Music- Bring You To Die by Me but inspired by Bring Me To Life by Evanescene… obviously.

WitchWolf- I gotta read your next chapter… the whole scene with Tela truly showed their inexperience… they had plenty of opportunities to kill her and they just didn't. I need her alive anyway… I like her… the fight scene (as I already said) was so much fun to write… I wish I could do all that in the game then I wouldn't get my butt kicked by those damn 'Immune to Sneak Attack' frinkers (that's my new swear word by the way).

Firilya- So how was frinking Holland. Did you have a frinking good time. That's FRINK. I'm glad you could see the whole fight going on… it's very hard to write fight scenes with more than one character without confusing everyone including yourself… was Boddy on the jukebox or Grim. :-). And Amberlee is frinkin' great in this chapter.

Tasharene- I'd never cut down on my writing... I'm trying to figur out how I could get up to 10000 words a day... it's mathematically possible since I can type a steady 50 words a minutes to do it in 4 hours with 4 ten minute breaks... now all I have to do is find four hours... that's the hard part. My neighbors didn't like the choreography... perhaps I should have done it in slow-motion with the sound (my voice) all the way down. And as far as Telaya, I think you'll like her as I reveal more about her life and motives. Punkin does have ice water in her veins... that's what happens when your parents tell you 'You can do ANYTHING that you're determined enough to do.' All this is her parent's fault... I'll kill 'em... oh they're already dead. Frink.(my swear word.) Hugz and Laterz and have fun reading... try not to laugh to loudly.

CHAPTER 13

I couldn't sleep. I was slightly worried about our favorite assassin returning, but more than that I couldn't stop thinking about what we were getting into. Would Nasher be alive? Was he part of a set-up? Would he be grateful if we saved him? I knew the answer to the last one. I looked at Amberlee. Serene and motionless… she was such a sweet person. I wonder how she could have Alagondar blood in her veins. I healed her arm as best I could but it still looked awful. For some reason I felt personally responsible for her injuries… maybe because she saved my life, but maybe also because I felt that I was supposed to protect her. But even more than about Amberlee I was wondering about being tracked… if we were in a bigger party I would have had someone to watch our back, but with Amberlee sedated and Meris drained… I had to watch over them even if we were being followed.

It's nothing, Punkin you're just suspicious after surviving such a hellish battle. Soldier paranoia, I think that's what Minsc had said it was. I have to trust my senses and not my mind.

"Punkin…"

I startled at the placid voice.

"What… are we okay?"

I looked at Amberlee as she flickered her eyelids trying to open them.

"We… we are safe," I said moving over to her and sitting next to her bedroll. It was hell trying to get the girl in it.

"And Meris? Is…?" she asked.

"He's fine… a little tired but otherwise no worse for the wear," I said as I moved my fingers along her wound.

"It looks worse than it feels," she said. "I think… never mind."

"What?"

"Something saved me… something superior to me…"

"But you said you had developed an immunity to poison," I said.

"Yeah, but what about all the blood I had lost? And even with my resistance to it… the poison's shock to my arm's muscular system would have made it immobile but…" she moved her arm. "It's not."

"Are you claiming that 'God' saved you?" I said trying not to sound sarcastic, but whenever the word God comes out of my mouth it just sounds so negative.

She looked away from me and said nothing.

"I didn't mean it like that… it's just that… why?"

"I don't know… maybe because more than just our lives are at stake… maybe more than Nasher's also. My mother is ruthless and if that assassin wasn't lying, and if they all are involved with someone more sinister… then it's impossible to predict what could happen."

"I wouldn't take stock in what Telaya has said… anyway, whatever or whoever your mother is involved with, we can handle them."

"But she almost…"

"We can handle it… trust me," I said with a fake smile. "Now rest up… it's an trial just trying to get into the ruins."

XOXOXO

"If you had told me that I'd have to climb I would have memorized a levitation spell or two," Meris said as he climbed over a boulder that was taller than him.

"Where's your adventuring spirit?" I asked as I scaled the last wall to get into the centre of the former hold.

"I think I left it back in my room with my self-respect," Meris said as he made a feeble attempt up the wall and fell on his rear end.

"Are you okay?" Amberlee asked him… she of course was already on top of the wall and waiting the two of us. I swear she must be a freak of nature… she can fight, climb, run, jump and she is built like a Calimshite prostitute… one of the high-end ones, that guys come from halfway around the world to be with.

