For some odd reason I have never written a disclaimer to two characters in here, so I will do so now. Vinx Darkmist and Tegid Tethal do not belong to me, they belong to two wonderful readers. Thanks guys for letting me use your characters and bend them to my evil will!

Lost Love: Dark Places (Chap. 17)

The dark forest of Nektulos hid much from view from the group of travelers. Cries echoed around them, either from the wildlife...or something else. This forest was the home to the dark elves; the vile, deceitful dark elves. Brand, recovering very well from their interlude with the dracnids at Lake of Ill Omen, was getting back into his old routines, jumping around with his favored lute and singing to keep the group's morality up. His handsome half-elven face was bright with a smile that warmed the hearts of his companions; if Brand could stay happy after almost dying on their quest, well so could the others.

The tension between Slith and his father, Mirk, had lessened somewhat, but not completely. The two iksars rarely spoke, mostly to avoid fighting and screaming. It seemed the fellowship had split into groups over the dispute; Kel and Brand mostly keep to Slith's side and Aubrey and Tegid sided with Mirk.

Dark, ominous shadows loomed behind every tree and rock, shifting in the dim light and playing tricks on the rescuers. Every movement they saw out of the corner of their eyes seemed like a deadly dark elf assassin and every noise sounded like the cackle and movement of a necromancer's summoned skeleton. The first bridge came and went and without any signs of Papsworth's orc containing the next clue to freeing Lielay. Deeper in the forest they trudged, the growing fear of an ambush from dark elves building on their minds. Not a pleasant thought. Not a pleasant thought at all.


Lielay was throw roughly on the ground, her dark, silky brown hair falling in her face, covering her deep green eyes. Rhade, the rat-faced barbarian, stood over her, glowering. "How long is this going to take?" The big man growled as he sat down against the tree next to him.

Papsworth combed his bright blond hair and flashed a smile. "An hour I'd say. Vinx and Victoria are to accompany me." He glanced at the two dark elves standing silently behind him. Victoria wove a sour look on her ebony skinned face and she rolled her one purple eye, obviously annoyed at the thought of spending yet more time with Papsworth than needed. Her lover, Vinx, stroked his white goatee and, without noticing, smoothed the wrinkles out of his green, travel-worn robes.

"Gotta have an escort of inkies wherever you go?" Rhade said with casually, but dripping with sarcasm.

Vinx shot a nasty glare at the barbarian and muttered something under his breath before following Victoria and Papsworth, who didn't want to waste any more time arguing. Rhade watched the trio descend the hill they were camped on and vanish in the small forest. They were on of the many uncharted islands of the Ocean of Tears. The island was made up of one inn where supplies could be purchased and a few scattered houses containing either criminals hiding from the authorities or hermits. Rhade cared nothing about the island or what it contained, he only wanted to finish this stupid 'quest' and get his money.

Reaching over to the faded brown bag that held his few belongings, Rhade pulled out a carefully wrapped bottle of strong liquor. He smiled, uncorked the drink, and took a long swing. He wiped his mouth and smacked his lips. "Good stuff." He muttered to himself and took another drink. He eyed Lielay occasionally, not wanting to lose the wood-elf again.

Lielay watched as the filthy man indulged in his foul smelling liquor. She scooted a few inches away, leaning on a thick oak to prop herself in a sitting position. A cloth was stuffed in her mouth and a cord secured it while her hands were tied behind her back and her ankles were bound together as well. She knew she couldn't escape, she had tried it so many times and it always ended with Papsworth smiling down at her as the dark elves tied her up again.

Draining the last drop of his expensive drink, Rhade began to feel lightheaded, but also good. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes became a bit red. That didn't stop the barbarian though, he pulled out another bottle and wasted no time in consuming its contents. This continued for the next half an hour, with Rhade only stopping when he noticed that he had just drunk his fourth and last bottle. He cursed aloud and fell over on his side. That was when he spotted Lielay again. A devious looked crossed over his face and he slowing got to his feet. Stumbling over to the wood-elf, the barbarian reached down for her.

Lielay's eyes widened and she rolled to avoid his hand. Not far enough though. Rhade grabbed the back of her hair and jerked her back to where he was now kneeling. Pulling out a dagger from his boot, the barbarian, drunk and lustful, cut the ropes around Lielay's ankles. She struggled, horror in her eyes. She knew what he was planning to do. Rhade let out a chuckle and pinned Lielay's body between his strong legs. He then proceeded to fumble with his belt, trying to unclasp it.

The sky was darkening and for once, Lielay wished that Papsworth were there with her. Wriggling one of her legs free, Lielay kicked up, hoping to hit Rhade in the groin, giving her a few seconds to leap to her feet and run. No success. Rhade, who was very drunk and not thinking very straight, was smart enough to know what she was aiming for. His hand smacked her small leg away and he continued to take his breeches off.

Lielay was close to vomiting now. She was horrified. Shuttering greatly, Lielay shied away from Rhade's fingers caressing her face. His other hand went for her tight leather pants. "Just takin' some of my payment now." He managed to slur out. He was having trouble with Lielay's pants though.

