Magicman/Smokegirl: Saronax is an ass, and no amount of pain or love can stop that unfortunately. Zake was such a fun character to create. Believe it or not, I actually have friends who are quite similar to him. :)

Finduilas88: Mostly because Immy wasn't there during the main part of the romance in the previous story. She was in Spellhold. :) Plus, I thought it would be amusing if she walked in on them. :D

fat-penguin: Thank you. I'm really glad you like it. :D

Chapter Two

The party made their way towards the temple of Bhaal. The mist surrounding the temple was making Saronax uneasy.

"This is really creepy." Imoen whispered.

Saronax nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, a tall cloaked figure stepped out of the mist. "Stay your weapons." He commanded.

Saronax's jaw dropped in utter shock.

Imoen gasped. "I-It's-"

"Gorion." Saronax finished.

Gorion spoke, "It is I, Saronax, my old ward. Dead, yes, but one can struggle back to the land of the living if the need is great enough… for a time."

"What is it you want?" Saronax asked cautiously.

"You failed!" Gorion cried. "Perhaps I am to blame, for not telling you of your heritage sooner. Perhaps it is my fault for not guiding you through these problems. But I had hoped that my words, my guidance, throughout all of your youth, would be taken more seriously!"

"How have I failed?" Saronax asked in a low, dangerous voice.

"You have succumbed to your taint, child! I had thought you strong enough to resist it, but you fell, as all the weak Children have. You ignored my words, and now you cut a swathe of murder behind you everywhere that you go! Your temper is violent and volatile! Your actions reek of evil!"

"I kill because I have to!" Saronax roared. "Do you truly believe I enjoy all of this bloodshed?"

"I believe you do. You're every bit as foul-tempered as you were a child. I thought my guidance could change you, but now I realize that the taint in you is too strong. Murder follows you wherever you go. You cannot escape it, nor do you want to. Admit it, Saronax!"

Saronax was silent for several seconds. Viconia stepped forward and gently grabbed his arm. "Saronax…?"

Saronax looked up, his eyes smoldering with anger. "Liar. You are not Gorion."

"Is that what you think? Your taint has consumed you. I am not surprised that you have fallen for one as twisted and evil as you!" Gorion said venomously, pointing at Viconia.

Another image suddenly appeared. A grey-eyed male drow took a step forward. Saronax did not know him, but Viconia gasped. "Valas!"

"Why, Viconia?" His voice was a faint whisper. "Why did you lead me to my death?"

"What? I-"

"Silence!" Valas screamed. "You never cared about me. You manipulated me. You used me, Viconia! You used me to save your own selfish skin! I suffered for you! I gave my life for you! And here you are, using another male through your warped concept of love!"

"I-I never asked you to give your life for me." Viconia stammered.

"But I still did! It's your fault that I'm dead! It's your twisted soul that did this to me! And now, I suffer beyond my grave for you! Is this what you wanted?"

"Valas," Viconia's voice started to crack, "I…"

Saronax snarled and stepped forward. "Stop it! I won't let you hurt her! You are merely an illusion! I'll kill you and the bastard who dare calls himself my foster father!"

The image of Gorion smiled. "Ah, you are a clever one." His image started to change, forming that of a wraith. "It shall be a pleasure to feast upon your god-child soul!" He said in a much deeper, demonic voice. The image of Valas changed as well and several shadows appeared.

A battle commenced. The party made short work of the shadows while Saronax and Sarevok took on the wraiths.

Sarevok chuckled as he plunged his sword into the wraith of Gorion. "It's ironic that I get to kill you again. In one form or another."

Saronax swiftly sliced off the wraith of Valas's head. He said nothing as the wraith died, merely took pleasure in the death of the one who had hurt his beloved.

When the battle was over, Saronax surveyed his party. There were several bad injuries, but nothing fatal. He himself sported a number of minor wounds on his arms.

Viconia walked over to Saronax. "Come with me."

"What about everyone else?"

"Jaheira and Aerie can take care of them." Viconia stated.

She led Saronax away from the rest of the party into a more secluded area. The drow bade Saronax to sit down. She roughly began to heal his wounds, her mouth pressed into a firm, angry line.

"Ow! What the hell is wrong?" Saronax cried out.

"Nothing iswrong, ilbith. You havejust become more sensitive to pain." Viconia spat.

"Damn it, Vicky! What's wrong?"

Viconia sighed. "I... was not aware that the sight of my brother would... have this effect upon me. I am ashamed that I showed such weakness! What a mooning, useless cow I have become!"

"Hey," Saronax wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "We can't be strong all the time. What you did is no weakness."

"Believe in the shinys! They empower you! They make you feel like an Amazon! Glamazon even! I AM ZAKE, HEAR ME ROAR!" cried a voice coming from Saronax's waist.

