It was the first time I had seen Sauron nervous. He didn't pace about or stammer, nothing like that, but there was fear in his eyes. We stood in an antechamber waiting for me to be introduced to the Dark Lord Melkor.
'How can you be so calm, Nurtahuinen? If he is not satisfied with you he might kill you.'
'I know he will be satisfied with what he sees.'
I was indeed confident. For years he had been preparing me for this and what would hopefully follow - my duties. My body was ten times stronger than it had been, my wings could lift four times my weight and still fly faster than before the training I had gone through in Sauron's hands. He had equipped me with armour made of the skin of great lizards and a helmet carved of the iron-hard skull of some horned monster. I also possessed a longsword I had named Sercëyulmo, Blood-drinker. All my new powers came from the blood of other creatures, some I had killed, some still alive, slaves or imprisoned spirits who were kept alive only to provide Sauron and me with the mighty magic that is found in the blood of sentient beings.
Finally the door opened and I walked to the throne. I knelt down in obeisance; Sauron remained standing.
'What have you brought me now?' The Voice asked. Not even Manwë had a voice like his - every word he said became a word of power by him saying it. His choice of words transformed me into an object devoid of free will. Sauron spoke, and I could hear he too was in the thrall of Melkor's words.
'Her name is Nurtahuinen. She used to serve Manwë but has now offered herself to serve you instead. I have made her a vampire and trained her to kill.'
'You may rise, woman of secret shadow.'
I stood up, keeping my head down.
'You may look at me.'
And so I looked and saw him. He was proud and he was noble, and his eyes were the cruellest eyes I ever saw. I feared him and feared to show my fear.
'Nurtahuinen, you are indeed a beautiful one. I know why Sauron thinks so highly of you. However, from me you shall have no secrets. You did not come here to serve me, did you?'
'N-no, my lord. I came to seek revenge for the wrong done to my lover, Fanian. But I have changed my mind. I am yours now.'
'A mind so easily changed can be changed again. However, I know about the incident you mention, and it took place without my approval.'
A hope was kindled deep within my heart. I kept it covered, away from my eyes. Melkor's every word was truth. Could it be that even his darkness had limits, and the spirit who had raped my lover had crossed them? Had he been punished?
'I will deliver the culprit into your hands. You may do with him whatever you wish.'
I was shown to a dungeon full of tools for all manners of torture. A naked man was chained to the wall by his hands and feet, so that he could scarcely move. Two lesser valaraukar, his keepers, awaited my orders. I looked at the man. He was tall and muscular, huge in all aspects; horns grew on his head and his eyes shone like red fire.
I picked a whip and smiled.
'How nice to meet you at last. I am your nemesis.'