"He's fine," I said. "He better be or he'll be looking for a new girlfriend. I don't need a wimp by my side."

Meris stood up and grabbed the wall with both hands. "And I'd prefer not to have a…" he stopped as he started to climb.

"A what?" I said as I reached Amberlee and looked down at him. "And don't forget that many accidents have happened at that place… that's why it was closed by the guards of Neverwinter."

"Nothing, beloved," Meris murmured as he struggled up the wall.

"Just don't think about climbing," Amberlee encouraged him. That must have been how she did that.

"That doesn't make any sense," Meris said as he stopped in the middle of the barrier.

I looked at Amberlee who shrugged.

"Meris… explain necromancy," I said.

His face lightened up. "Really? Well, first things first… everything has a spirit, a part of their self that is the focal apparatus that sanctions one's essence to function. A necromancer must first gain control of this element, many times called the soul…"

It was actually working; Meris was climbing up the wall easily. He soon got to the top of the wall with us and continued to 'enlighten' us.

"Then you must battle psyche in a mental battle… most of the time…"

"Meris," I said, touching his chest.

"Yes?" he smiled.

"I really don't care," I said and pushed him down the other, much shorter side.

"With a girl like you who needs an enemy…" he said as he stood up and dusted himself off.

"AH…Mer..." Amberlee stuttered and pointed behind him to a large planar creature that emerged out of the shadows.

"Damn," I said as I grabbed my rapier and leaped down. "Can't we go anywhere without some creature trying to kill us?" To my surprise the green and blue beast retreated.

"That was Chalchiuhticue," Amberlee said as she jumped down to join us.

"So, whoever hides here knows we're here," I said, putting my blade back in its scabbard.

"What now?" Amberlee asked.

"We go kick some planar ass," I said and took one step forward before Meris grabbed my shoulder stopping me in my tracks.

"That's not a good idea… I think we need to use a more subtle approach," Meris said.

"Like sneakery," Amberlee said.

"…Sure…" Meris said motioning us to go into the shadows with him. "We still have the element of surprise on our side… Punkin, you know this place like the lint in your pack, right?"

"Of course, I do… I practically own the place… oh, we can use some of the crawl spaces that I know of… but where are they?" I asked.

"From what I heard there was a creature held here… a demon bound from Desther's days… Master Takrath told me about it… I would wager my horns that Celeste is trying to 'buy' his services," Meris said.

He's so intelligent… for a male.

"I think I've heard about those stories but I've never seen anything other than skeletons… walking and dormant types… I doubt it's true…" I said.

Amberlee's eyes looked at the wall intensely and she started to rub the carvings, "I think Meris might be right… these walls seem to have a connection to another plane, I can feel it."

"Okay," I said. "Well, the only place that I'm too sc… that I don't like to go to. Down under the basement is a room… it's too dark for me to see into," I said.

"That's our destination," Meris said and cast invisibility spells over all three of us.

XOXOXO

"Why do spiders live where there's no sunlight?" Amberlee said as she scraped the sticky snares off her face.

"I assume they enjoy their privacy," Meris replied as he struggled through the small space and stood up. I was surprised that he was able to get through the petite corridors. "Now were?"

"You see where the light is coming from?" I said.

"Yeah," Meris responded.

"We go the other way," I said and pushed him forward with a firm but loving shove in the back. "Why don't you lead for a little while?"

Meris rolled his eyes and lead us down the sinister foyer. Soon I couldn't see my nose if I crossed my eyes.

I sighed. I hated not being able to see anything.

"It's okay… we won't let you run into nothing, okay?" Amberlee said, grabbing my shoulder. At times like these I hated being a mere human… and I hated feeling inferior.

"This is no ordinary darkness," Meris said. "I sense strong magical prowess is aiding this locality's obscurity."

"Huh?" Amberlee huffed.

"Someone's making it dark with magic," I explained. "Do you think they are close by?"

"I suspect they would be… from the strength of this spell I'd have to admit that whomever it is," Meris continued in a low voice, "They are quite an authoritative spellcaster. I can't wait to meet him."

I shook my head, "Is that before or after they kill us?"

"I can have admiration and still understand what's at stake… and we won't die."

I wanted to ask how he knew… but I decided that it wouldn't help to ease my nerves so I let it go and let Amberlee lead me through the hall.

XOXOXO

"I swear it's been days since we came into this damn abyss," I groaned. "Are we there yet?"

"It has not been that long," Amberlee offered. "Has it?"