Saronax scowled. "Excuse me for a minute." He stood up. "Sarevok!"

His half-brother turned around.

"Catch!" Saronax cried and threw Zake at him.

"WHEEEEEEEE!" Zake shouted gleefully as he sailed through the air. Sarevok caught the sword and gave Saronax an annoyed glare before turning around.

"As I was saying," Saronax once again wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "What you did was no weakness."

Viconia furiously shoved him away. "Do not coddle me! I should have seen through that blatant attack!" She narrowed her eyes. "I should have known better than to open myself up like this once again! I have become soft because of you, and now we are paying the price!"

Saronax was about say something that he would later regret, but stopped himself just in time. "Why are you acting like this?" He growled.

"I am no simpering human female, Saronax. I have no built-in desire to shower my feelings upon my partner. I am strong because I am drow... because I am steel, honed to the sharpest of blades."

"That's a load of shit." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders for the third time, making sure she wouldn't be able to push him away. "Relax already. You did nothing wrong."

"It was... so difficult to see my brother again. I have not forgotten how he saved my life. I have not forgotten the closeness we shared. To think that he has suffered because of me..."

"He wasn't real, Vicky. Nothing that he said was true."

"Perhaps. Perhaps you speak the truth. I did confess to you that I know little of true closeness with others, did I not? I thought I did, with Valas. But with you, it is most different. I will need you to show me the way in this."

Saronax smiled. "I'll try." He gently kissed her forehead.

Viconia frowned. "Let us move on, then. Remaining here churns my stomach."

XXXXX

Later that evening, the party returned to the pocket plane to set up camp for the night. Imoen had been the first to retire for the evening, claiming that she didn't want to walk in on any more of what she called Saronax and Viconia's 'Sex Olympics'. Soon, everyone had gone to their tents. Except for Viconia and Saronax.

Saronax gazed into the fire, pondering his thoughts. A hand tapped him on the shoulder. He immediately grabbed his spear but stopped when he saw that it was only Viconia. "What do you want?" he asked as he turned around to face her.

She sat down across from him. "I have been thinking about us, my m'rann d'sinss. Perhaps thinking too much. Dwelling on such things leads only to head-aches and confusion, don't you agree?"

Saronax shrugged. "I suppose so."

"I suppose you must have enough to muse over without me adding to your problems, even though I do so enjoy seeing you fume occasionally."

Saronax glared at her. "Lucky me."

She ignored this. "Since you have stopped us for the evening, then, perhaps the time has come to resume our physical relationship. I have... missed you, Saronax. And this, at least, is an arena I feel comfortable in."

Saronax looked at her suspiciously. "Are you sure, Vicky?"

"What do you mean, 'am I sure'? You know that physical intimacy does not carry the emotional baggage for me as it might for you or other surfacers."

"Well, it's a bit hard to forget how you reacted the first time we slept together."

She glared at him. "That was only one time, Saronax. I think things have improved since then."

"Alright then. Just checking."

"I do have... one question... that I would desire an answer to, first, Saronax."

"Is this going to lead to verbal abuse?" Saronax asked warily.

"It may if you keep acting like an imbecile." Viconia snapped.

"Fine. What's your question?"

"Why do you continue to pursue me? I am a drow. I have treated you poorly and am unfamiliar with your ways. You continue to claim interest in me despite the fact that I am no creature to love."

"…Do I really have to answer this?"

"Saronax!"

"Alright! Alright! I'm just trying to figure out how to begin." He cleared his throat. "Why do I continue to pursue you? Because I love you." He reached out and began to stroke her hair. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Your hair is like spun silver, your eyes always remind me of a storm. Fierce and thunderous at first, but gentle and subdued afterwards. I love your personality. You're not afraid to tease me or yell at me, despite my temper. You're harsh and cold at times, but it's only a cover-up. I know that you're really a wonderful woman underneath your icy façade. I love the way you whisper my name in my ear," He gently kissed her neck. "Or scream it out loud and dig your nails into my back." Saronax kissed Viconia's cheeks. "I love waking up and seeing you first thing in the morning, it makes me feel like nothing could ruin my day." He kissed her forehead. "But most of all, I love how incredible you make me feel when I'm with you. And not a day goes by that I don't thank the gods for you, despite your heritage and doubts." He pressed a long kiss to her lips before breaking away. "And to top it all off, the sex is great." Saronax said, grinning.

Viconia smiled. "Hmm. An interesting answer, jaluk. You are full of them, it seems." She stood up and began to lead Saronax to her tent. "Very well, then. Let us get our coupling completed then, shall we? I still wish to get a decent hour's sleep once my dear ssinssrigg has been satisfied."

Saronax reached out and grabbed her arm. "And if you ever repeat anything I just said I WILL strangle you."

Viconia chuckled. "As you wish, Saronax." She gave him a passionate kiss before pushing him into her tent…