Disclaimer: Drizzt, the city and the girl don't belong to me. NO money is made (what a pity)

A/N: Oh, I got such a nice e-mail about this story today, became very happy and finally got around to posting the next part. Sorry for not taking the suggestions into account, but this chapter was already mostly finished. Very interesting though! I'm always open for more.

Suspicions

She knew that something was wrong, very wrong. Even though he would not tell her, she could now see it clearly in his eyes. The pain he thought well hidden, she had discovered it. It had taken some time, because at first there was not enough to make her suspicious and alert her to his silence. He had never been one to talk much, but when the small signs of distress became more and more she could not ignore them any longer. What had happened that made him seemingly unable to bear her presence?

She knew she could not confront him straight on. If he had not told her by now he would not want for anybody to find out what it was that troubled him so deeply. It must have been very personal, for she was sure he would never endanger any of them, the people he saw as his only family, by not alerting them to a potential threat. And maybe she was afraid, afraid of hearing a lie from the lips of her most trusted friend. So she watched him, closely and carefully, in the hope to find out more about the source of his feelings and maybe a way to help him without his knowledge.

After a few months it became apparent that she would not find any useful clues, so eventually she made up her mind to follow him, to see where he went to. When she reached the gates of the city she didn't know what to think. Had She become his lover? This was not what she had expected to find. Was that the reason he avoided her touch, because there was another who could give him what he needed? But why not tell her then, why was there such pain in his eyes? He must know that she would have understood and respected whatever choices he had made.

Confused she went to the one person she trusted most and knew best inside the city. She went to the mage who had once risked his life and called her spirit back from the ghost world when she had been on the brink of death. He would be able to help her find out why her friend had come to this place.

***

I can barely keep myself from laughing aloud when she comes to me of all people and asks for help. Of course I don't know exactly why he is here again, maybe he likes tormenting himself, but I can clearly recognize the reasons for his behaviour towards his companions, which is not so unusual in the light of what I put him through. I am also aware of the perfect irony in this situation. From what I have heard about her I guess this spider queen the Drow worship so devotedly would be able to appreciate it too, if she could see us now.

A perfect triangle, the girl anxious to discover what is wrong, her supposedly best friend wishing to hide the very same thing and myself with the power to destroy both their lives with a simple truth.

Naturally I do not tell her about the little bargain I have made with him. Why waste this perfect opportunity? I can go to him first and if he's desperate enough, he will surrender once again to keep her from finding out about the high cost of her continued existence. How I long for the taste of this soft skin, how delicious it was to map every curve of his body with my tongue.

After I send the ignorant bitch to bed, assured that I will do my best to assist her in this futile endeavour I start searching for him. Does he even know she's here? His control must be slipping for her to notice something amiss and if I play my cards right I might be able to drive him away from her, make him mine, unhappy but mine.

I can see that my actions are wrong, but I can't help myself. This goes against everything I have been taught is right, but he has become an addiction, one that I'm unable to resist. Not that I want to. Like every true addict I hate and love my drug, I hate and love him at once for doing this to me. I crave the intoxicating feeling of power I have when watching him writhe under me unable to prevent the reactions I force him to show and hate him simultaneously for still having the high morals I can now never hope to reach.

By the time I spot him on top of a small tower, I am inwardly quivering with anticipation. I take some time to compose myself before approaching the lonely figure. I mustn't be rash now, or I'll spoil my chance of getting what I need so much.

I am treading a very thin line and I know it. If I press too hard and push him over the edge everything will be revealed and I will most likely be banned from the city, but if I am careful and he agrees…