M: 'My Plague' belongs to Slipknot.

shadow0015: Ili did get her vengeance. That's why she has the eyeball. Thought I clarified that…oh well.

Chapter Ten

Nathyrra surveyed her new apartment. It was a small place, only one or two rooms. Several pieces of furniture decorated the room. Nathyrra smiled humorlessly and placed her bag on the floor. Home Sweet Home…sort of. She flexed her completely healed fingers.

The sound of a wisp buzzing pierced the silence of the room. Nathyrra answered the wisp. "Hello?"

"Your first mission will take place tonight." A voice responded.

Nathyrra recognized the voice. "Ilivarra?"

"Indeed. Just because you've graduated doesn't mean that you've gotten rid of me." Ilivarra continued, "You are to infiltrate House Ardal. Once inside, you must assassinate the second daughter of Matron Aunrae. Her name is Sabrae."

"Sounds easy. What aren't you telling me?"

"Though Ardal is only a minor house, it is still well-guarded. You must not alert the guards to your presence or else your mission will be forfeit. Also, Sabrae is well-known for her interest in the pleasurable arts, so it's possible that you may have to kill whatever male is in her bed as well."

She sounds like Zarra. "Very well. I have no more questions."

"Good. I suggest you start preparing yourself."

Nathyrra ended the connection and walked over to her bag. She started to don her armor. The neckpiece was made of chain-mail and had a red and black cloth base. The torso was mostly chain with red leather surrounding the stomach. It stretched down to a red and black belt. The pants were made of chain and cloth as well. The gauntlets were crimson with dark spider symbols decorated all over. Several spikes protruded from the shoulder pieces. Normally, such armor would not have been considered very stealthy but this set had several spells which allowed it to be as silent as its wearer.

Nathyrra took some of her hair and created a small braid which hung next to her left eye. She tied a red cloth over her mouth as a final touch and left.

XXXXX

House Ardal was an intimidating place. The fortress was surrounded by a tall fence; dozens of guards patrolled the area.

Sabrae's room is in the main tower, ten stories up, Nathyrra noted as she crept towards the fence. Casting a spell of invisibility, Nathyrra scaled the fence and dropped into the courtyard below. Unfortunately, she accidentally stepped on a rock as she took a step forward.

One of the soldiers immediately turned around. Nathyrra held perfectly still, not placing too much trust in her invisibility spell. After several seconds, the soldier frowned and turned back around.

Nathyrra made her way towards the tower. He began to scale the building. A memory flashed through her mind as she did so.

"Now then, I am going to teach you how to scale a wall with no ladder, magic, suction cups, etc." Ilivarra stated.

Nathyrra arched an eyebrow.

Ilivarra narrowed her eyes at her student. "Do not look at me like that, Alurl Faen. It is possible." To prove her point, Ilivarra ran towards the stone wall of the training room and pulled herself all the way to the top of the wall before dropping onto the ground. She looked at her astonished student. "Now you try, Alurl Faen."

"But-"

"Do it, al'vur."

Nathyrra scowled and walked over to the wall. She managed to reach a distance of two meters before falling onto the ground. Ilivarra smirked, "Try again."

Nathyrra gritted her teeth and tried again.

Several hours later, Nathyrra had gotten the gist of it. She grinned as she scaled the entire wall.

Ilivarra grinned back and threw a lighting bolt at her.

Nathyrra yelped in surprise and dropped to the ground, landing unceremoniously on her butt. "What the hell was that for!" she shouted indignantly as she stood up.

"You can scale the wall. Now you'll learn how to scale while dodging attacks. Try again."

"No. I refuse to continue this." Nathyrra said defiantly and crossed her arms over her chest.

Ilivarra sighed. "Very well then." She threw another bolt at Nathyrra. This one hit her directly in the butt. "OW!" Nathyrra cried out.

"Get moving, al'vur." Ilivarra commanded, throwing continuous bolts at Nathyrra's backside and moving her in the direction of the wall.

A few hours passed before Ilivarra allowed a break. Nathyrra was spread out on the floor, her backside facing the ceiling. A pained expression adorned her face.

"How do you feel?" Ili asked wickedly.

"I can't feel my ass." Nathyrra let out a whimper. "Ohh I can't feel my ass!" she moaned.

