shadow0015: (equally sarcastic) you're welcome. (In normal tone) Nat was wearing the Elektra outfit mostly because I was basing her fight scene with Nackor on the rooftop on the fight between Elektra and Bulls-eye in 'Daredevil'. The torture scene turned out pretty well but I think the scene I wrote in 'Through the Eyes of a Conqueror' turned out better. Much more violent, sadistic, and gruesome.

Chapter Nine

A week had passed since Nathyrra's encounter with Nackor. Nathyrra frowned and tried to flex her newly mended fingers. A sharp stab of pain shot through her digits, made worse by Ilivarra swatting her on the head. "I told you not to try and use them." she scolded.

"It's been a week, they should healed by now."

"Patience, Nathyrra, these things take time."

"Well, I'd rather be doing something rather than just sitting around here, waiting to heal."

"Your magic's intact. You could always practice your spells."

"Why don't you tell me more about yourself instead?" Nathyrra suggested.

Ilivarra looked at her. "What do you wish to know?"

"How did you end up joining the red sisters?"

"Like I said, I had no other option."

"There's more to it than that. I wish to know."

"If I tell you, will you quit bothering me about it?" Ili snapped.

"Yes." Nathyrra stated.

"You're an obnoxious little girl at times."

"Thank you." Nathyrra said brightly.

Ilivarra cleared her throat before speaking, "I suppose I should start at the beginning. Like you, I was the daughter of a noble house. My life was relatively normal. I studied magic, worshiped the spider queen, plotted my rise to matron-hood. Then, one day, something happened."

"What happened?"

"Corran Kaseret."

Nathyrra smiled knowingly.

"Corran was slave that my mother purchased. He was a bard, native to the surface of Toril."

"And you fell in love."

"Not at first. At first, I resisted. But he was charming and handsome, and I soon came to love him." Ilivarra smiled wryly. "Those damn surfacer men seem to have a knack for making you forget about your drow principles."

"They do." Nathyrra agreed.

"Unfortunately, my mother knew of our love and opposed it. She tried to tear us apart, but we refused to be separated. Things only worsened when I became pregnant with Corran's child."

Nathyrra winced. "That can't have been good."

"Of course it was not good, fool." Ili spat. "As a final, desperate act, my mother decided to sacrifice him to the spider queen. I tried to save my beloved, it was useless."

"What happened next?"

"I watched as she lifted the ceremonial dagger above him, helpless to do anything. Suddenly, soldiers broke down the door to the room. It was the army of the Valsheress, ready to slaughter their entire rival house." Ilivarra's eyes were distant as she spoke, "During the carnage, I managed to free Corran from the sacrificial altar. The two of us fled my house and barely escaped with our lives."

"Please continue."

"No…I…I do not wish to discuss it anymore. Perhaps later."

XXXXX

The next day, Ilivarra had Nathyrra doing exercises to strengthen her fingers. After several hours, Ili allowed Nathyrra to take a break.

"Ilivarra?"

"Yes?"

"I'd like you to continue your tale." Nathyrra informed her.

"Very well. After the fall of my house, Corran and I sought refuge in many cities, never staying in one place for very long. We had plans to escape to the surface and were heading towards an Underdark exit. My pregnancy slowed our progress, but we were determined."

"So, where is he now? And your child? Come to think of it-"

"Hush, child. I'm getting to that." Ilivarra told her. "My pregnancy was not the only thing that slowed us. The Valsheress sent her red sisters after us, but Corran and I defeated them all. So many in fact, that the Valsheress turned towards mercenaries."

Ilivarra ran her fingers through her hair and continued, "We defeated the mercenaries as well, until…"

"Until?"

"Until we came face-to-face with Korve Besair."

"Who was that?"

"Korve Besair was a half-drow mercenary. Known for his ruthless cruelty, the valsheress had paid him to make us suffer. And suffer we did."

"How?"

"Korve defeated us both with brutal efficiency. Corran lay in a bloody heap on the ground as did I. Korve laughed at Corran and said, 'So long for your daughter' before casting an abortion spell on me. He then raped me, before Corran's very eyes. That's all I can remember before I slipped into unconsciousness." Ilivarra's eyes were hard as diamonds as she said this.

"It's a bit hard to imagine that happening to you." Nathyrra admitted.

"Remember, I was badly injured and on the brink of unconsciousness." Ilivarra reminded her. She continued, "I awoke hours later in a strange place. I had been placed in chains. Corran lay across the room. Korve soon entered and grinned at me. He forced me to watch as he tortured my beloved. Several days later, Corran's heart gave out and he died."

"What did you do?"

"I couldn't do anything. Korve tortured me for days afterward. He finally buried me on the outskirts of town, thinking I was dead. I wasn't however. Working with sheer determination, I dug my way out of the ground. My reason for living was vengeance, and I intended to take it."

"How?"

"First, I joined the red sisters in exchange for the location of Korve. Years later, I proved myself worthy of the information. The valsheress gave me his location and I took bloody revenge for my daughter and beloved. The eyeball that you found the other day is the only thing thast remains of the mercenary."

"What about the locket?"

"It's the only picture I have of Corran. "

"What did you do next?"

"I stayed with the red sisters. Through time and dedication, I made my way to the rank of instructor." She stood up. "Think about what I have told you, Nathyrra." Ilivarra left the room.