"No," Meris said. "It's been about an hour but this is amazing… to be able to control a spell of this magnitude for such an amount… it's almost unfathomable."

"I don't care how 'strong' this things is… I can't wait to get out and kick some…"

Meris said, "I don't think you paid attention during Magical Arts class… a person that can create a spell like this is in the upper echelon of…"

"And I don't care… I'll defeat whatever the hell it is," I said.

"With what?" Amberlee asked… I think the half-elf was staring at me but I couldn't tell.

I smiled, "A bard's most trusted weapon… her voice."

"I doubt diplomacy will be effective…" Meris said.

I punched him in the back… lucky hit, I guess, and I said, "I don't even know the meaning of the word… bards can do great things with their voice… I've seen a bard bring someone to life with just a song."

"I doubt that…" Meris said.

"I saw it with my own eyes," I retorted. "And you'll see yourself… I'll save Nasher's wrinkly ass and take him back to Sharwyn's daft little arms and they'll live happily ever after."

There was a long silence that was broken only once…

"How do you know Nasher has a wrinkly behind?" Amberlee asked. I didn't answer.

XOXOXO

I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Thank the go.." I stopped.

"Yep," Amberlee said. "I noticed it about five minutes ago but I didn't want to get your hopes up if you didn't see it yet."

I cracked my knuckles and inhaled deeply, swallowing more dust than air.

"Let's just hope that we won't have another fight like the one we had with Telaya," Meris said.

"Why not," I said. "Are you losing your spine?"

"No, but I'd like to get out of here with my life intact," Meris replied.

"I'm with Meris," Amberlee said, "But if we have to fight… I won't freeze up like I did up there with Tela… I promise that I'll be brave."

I wish I could get that in writing.

XOXOXO

I had no idea what to expect. An ambush? A sneak attack? A full frontal assault? Archers? I hate archers more than I loathe toothaches. But we were finally there and about to cross the threshold to see what we had to deal with.

"Shhh," Meris whispered. "I'm going to go scout the area…"

"Hell no," I whispered in answer. "I'm the sneakiest one… I'll go see what's happening." At that moment we all heard the blood-curdling screech come from the room.

I listened carefully.

"If you kill me…" the voice of Nasher stopped as we heard a thunderous crack, "…damn you, witch… I should have never saved your ass."

"You saved me? Umm, I seem to remember it differently," another crack and Nasher screeched again, "I saved your ass… everyone always did. Your party… the Big Four…"

"The Ne…" another crack.

"I don't give a damn," another crack and a scream, "You know I saved you… and you knew that I loved you and you turned me down… WHY?"

Silence.

I peeked around to see Nasher strapped upside down on some type of torture device and with Celeste standing over him with the vilest looking whip in her hand. It had three heads, with flames launching from each one.

"What's going on?" Amberlee asked.

"I think your mother is into S and M and Nasher's not," I joked.

"What's S.M.?" Amberlee asked Meris.

"It's… nothing," Meris blushed. We refocused on what was going on.

Celeste pulled her whip back and said, "So what the hell is it? Was I too old for you?"

"No."

Crack. Another hit across his already bleeding chest.

"So I wasn't a good enough lover… I wasn't like this slut Sharwyn you've fallen for," Celeste's eyes were filled with rage and tears.

"…No…" Crack.

"So what the hell was it?" Celeste demanded.

Silence.

"WHAT!"

"…I didn't find you… attractive." Crack.

"LIAR!" Crack…crack.

"…I don't… like… elves…" Nasher said and spat into her face.

Amberlee jolted before Meris or I could stop her.

"Stop it!"

Celeste raised her whip up and looked at her daughter running to her.

"Leave us alone…" she said. "This between the two of us… it has little to do with you."

Little? I always wondered about that statement.

I stood up and ran to Amberlee as she said, "Please Mother, let him go… this is no justice. Please."

"What does a child know about justice?" Celeste said. Crack. She snapped the whip at her only daughter. Amberlee feel to the ground from the pain of the impact. Celeste raised her whip up again but before she could swing it again she was meet with a fireball face to face. The moon elf stumbled backwards.

"Another sign of confrontation will result in nothing but more pain," Meris said as he prepared to cast another spell.

"Chalchiuhticue," Celeste called and the planar creature appeared out of nowhere again. It swung a sea green tentacle at me. I did a back flip to avoid the contact since I remembered that any blow from it would inflict poisonous damage to me.

