrieve the bottle.

What a mistake that was. In that instant, Elzix shoved the assassin back and reached for her discarded katar. Krysta winced as the blade nicked her arm. The drawn blood only summoned more rage within her. She angrily kicked him in the stomach then flattened him with a quick swipe at his feet.

The katar fell out of his grim and he groaned; the feeling of utter pain was burning in the back of his head. He clumsily got up to be tackled yet again by the aggressive assassin who was equipped with the wine bottle in question.

Pinning him down with all the strength she could muster, she forced the mouth of the wine bottle to the innkeeper's lips, pressing it firmly against him. "Drink!" she barked, snapping her finger at his adam's apple when he refused to swallow.

Elzix choked on the wine, feeling large amounts of the liquid burn his throat as it slid down. His eyes widened as he threw the assassin off of him. The only command his mind left for his body as he ran towards the balcony was "escape this crazy woman!" His vision and other senses were rapidly going with each step. He knew damn well that he was in trouble and, even though he tried, spitting up some of the wine proved redundant when comparing the rejected amount to the part already consumed.

Krysta was confident with the intuitive belief that the wine would knock him out, but she never expected him to drop to the floor seconds later. She was expecting his senses to gradually dull, so she obviously was surprised that he crumpled after a few steps.

"Idiot," she muttered, staring at the unconscious innkeeper with a wary affronted look. She glanced to the wine bottle and sighed. The red wine pooled on the floor near the bed and on the balcony where the frantic Elzix had spat.

She couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for the innkeeper, but at the same time, she was angry at him for the problem he had helped throw Nevia into. She hesitantly dragged his collapsed form to the balcony and propped his back against the iron twisted railing.

Crouching down in front of him, she examined him for a quiet minute while she thought of her next move. Her eyes from his mussed hair to his wine-stained shirt. So, Rune got Elzix to knock Nevia out.... probably to rape her... Why didn't he then? She sighed, rubbing her temples in a circular motion, trying to piece everything together.

She recalled Nevia telling her that she woke up and saw Fara and Erix having sex; that really disturbed Krysta. He knocked her out, but didn't have sex with her... or maybe he did... No, that doesn't sound right... She hit her forehead in attempt to kick-start her brain as she made a face with a slanted gaze towards Elzix's slack mouth. She was trying to remember what he had said. Her train of thoughts suddenly drifted to Atma and that's when it came to a screeching halt.

That's it!!!

Her thoughts scrambled frantically back to his word. "You can even ask Atma..." she mused, glancing around the room. "So... she knows about this goddess' stuff then, huh?" Mid-stride, she froze.

No... she doesn't know about it... She has it.

Everyone in Lut Gholein knew about the serving wenches in Atma's bar. For the right price given to Atma, anyone of them would be flat on their backs with their leg spreads wide... Or their bottoms up high. It all depended upon the preference of he who pays.

Krysta chewed her bottom lip. But what about those more reluctant? She had known and witnessed a few incidents at the bar, where a girl didn't want to bed a man, possibly for reasons of looks or not in the mood.' Atma offered the rebellious girl a drink, and then once the last drop was gone, she'd be literally humping the man's boots and blissfully ripping off her top before her customer eagerly carried her off to a room.

"So... Atma's responsible as well," Krysta muttered disgustedly. She suddenly thought about the mercenaries that often visited the bar. Without another word, she slowly left, leaving behind her katar—still in the middle of the pool of red wine. She didn't need it for this, all she required was her womanly charms to get more proof.

* * *

If only Nevia knew of what had gone on within Krysta's room before she arrived. Had she known, she wouldn't have been so terrified at the sight of the red liquid pools on the floor. Lost in a powerful daze drawn up by the sight of human blood, she ran out of the room, running down the narrow hall. Once again, she crashed into a man leaving his room: Rune. This time she fell on top of him; her breasts and other womanly features crushed onto the druid's body.

She blushed furiously, stammering as Rune's emerald eyes held her gaze firmly. "I, uh, I.... umm..." Jumping to her feet, she could feel her wits once again fleeing, leaving her unarmed against this man. She had forgotten what caused her to run into the hallway.

Rune quietly watched with a concerned look. In truth, he couldn't be more content at her violation of his personal space and wished that it would happen more often in the future with her under more willing circumstances. "I want to talk to you again... please."

The defiance that sometimes burned in her had apparently fled hand-in-hand with her intelligence; she followed him into the room and closed the door behind her for privacy.

Rune stalked across the sunlit room towards the balcony as he glanced over at Nevia. She stood cautiously close to the door. Smart girl, he thought, half-proud and half-disappointed at their distance. He couldn't blame her though. He knew their recent talk had scared her; he came on too strong. Gentle, that was the keyword. He had to be kind, gentle and patient with her or else her fear would return and place her on full alert. That would ruin his chances with everything he longed for.

