m: 'Word Up' belongs to Korn. 'Poison' belongs to Alice Cooper.

WARNING Contains mature themes.

naradrith: Thank you. :D Yes, she should have won, but Nat isn't perfect. :P

shadow0015: And the interview with Mara Jade on page 23, can't forget that. ;-)

Chapter Eleven

Nathyrra aimed another blow at the combat dummy. She had obtained the dummy four years ago, after her first successful mission as an assassin. Ilivarra had suggested she get one for practice, and the dummy now stood in Nathyrra's apartment. The sound of the doorknob turning made Nathyrra stop her practice. She reached out with her magic and breathed a sigh of relief when she learned that it was only Ilivarra.

Ilivarra walked in, followed by a drow male. Nathyrra blinked, she hadn't sensed the presence of the male. She took a closer look at the male and saw that his eyes were blue, and his hair had been dyed blond."Hello." Nathyrra greeted.

Ilivarra nodded to her. "I'm here to give you the briefing for your next mission."

"You're here in person? I'm surprised."

Ilivarra cleared her throat before speaking, "As you may already know, House Dunetan has become quite the threat to the Valsheress's forces."

Nathyrra nodded. "Go on."

"Your mission is to assassinate Matron Triel's weapon master, Alak."

"What's the catch?"

Ilivarra smirked and gestured to the male. "This is Rico, he'll be helping you."

"With what?"

Rico stepped forward. To Nathyrra's shock, the male kissed her on both cheeks. "It's just FAB to meet you." His gaze raked over Nathyrra. "Yes…she will do."

"Ilivarra…"

"You shall be my masterpiece!" Rico circled around Nathyrra. "My crowning achievement!"

"What the hell are you doing?"

Rico wagged his finger at her. "No. No. We do not say 'what the hell are you doing', we say," He put on a very feminine, very seductive tone, " 'What are you up to?'" He giggled.

Nathyrra arched an eyebrow. "Wait-"

"How would you feel about breast enhancers?"

"How would you feel about a disintegration spell being cast on your genitals?"

"I'm open to it. It sounds a bit exotic. Like my last boyfriend." Rico winked at Nathyrra. "His accent could make you melt like a daiquiri on a hot, tropical day. And that body…yum."

Nathyrra turned towards her former teacher. "What is going on?"

"You see, recently, Alak brought much favor to House Dunetan. Triel has decided to reward him by holding a party in his honor. She has also purchased several surfacer females as slaves to perform. Alak is quite fond of exotic dancers…."

Nathyrra gaped at her. "You can't be serious."

"You must seduce him into taking you back to his chambers. That is the place where you will be able to kill him."

Rico had taken out a tape measurer and was taking Nathyrra's measurements. Nathyrra glared at Ili. "Great. Why don't we just throw in the courtesan blade and label me, 'Nathyrra, full-time assassin, part-time whore'."

"You won't be using knives."

"Then how will I kill him?"

"I'll explain that later. For now, let Rico prepare you."

Rico reached out and grabbed Nathyrra's butt. "You need to tighten this up. Okay, honey?"

Shocked and angry, Nathyrra punched him in the face.

"OW!" Rico clutched his face. "Oh my gods! Oh my gods! I think she broke something! Oh my gods!"

Ilivarra frowned at Nathyrra as she handed Rico a healing potion.

"He just grabbed my ass!" Nathyrra shouted indignantly.

"Oh for the gods' sakes, sweetie, it's for your own good." Rico assured her. He took a mirror out of his pocket and peered into it. "Ugh. I hope concealer can cover that."

Ilivarra glared at Nathyrra. "You're going to have to get used to men grabbing you there if you're going to complete this mission."

Nathyrra stared at her hopelessly.

Now recovered, Rico walked over to Nathyrra. "Okay. I have the PERFECT outfit in mind for you!" Nathyrra could only let out a slight whimper as Ilivarra and Rico dragged her into the other room.

"Ili! Get me an iced vente decaf caramel macchiato! This is gonna take a long time!" Rico stated.

Nathyrra groaned.

XXXXX

"Remember, shake your booty when you dance. Alak didn't come to some school performance by five-year-old children. He wants to see exotic dancers." Rico declared as he placed hair extensions on Nathyrra.

"I need a drink." Nathyrra muttered.

"No. You are on a strict, low-carb, low-fat diet." Rico reminded her.

Nathyrra glared at Ilivarra.

Ilivarra shrugged. "It was either this or stripper."

"And your boobs are no where near the usual size required for that job." Rico added.

Nathyrra glared at him.

Rico pretended not to notice. "Now then, Ili, what do you think Alak's type is? Wilting Flower, Bright and Bubbly, or Smoldering Temptress?"

"Smoldering temptress." Ilivarra said wickedly.

"I'll set you on fire. How's that for smoldering?" Nathyrra snapped.

"Ooh! You are a feisty little thing! You need to smile more though. He leers at you, you smile. He pinches you, you smile. He says, 'Are your pants made of glass? Because I can see myself in them', you smile. He invites you to his chambers, you smile." Rico said, smiling.

"I would absolutely love to hurt you right now." Nathyrra said.

"As long as you smile." Rico said, grinning.

Nathyrra rolled her eyes and addressed Ilivarra again. "I am NOT sleeping with Alak."

"You don't have to. All you have to do is kiss him on the lips."

"Why?" Nathyrra asked suspiciously.

"So that you can poison him."

Nathyrra grimaced.

"It's the only way, Nathyrra."

"I know. I'll do it."

"Well, you could use knives but they don't go well with the outfit." Rico stated.

XXXXX

"I refuse to wear this."

"Why?" Rico and Ili asked in unison.

