Disclaimer:Jarlaxle, Zaknafien, and Matron Baenre do not belong to me. They belong to R.A. Salvatore and Wizard's of the Coast, as does the world and city. No profit is being made off of this.

Author's Note: Marilak is EVIL! I just want to point this out in case it's not obvious. I would also like to note that I am aware of how quickly this jumps in, this is more of a series of scenes in order. If you read my other fanfictions you'll learn more about Marilak. I would also like to note that the first scene is a little gruesome, but not heavily explained.

SECTION 1: An Unexpected Lesson

At sixteen years of age Marilak Baenre cut a fine figure. He had matured quickly and females were beginning to take notice of him.

He didn't seem to notice and it bothered Rhydian, his mother, to no end. This day she glared at her son, who just sat confidently on the desk.

"Mariahan wishes to see you tomorrow evening," she said abruptly.

Marilak didn't even seem to notice.

"Stand!" the female commanded suddenly. Marilak stood.

Rhydian walked up to her son and put a hand on the bulge of his trousers well the other began to undo his shirt.

"What is this?" the young Marilak questioned.

"I want to teach you," was her reply. "Now, take off your shirt!"

Marilak did as he was told. Grinning, Rhydian forced his legs to part. Then, she undid his belt and slid his pants down.

"You're going to…"

Marilak's words caught in his throat as his mother pushed him into the bed and undid her own garb. Before he could move she sat on top of his chest.

Marilak shut the world out as she moved her hands along his body, eliciting pain here, pleasure there. Suddenly, one very sharp jolt of pain came where there should be none. He opened his eyes.

His mother's legs wrapped around his head and he didn't even want to know what she was doing to his nether regions.

He bit her. She yelped and raised her dagger. He kicked her, causing her to reel backwards. He then grabbed her throat. The dagger scratched its mark and he screamed in pain. She fell lifeless on top of him and he felt his own blood.

For a moment he just lay there, then he rolled on top of her and grabbed the dagger from her lifeless hands.

He slashed the dagger across her stomach and washed his hands in blood.

SECTION 2: What Creature is this?

Marilak kneeled before Matron Mother Baenre with so calm an image that even she found it unsettling. This young drow infuriated her. He had just killed a female, and in such a gruesome way! Such a wonderfully, gruesome way!

Baenre pushed that out of her mind, but couldn't help but wonder if Rhydian had been deserving it.

She glared at Marilak for a while more, feeling that he was testing her faith, then, in her most commanding of voices.

"Lay yourself upon the altar."

Marilak looked very briefly into her eyes and for that moment she looked into his. They were red, but not quite the normal shade. They were a rustic red, darker than most other drow's eyes and the exact color of blood.

She forced herself to merely think about the upcoming sacrificed. Most of the time they were major events, but his was not and she would need only herself in attendance.

Or was there another reason for her desire to destroy him quickly?

As Marilak moved toward the altar Matron Mother Baenre realized that this young drow scared her. There was something about him, something very, very wrong.

Marilak lay upon the altar and glared at her, realizing that his life was forfeit anyway, and spread his arms out wide as his grandmother began to chant.

This young one is cruel, he would be perfect to keep an eye on Jarlaxle. He would be a counterpoint to that one's weak heart. No, he had killed a female. Baenre raised the dagger above her head. Then, she stopped.

His hands bled.

For a moment she just looked at the hand closest to her. After a moment she picked up her nerve and followed a droplet of blood to the floor.

For a moment the priestess stood there, unable to move. Then, she lowered her dagger and lifted her head so she could look Marilak in the eyes.

"Off!"

Marilak was confused, and suspicious. What torture could she have prepared?

"Go to your room and pack for travel, you're going to be doing some training with one of your uncles."

Marilak looked at her, but only for an instant. He then scurried off to do as she bade wondering what she had planned.

When the young drow left Matron Mother Baenre circled the altar, and found herself shocked once more.

On one side of the altar was the familiar spider-shaped symbol of Lolth, where is other hand had been and also drawn in blood was the domino mask symbol of Vheraun.

"What creature is this?" she whispered and indeed she wondered. Was he a chosen of Lolth or of the hated enemy Vheraun?