He paced back to her, unconsciously willing a soft appearance to his startling green eyes. "I want to apologize first of all. I didn't mean to frighten you." His hands shook on his mental command. He was fully aware that he needed this performance to look sincere. Perhaps some of the actions he took were real, but his fear is what prompted his thoughts to take the perspective of an actor. "Sometimes my emotions get out of control," he confessed, studying her sympathetic expression. "I can't do much about it... but I promise I'll try not to scare you anymore."

Nevia nodded with a faint and bitter smile on her lips. "I know, Rune. I remember it well."

He stopped himself from wincing. Rune knew what the sorceress was referring to; the way they were before she ran away. Not wanting to discuss such a disappointing chapter in their lives, he cleared his throat, trying to change the subject. "Were you really that frightened by the kiss?"

Her cheeks pinkened. "No, the kiss was fine," she frowned when Rune's face brightened in response to her unintentional compliment. "It was the thought of Erix that made me run..." Her voice trailed as she swallowed hard and turned her eyes away.

Rune nodded, ignoring the sudden pain caused within him by his conscience. He silenced his inner-voice by convincing himself it was for the greater good. "I see..." was his response. A smile fell to his lips as he watched her, his eyes keenly studying her profile. His smile however faded once a tear spilled down her cheek. More followed as her eyes reddened.

"I really loved him..."

More than you loved me???! Rune nearly screamed out.

Nevia's lips tightened into a straight line as she feebly fought against the tears, trying to call them back. She knew she couldn't. All she could do was weep against the pain that Erix had inflicted upon her. When she felt Rune's warm arms wrap around her and his voice whisper, "There there, in time, everything will be better," she felt thankful to have a friend like him to depend on..

* * *

"Dammit!"

His broad sword flashed out again, striking the overgrown orange insect's leg. The bug hissed angrily, spitting a green foul-smelling substance. He quickly lifted his kite shield and ducked down. The force of the poisonous spittle rattled his shield with every blow. From behind the metal protection, he could see the handle of the shield loosening.

Not good, he thought, swallowing hard and feeling the sweat trickle away from his scalp and down his broad forehead. He checked his sword and found the blade rattling just the same in its hilt. He automatically reached for his second last portal scroll and quickly chanted the memorized incantation.

A scream suddenly ripped through the air.

Erix's attention was snagged; his ears were perking up to the distressed female cry mixed with the sound of swirling winds that echoed in the dank and pungent smelling tunnels to create the portal. Beside him, a blue light grew large enough to fit one person.

Nevia!! He thought, glancing at his sword and shield with a grimace. He knew that they would not last anymore abuse.

Springing with his feet, he quickly jumped through with his hands stretched out. His body felt weightless in that instant he flew through the swirling blue energy that was familiar with any warrior. Before his eyes, the blue hypnotic lights vanished in a snap and he found himself in Lut Gholein, still in the jump and flying towards at a dark-skinned woman.

The woman screamed as the battle-hardened paladin unintentionally tackled her. The paladin winced on behalf of the townswoman's pain. He quickly got to his feet and looked away, embarrassed.

"Sorry about that," he murmured sheepishly, feeling the eyes of other townspeople on the two.

The woman shook her head and sighed as she got up. She walked away wordlesssly, leaving Erix to believe that what he just did was common.

Remembering the female scream he heard in the Maggot Lair, he quickly regained his composure and rushed through the small desert town, heading directly for Fara.

There she was. The woman he had betrayed Nevia with.

Fara was crouched over, busily working with her hammer, striking a long sword upon the anvil with a crushing blow from the tool. She leaned her body back with her hands resting on her lower back to stretch out the cricks. When her back felt the tension leave, she wiped her sweaty brow and returned to her labour.

"Fara!"

She raised her head, her jaw tensing. "Erix.... hey..." she greeted him awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

Erix, however, skipped the formalities. "Fix these, please. It's an emergency," he pushed the shield and sword into her arms before stepping back and stripping off the metal armour.

The blacksmith quickly set to work by assessing the damage. Her expert eye danced over the nicks, dents and cracks. She frowned. "This is going to talk awhile."

"Shit..." Erix grinded his teeth. "Just do it quickly, it doesn't have to be perfect. I have to go save Nevia."

Fara was stunned. "Nevia?" she repeated, shaking her head. "What are you talking about?"

The paladin quickly explained his situation and was baffled when Fara responded with an odd expression. "What?"

"I saw Nevia go into the inn awhile ago."

"You did?" Erix stared blankly as Fara nodded, thrusting his damaged equipment back into his hands. Aside from the confusion, another thought came to him. What about the scream in the maggot lair??