Nathyrra pointed at herself. Her torso was covered by a red shirt and black bodice. The garments were low-cut and left her shoulders, navel, and the top of her chest exposed. Her pelvis would have been covered in nothing but a black pair of underwear were it not for the two long pieces of crimson and black cloth that stretched from her waist to her ankles and from her lower back to her ankles. A pair of black and red gloves stretched to the middle of her biceps and a pair of black and scarlet boots stretched up to mid-thigh.

"Why not?" Ilivarra asked.

"Red is so your color." Rico declared.

"I haven't felt this naked in public since I was coming out of my mother's crotch."

"Charming." Rico said sarcastically. "We're going to work on your manners afterwards."

"It's not…that bad." Ilivarra said.

"You look HOT."

"I look like a Valsheress wannabe."

"Which is why we're going to dye your hair and skin next."

XXXXX

"How do I look?" Nathyrra asked several hours later. Her hair had been dyed dark red and her skin, white. Her ears were now round and human. She wore the same outfit.

"Like a surfacer whore." Ilivarra said flatly.

Nathyrra grinned brilliantly. "PERFECT!"

Rico stepped out from behind her. He wiped at tear-filled eyes. "It's so beautiful. My art, my masterpiece…" He sniffed. "I have successfully transformed her from hardcore bitch into surfacer sex-slave!"

Nathyrra looked at him. "You like designing whore outfits?"

"It's not the whore look, it's the concept of transformation. You look like a slut, but I make that look good."

XXXXX

Nathyrra took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. Except my dignity.

Nathyrra and the other dancers stepped onto the stage. The music began to play and the women began to dance.

Yo pretty ladies around the world
Got a weird thing to show you
So tell all the boys and girls
Tell your brother, your sister and your mamma too
We're about to go down
And you know just what to do
Wave your hands in the air like you don't care
Gilde by the people as they start to look and stare
Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance quick mamma
Come on baby tell me what's the word

A drow male caught Nathyrra's eye. It was Alak. Nathyrra smiled maliciously and made her way towards him.

Word up everybody say
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the call word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard

She started to dance in front of him. His eyes followed her everymove, mesmerized.

Now all you sucker DJ's who think you're fly
There's got to be a reason and we know the reason why
You try to put on those airs and you act real cool
But you got to realize that you're acting like fools
If there's music we can use it
Be free to dance
We don't have the time for psychological romance
No romance, no romance, no romance for me mamma
Come on baby tell me what's the word

Nathyrra smiled and bent down, tracing her finger down his face and giving him a rather nice view of her cleavage. He stared at her, his eyes burning with lust. Nathyrra forced herself to smile. It's worth it. It's worth it. Think about Nackor's head on a pike. It's worth it. It's worth it.

Word up everybody say
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the call word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard

Word up everybody say
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the call word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard

Word up everybody say
When you hear the call you've got to get it underway
Word up it's the call word
No matter where you say it you know that you'll be heard

The song ended and the dancers went backstage. Awhile later, someone tapped Nathyrra on the shoulder. She turned around.

Alak smiled lecherously and extended his hand. "Alak."

Nathyrra shook it. "Zarra."

XXXXX

Alak led Nathyrra to his chambers. He grinned. "Come in, Zarra."

As soon as Nathyrra entered the room, Alak grabbed her. He kissed her neck, making his way down her collarbone.

Damn it woman, you're pretending to be a concubine, now act like it! Nathyrra smiled and placed her hands on his back, gently massaging his shoulder blades and gradually making her way down his back. Alak looked up. Nathyrra mentally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he was going to kiss her lips. Instead, Alak bit her earlobe, drawing blood. Nathyrra gritted her teeth. Kiss. My. Lips. You. Little. Bastard.

Alak placed one hand on Nathyrra's butt, greedily groping. It took every ounce of restraint that Nathyrra had to keep from kicking him as she gently bit his neck. Alak slowly pushed her backwards onto his bed, licking her cheek and placing his hand on her thigh as he hovered over her.

Nathyrra's eyes widened as his thigh started moving too far inward for her tastes. Vith this. Nathyrra grabbed Alak by the hair and pressed a forceful kiss to his lips. He met her with equal aggression, prodding her lips apart and shoving his tongue into her mouth. Slowly, he went limp.

Nathyrra smiled and pushed him off of her. He stared at her, his scarlet eyes wide with shock.

Nathyrra grinned viciously. "It's interesting how fate's poisonous kiss can attack us at any time." She purred softly. Her skin and hair slowly turned back to their normal colors.

He gaped at her. "You...you're an assassin!"

"Oh don't look at me like that. You should know how easy it is to poison lipstick as long as the wearer is immune to its affects."

Alak started choking. "You…poisonous…bitch." He spat out before his eyes glazed over and his heart stopped.

Nathyrra smiled humorlessly and started to leave. The voice had returned.

Your cruel device
Your blood, like ice
One look could kill
My pain, your thrill

I want to love you but I better not touch (Don't touch)
I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much)
I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins
You're poison, I don't want to break these chains

Your mouth, so hot
Your web, I'm caught
Your skin, so wet
Black lace on sweat

I hear you calling and it's needles and pins (And pins)
I want to hurt you just to hear you screaming my name
Don't want to touch you but you're under my skin (Deep in)
I want to kiss you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins
You're poison, I don't wanna break these chains
Poison

One look could kill
My pain, your thrill
I want to love you but I better not touch (Don't touch)
I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much)
I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins
You're poison, I don't wanna break these chains
Poison

I want to love you but I better not touch (Don't touch)
I want to hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I want to kiss you but I want it too much (Too much)
I want to taste you but your lips are venomous poison, yeah
I don't want to break these chains
Poison, oh no
Runnin' deep inside my veins,
Burnin' deep inside my veins
It's poison
I don't wanna break these chains
Poison