Meris called out a long crimson beam that seemed to sap out the energy from the huge creature.

"Watch out for it's spit," Amberlee screamed as she stood up.

And, as if on command, the thing spat at me. I dodged it but the ground below me wasn't as lucky and the sizzling hole that now sits there is a proof.

Crack. I looked at Amberlee who was trying to free Nasher… shit if it was either of them than it was… my Meris that felt the flame tipped splinter of Celeste's whip.

"I've never liked the look of you," Celeste said to the kneeling wizard. "I've killed plenty of your kind." She raised her whip and I ran across the room. In one single motion I jumped, grabbed the whip and pulled the elf backwards.

"Thanks," Meris smiled then pointed. "Watch out."

I rolled away from another deadly spittle assault. Amberlee had finally freed Nasher and the two helped to surround the huge creature. I rushed at the creature and stabbed it in the chest… what I figured was a chest. It staggered back.

So it can be physically harmed… good.

"I'll slow it down," Meris said as he sent several magical arrows at the fiend. I continued to stab at its midsection. Amberlee, now with her sword in hand, hacked away at its back and Nasher, well… we didn't need stones he was throwing.

"Do you know how we can kill it?" I asked.

"I don't know…" Amberlee said. "Maybe we could some how unsummon it."

I looked over at my wizard. "That's your department."

Meris effortlessly said a few words and the creature disappeared. If mages have such superior intellects then why in the hell do they perform such brainless acts…

"I got messy and that's all you had to do?" I said shaking the wetness off my boots.

"Hey, I'm not the only one that can cast spells," he said looking at me.

I shrugged, "I forget that at times…"

Crack. Meris' back was engulfed in flames.

Celeste stood up smiling. "I will not be defeated by a bunch of little kids."

I dug my nails into the hilt of Patheon. "And I won't be defeated by an over-arrogant, self-righteous bitch like you."

Celeste spoke and sent a shower of frozen meteors to hurl us down. I dodged the falling stones with ease but after everything went quiet I guessed the rest of my party wasn't as lucky. I knelt and caught my breath as the moon elf approached. I began to sing…

How can you see through closed windows like open doors?

You are so sick to the core,

And you've become so dumb without a soul

You are sleeping in the cold

Until you get a life and leave me the hell alone.

Wake up; go inside.

Wake up; go inside.

Call me no more, come out from the dark

Bid your blood to run, I don't say this for fun.

Save yourself from the nothing you've become.

Now that you know what I'm about,

Will you please leave me

Get away from my window, this is real.

Bring you to die.

"Give it up, little girl, you're no match for me without your little demon."

My demon. My bracelets… it was worth a shot since my life was depending on it. I grabbed my wrist and twisted them lightly…

In an instant, I grew to a colossal size… Tenser Transformation, I remembered. I looked down at the ground and saw my opponent trapped in a thicket of vines… Evard's Black Tentacles. A classic slow-down technique taught to spellcasters. I couldn't figure out what the last spell was, however…

Celeste fired a magic missile at me… I tried to dodge it but with my excessive size I couldn't but watch as the ball approached me and… deteriorated.

Magic Shield… a nice addition since I couldn't get out of a harm's way as easily now. I swung my blade… now altered into a legendary longsword known only as Tenser's Blade… and I sliced through the vines to reveal Celeste.

"How the hell did you do that?" Celeste demanded as she backed up.

"…Magic…" I said. I sliced at her again.

Celeste regained her confidence and produced a cyclone that flung my creeping plants away. I swung my blade again, with all of my determination slicing the elf across her chest. She fell to the ground.

"That's for Meris," I swung the blade the other way, forming a perfect X across her chest, "That's for Amberlee."

"…Please… spare me…" she said, lying on the ground, bleeding.

"Why in the hell should I?"

"Don't end up like me."

Damn, she had a point… this was futile… Amberlee's delicate mind would most likely crumble if I killed her mother… damn it… I hate having a heart.

"You have two seconds to get out of my sight…"

Wake up; go inside.

Wake up; go inside.

Call me no more; come out from the dark.

Bid your blood to run, I don't say this for fun.

Save yourself from the nothing you've become.

Bring you to die.

Frozen outside without my touch without my love

Stalker, nothing makes me gag the way that you do.

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see

Hid in the dark you were there just watching me.

I've ignored you a thousand years it seems.

You were watching me change and everything.

With dirty thoughts, without a voice, without a soul

I'll let you die there, don't watch me anymore.

Bring you to die