"These can wait," Fara explained softly. "Go to her."

He needed not another word uttered to set him on his way. The second he had all his belongings securely placed in his arms, he sprinted towards the inn, feeling like he was also heading to an uncertain future.

Though the inn was a small establishment, climbing those stairs felt like an eternity. It was only a small number of steps, but all Erix's actions registered slowly in his mind. Each breath was etched his memory, every swift movement of his muscles; everything was done with perfect clarity. Everything was so clear that when he hastily opened the door, shock and confusion attacked him all at once from different directions.

There stood Nevia, sharing a warm embrace with Rune. The sorceress' head was leaned against the muscular wall of the druid's chest, facing the side as though she meant to press her ear to his skin to hear the faint beating of his heart. Around her shoulders, Rune's arms were wound securely, obviously not wanting to let go of the created moment. But... they had little choice.

"Nevia!" His glowering eyes however were focused on the cunning druid.

She lifted her head away as Rune's embrace loosened enough for her to step back. "Erix..." her voice trailed and her gaze fell to the floor. The druid's jaw clenched as he kept a straight face, not wanting his expression to change to give away the truth.

The paladin cared naught for the druid's reaction, only the emotion that was displayed upon Nevia's angelic face. Her features were full of sorrow and disappointment. That only accentuated her reddened and puffy eyes. As Erix's eyes traveled down, he could see her throat move with every nervous swallow and her fists clenched tightly. She was steeling herself against the rising wave of frustration and anger at her betrayer.

Erix glared angrily at Rune. "You made her cry." Not a question, more like a death sentence.

The druid rolled his eyes. "Idiot." That was a fact that Nevia would easily agree with.

"He didn't make me cry." Nevia muttered in an uneven voice. She took a deep breath, still refusing to look Erix in the eyes. "You did."

A sense of dread washed over him. All he could do to fight that wave was say: "I need to talk to you." It wasn't really a question, more of an order. His demanding tome made Nevia's anger and hurt burn brighter. Her brown stare turned on him with an eerie predatory feel.

"I've nothing to say to you." Her face was streaked with tears and her lower lip trembled with every word. She delicately bit down on it to temporarily cease its rapid movement.

"Nevia... please, just hear me out," he pleaded. He did not like the way she held him in her gaze. His eyes quietly followed her as she backed away from Rune and moved to stand by the bed. Strangely enough, Rune hadn't said another word... yet.

"Why should she hear you out?" Rune spat fiercely. "Especially since she knows about you and Fara. "

Erix paled, swallowing the lump forming in his throat due to the guilt and nervousness. His skin went cold as he continued to have his gaze fixed upon the woman. "Nevia... please, let me explain. This will only take a few minutes." She said nothing. Erix pleaded again, this time, adding a promise. "Just hear me out, and I'll never bother you again. I swear it."

She cocked her head in his direction with a sudden flash in her eyes. "Fine then, you got five minutes."

Rune was stunned at her sudden acceptance. "Nevia, why the hell should you even listen to a word this fiend has to say? He deserves no second chance!"

Her lips twitched. "I said I'd hear him out. I never said I'd give him another chance," she replied scornfully, her eyes absorbing every inch of Erix's hurt expression. She looked into Rune's eyes and reached for his hand, giving him a reassuring squeeze before he turned his gaze to the paladin, his eyes sweeping up and down over the damaged battle gear.

"You want that repaired?" the druid suddenly offered.

Erix glanced over at Rune, surprised. "Uh, yeah, thanks..." W

With the paladin's belongings in his arms, the door closed behind the druid and all that was left in the room's air was a thick and unsettling silence. The tension between the two was so intense that if a lantern had been lit between them, the air would burst into flames. Nevia was the first to break the mute war. "Well? I can't hear you out unless you have something to say," she commented acidly, her left eyebrow arching up.

"I've been thinking about you a lot—"

"—What a shame. You haven't crossed my mind at all," she fibbed callously. It was an obvious lie. Erix knew that it was an attack, but he could only accept it.

"Yes, well..." he hesitated. "I'm sorry. I guess Rune told you about Fara..." He sighed. He couldn't believe that Nevia had to hear it from Rune instead of from his own mouth. "She means nothing to me, Nevia. I swear it."

Nevia scowled. "I didn't hear it from Rune. I didn't have to anyway... I heard it from you."

"What?"

She frowned. "I was on the balcony the whole time." She turned her back to him, not wanting him to see the tears welling in her eyes. "I heard you tell Fara you love her." She paused with an involuntary shudder. A deep breath past her lips as she tried to steady her voice. "I heard everything..."

Another lump formed in his throat. He slowly walked towards her, lightly placing a hand on her shoulder. She immediately shrugged it off, "Don't touch me."