Now or never, thought Lielay. With all the strength she could muster, Lielay heaved forward, bashing her head into Rhade's nose. Hot, sticky blood splattered Lielay's face as Rhade clawed at his now broken nose. He rolled off her and tried to stop the blood that was flowing freely from his nose. Not missing a beat, Lielay, being blessed with quick reflexes and amazing agility skills, jumped to her feet and bolted off into the trees, not bothering to look behind to see if Rhade gave chase.

Trees passed in green and brown blurs as she maneuvered her course through the forest. She ran and ran, forcing herself not to stop. The dark elves are right behind me, they're right there. Keep moving. She repeated over and over again. It wasn't until she reached a basin with a dense marshland in it, did she slow down. That's my best chance. Sliding and slipping down the slope, Lielay carefully picked a safe path into the marsh.

Ten minutes in, the sudden realization of what was happening struck Lielay. She stumbled back and almost fell. Stopping completely, Lielay stood there immobilized. How am I going to get out of this? Will it even matter? Papsworth will just find me again, he always will. The harsh thoughts hit Lielay harder than anything else. He'll not permit me to just die. He'll have me revived somehow to live out my life alone. I'm never going to be with my family. Never...never...never... The word echoed in her head.

Looking down at her feet, Lielay began to cry silently. She collapsed and silent sobs shook her whole body. Never...never...never...unless...unless he cannot find me... She turned her head and stared at the marshy swamp water beside her. Easing herself over to the edge, Lielay slid her leg into the water. It was freezing cold, but a few feet deep. If I could just get a hold of some underwater roots that would anchor me down so I wouldn't float... It was all coming together now.

She then slid her other leg into the water and stood. She first wrapped one ankle in the roots below the water and then the second. Closing her eyes, Lielay fell backwards in the water, praying her hands to get tangled in some more roots. The water was so cold that it knocked the air from her lungs. Perfect. Forcing herself not to rise to the surface for more air, Lielay's thought seemed to become distant. Then darkness took her.


"If you drop me, I swear I'll throw all the damn piranha fish up at you before I die." Brand said to Mirk and Aubrey who were holding his legs as he leaned over the side of the bridge on his stomach. The two older men slowly moved as close as they could to the side so that Brand could grab the orb that Papsworth had left. Kel, the only one who could fly, wasn't able to retrieve the orb, the bridge was too low and the piranhas in the river below were known to jump and bite. So they left this task to Brand.

The half-elf reluctantly agreed to sacrifice himself in order to gain one step closer to Lielay. His fingers strained as he inched slowly towards the hovering sphere. Something splashed below him. He adverted his blue eyes downwards, Brand witnessed the spectacular jumping of the flesh-eating piranhas. He might have thought their precise leaps beautiful if he was watching them at a safe distance, but having those razor-sharp teeth so near his exposed body made him flinch.

"Ssstop twitching!" Mirk slurred as Brand squirmed to avoid being bitten.

"Sorry, but these things are hungry and they want some half-elf!" Brand retorted.

A cold, wet tail then slapped his back. He froze. "Whatsss the hold up, boy?" Mirk called down to him.

No response. "I'll go down to the water edge and sssee what he'sss doing." Slith ran off the bridge and down to the shore where he could get a clear view of the bard. "He'sss not moving, sssorta in a frozen posssition."

Mirk gave a good shake to Brand's leg, receiving a startled shout from the elf. "All right. I'm fine now." Brand shouted up. He continued to reach for the orb, which was only an inch away. His fingers skimmed the surface and he was about to wrap his fingers around the sphere when something bit him. Spasms then swept over Brand's body. He jerked wildly, the piranha still clinging to his back. He felt the many tiny fangs dig into his tender flesh and felt his own warm oozing blood slid slowly down his back.

Flinging is arm out one last time, Brand grabbed the orb and struggled to get back up while calling out to the others. Aubrey and Mirk heaved his body to the bridge's surface and watch the bard do a little dance. But then they saw the piranha holding on. Tegid rushed over to the half-elf, pried the stubborn fish off and quickly chanted a healing spell that would take most of the pain and wound away. Brand sat on the ground and thanked Tegid breathlessly. The druid smiled in return and bade the bard to read the letter he now held in his hand.

Brand found his breath and tore open the letter, out fell a strange-looking key. "Well your quest is nearing to an end, gentlemen. I hope you have found this adventure to be entertaining, and I do hope one or all of you have got a few scars to remember this event by. Well, we are not over yet, so let me tell you where to go next; cross the Ocean of Tears and sail until you reach Butcher Block Mountains. There you will travel to Kaladim and meet a very interesting dwarf at one of the bars. Don't worry, the dwarf will find you if you get lost. There he'll tell you what you must do to continue. Oh, and the odd little key you now hold is something of great importance, I would not lose it if I were you, otherwise this whole chase would have been in vain. Good luck! Signed Papsworth." Brand studied the key lying in his palm and then put it in with his lute, something he would never lose.

"All the way back to Butcher Block? There's another week or ssso with Lielay sssuffering in their care." Mirk hissed.

Isss he going to lead usss back to where it all began?" Slith pondered his thoughts aloud.

"Well, let's not just stand here and wonder about it, let's get moving. I'd rather find another spell-caster to teleport us there." Brand signed, rubbed his sore back, and picked up his supplies and instruments.

"I fully agrrree with you Brrrand. Let'sss go!" Kel nudged the half-elf and took the lead, heading towards the Commonlands and out of the Nektulos Forest with the others trailing in his wake.