"Well, that's all we'll do for today. Good night, Alurl Faen." Ilivarra walked towards the door, accidentally-on-purpose stepping on Nathyrra's backside.

XXXXX

Nathyrra crept into Sabrae's room. Sabrae was sleeping peacefully, a male lying next to her. Nathyrra silently slit Sabrae's throat. She was about to do the same to the male when an idea formed in her mind. She cut off a lock of Sabrae's hair before gingerly placing the knife in the male's hand.

XXXXX

Ilivarra was at the apartment when Nathyrra arrived. "How'd it go?" Ilivarra asked as she flipped through a magazine called 'Popular Assassination'.

Nathyrra pulled the lock of hair out of her pocket. Ilivarra nodded to her. "Good job. Go get some rest. And when you wake up, you should read this magazine. They have the most fascinating article on dismemberment. Did you know that it's possible to make that a woman is never a woman again with only a few knives?"

"I'll keep that in mind." Nathyrra said as she walked towards the bedroom.

Ilivarra watched as her former student walked away. She's on the path to becoming a true killer…

XXXXX

The dream returned. Nathyrra once again walked across the shadowy plane. When she turned around, Seelamin stood behind her. This time however, Nackor stood with him. The dwarf grinned and plunged a dagger into Seelamin's chest.

Nathyrra snarled and ran towards Nackor. An incredible rush of satisfaction raced through her veins as she plunged her knife into Nackor's chest. Nathyrra turned around and what she saw made her yes widen and her smile drop.

A duplicate of Nathyrra stood behind the original. They were identical except for the clone was wearing much darker armor and her eyes glowed crimson.

The blue-eyes Nathyrra frowned. Though she could not explain it, she knew that the crimson-eyed drow was a duplicate of herself. When she spoke, it was not her own voice.

I'm in conniptions
For the final act
You came here for

The crimson one smiled.

The one derivative
you manage is the
One I abhor

The original glared at the duplicate.

I need a minute to elaborate
For everyone the
Everyday bullshit things
That you have done

The duplicate sneered and pulled out a dagger

Your impossible ego
Fuck is like a
Megalomaniacal tab
On my tongue

Nathyrra shot the clone a death glare and unsheathed a dagger of her own.

You fuckin' touch me
I will rip you apart

The crimson ran towards the original.

I'll reach in and take
A bite out of that shit
You call a heart...

The blue-eyed drow blocked the red-eyed drow's attack.

I don't mind being ogled
Ridiculed
Made to feel minuscule

The clone swung at Nathyrra.

If you consider the source
It's kinda pitiful

Nathyrra dodged the attack and thrust at the duplicate's stomach.

The only thing you really
Know about me is
That's all you'll ever know

The duplicate ducked and kicked at the original.

I know why you blame me
(Yourself)

Nathyrra jumped to avoid the kick.

I know why you plague me
(Yourself)

The crimson aimed a blow at Nathyrra's head

I'm turning it around
Like a knife in the shell

Nathyrra dodged.

I wanna understand why
But I'm hurting myself

The crimson attempted to stab Nathyrra's thigh.

I haven't seen a reasons
To stop it

Nathyrra blocked the attack and countered it with a thrust to the crimson's chest

I can't just drop it

The crimson took a step backwards the avoid the strike.

I'm just a bastard
But at least I admit it
At least I admit it

The crimson's dagger bit into Nathyrra's shoulder. She grinned maliciously.

I know why you blame me
(Yourself)

Nathyrra ignored the pain and continued to fight.

I know why you plague me
(Yourself)

The crimson increased the speed of her blows.

Kill you

Nathyrra shot her a defiant glare.

Fuck you
I will never be you

The crimson struck at Nathyrra's collarbone.

Kill you

Nathyrra blocked.

F you
I will never be you

The crimson attacked again. Nathyrra snarled and became even more aggressive.

I can't fuckin' take it
Anymore
A snap of the synapse
And now it's fuckin' war

The crimson swung.

Kill you

Nathyrra knocked the knife out of the crimson's hand.

Fuck you

Nathyrra slit her clone's throat.

I will never be you

XXXXX

Nathyrra woke up in a cold sweat. What was that? She lay back on the pillow, about to try and fall back asleep, though she knew it was useless with the memory of the dream fresh in her mind.