"Nevia," Erix's hand fell to his side. "I'm really sorry."

"You probably weren't even going to tell me..." she sighed. "I never thought you'd be the kind of person to think only of saving your own hide."

Anxiety struck him full in the chest. "Don't say such things," he argued. "Yes, I admit, I really didn't want to tell you because I didn't want to hurt you—"

"—But you did." She cut in with a glare.

He clenched his jaw. "Yes, I did, and I'm sorry. I can't stand to see you hurt. I'd rather die than have you look at me like that."

Nevia bit down on her tongue to stop herself from saying Then die.' She looked him up and down, a disapproving glint in her eyes. "There you go again, thinking only of yourself."

Erix sighed, his hand scratching at the short dark locks at the top of his head. "I've been thinking of you this whole time." He shook his head. "I've been running through the desert the last few hours searching for you. When I finally got to the maggot lair, I thought you were in danger. I think only of you, Nevia."

She turned her eyes on him, confused. "Why would you think I was in danger?"

* * *

Rune stared at Erix's equipment, his fingers tracing the damaged sword hilt and shield handle. He turned over to Elzix, "You think you can make it look as though it were fixed?" He smiled smugly to himself as the rough features of Elzix's face paled.

"But, Rune..." Elzix sputtered. "That might be dangerous."

His hands running through the armour and belt, Rune smiled as he removed the small town portal tome. "Might be?" he echoed with a scoff. He quietly pocketed the blue and gold book, smiling contentedly like a cat that just ate a pack of feisty rats. "It damn well IS dangerous. That's why I'm asking you to do it."

Elzix stared disapprovingly at the druid. "You're crazy. I won't do it."

The druid's thick and bristly eyebrow arched. "You what?" His tone was usually what made the ex-bandit leader cower in fear, but Elzix miraculously stood his grounds. "No," he repeated thickly. "I won't do it."

Rune's harsh gaze bore down into the innkeeper, expecting him to give in any moment.But Elzix didn't. "You're one crazy son of a bitch, Rune," he spat. "You love Nevia, huh? Don't lie to her then. You're manipulating her! Your manipulating them all!" He grunted, turning away. "I damn well should've told them what was going on. If I did, they'd jump down your throat without--" He stopped with a gasp. He could feel the cold sharp point of a dirk pressing against the tender skin of his nape.

"You'll do nothing," Rune hissed. "Dammit, you have no idea what you're talking about." The druid was irritated with the innkeeper's audacity to dare tell him, yes, him, what's is and isn't love. "You have no idea what love is! Any man would've done what I did. If they didn't, they obviously don't love her or want her as much as I do! And I'm sure as hell not going to regret or apologize for my actions! So you shut up, just shut the hell up and do what you're told or by some strange force, a volcano will appear and burn your inn to the ground!"

Elzix swallowed nervously. Rune hit him right where it hurt. His inn was what turned him away from his old days of thieving. For him, it was his path away from the dark and uncertain future. "Alright..."

* * *

Another sigh escaped him as he explained all the events that he had went through until now. "And I heard a scream back there, but, obviously, it wasn't you." Erix's features quickly paled once Nevia's anger became more obvious. He thought for sure his ordeal, she'd at least try to be more open.

"And you left??!" she hissed.

"What?"

Nevia shook her head, eyes blazing. "You heard someone in need of help, and you LEFT them!" She folded her arms across her chest. "You are a paladin, dammit. You're a holy warrior; you're meant to protect people."

He gritted his teeth. "I had no choice, I told you that before. Had I stayed, I would've died!"

"What's stopping you from going now?" she replied stiffly. "Besides, a paladin's life is SUPPOSED to be risked for the safety of others!"

Erix winced. She sounded just like his old mentor back when he began to feel a bit of compassion to the Paladins of Zakarum. "And how would you react? How would you feel had I died there?"

She turned away with a shrug. "That's not the issue here. Go back to the maggot lair."

"Nevia..." he started.

"—I have nothing more to say to you...ever. So I suggest you go back to the lair before you soil the reputation of Paladins even more," she hastily replied, turning to him with an arrogant air. "Unless that's what you really want."

"No," he sighed, his hand curling into a tight fist. He was fighting the impulse to grab her shoulders, shake such nonsense out of her before taking her into his arms and onto the floor. Miraculously, that idea died down as he slowly headed towards the door. His hand touched the wooden handle and the door creaked on its hinges. "All I really want is you..."

The door closed and Nevia's nails dug into her palm to stop her from screaming for him to come back. Her knees weak, she sat down on the edge of the bed, tightly gripping the sheets of the bed. The ice around her heart, which she created when Erix was in the room, had instantly melted and surfaced as salty tears.