After gathering the food and supplies we would need, and bidding farewell to our allies, Duke and I would make our way to the city gates. With the city still slumbering late into the morning, we found it rather easy to slip passed the guards, and onto the road.

Though that first step onto it, I did find surprisingly difficult to make. Looking back at the gates, and the fog settling over the city that morning, almost wrapping around it like a blanket.

"It's almost like it's swallowin' the city," Duke mentioned, unintentionally causing me to almost turn back as though I could stop it somehow.

Until he quickly, but carefully took me by the hand, to draw my attention back to the task at hand. An encouraging smile drawn on his face, he said, "We have to go forward, before we can go back, Lady Heart."

Giving a nod, I took a deep breath, and together we took that first step. The plan was to head to the next town to see if we could perhaps gain some allies, and practice my budding magic along the way.

His voice emerged in a soft tone from the mists before me as I finished reading that entry, "The true beginnin'."

"After all that happened, do you regret it?" I asked curiously.

"Nah. No matter what has become of me, I would never change takin' on that quest with her. For it gave me the chance to be somethin' I'd never believed I could be."

"What's that?"

"Well, continue to listen, an' I might give ya that answer?" he prompted teasingly.

"Of course," I requested.

With a quick breath taken and released, he would oblige again, weaving his tale for me to listen on to.

After leaving town, we realized it would be a good few days on foot to reach the next one. We managed to flag down a traveling merchant to buy some supplies. At points the salesman would eye Heart with some vague curiosity blended with weariness. I wondered what about her was causing this, even with the comments I'd heard since meeting her. Nonetheless, we continued our way along the dusty path. Camping under the stars, avoiding beasts we'd come across, and just generally getting to know one another. Even if it was just bare bones understanding, it was something. Heart didn't talk much about her upbringing, the magic she'd learned from her mentor thus far, or anything else like that. Though she did seem quite intrigued to hear of my adventures, lifting gems and other items from those that didn't really need them.

"I think we'll be there by tomorrow afternoon at this pace," I mentioned while looking at the wooden sign at a fork in the road we'd been walking on, "Looks like Notsob is the nearest town? We can resupply an' get some rest at an inn at least?"

"Then?" Heart asked.

I shrugged, "That's up to you really Heart. We need to try an' find answers to what ya are, an' hopefully find friends along the way that might be able to help."

I risked a glance to see a look of unease in her eyes. I was about to try and inquire as to the cause of it, when the drumming of thunder caught our attention. Turning our gaze to the sky, in a not so distant view, we could see the thick storm front drawing nearer.

"We need to find some shelter an' quick," I said while looking around.

Our search brought us to the mouth of a cave, hidden well among some trees and boulders that would be the start of a mountain trail. Heart had found it as she followed traces of the path to the rockier land that took place of the grassy terrain. Making our way a bit further inside, we then set up camp. While she set out our beds, I gathered some firewood. I had just made it back in time to avoid the down pour trailing my steps. Once the fire was lit, I started preparing our meal. As I did, I noticed Heart looking over the cavern wall with her arms folded over her chest. With the soft warmth of the flames illuminating the cave, I could see her shivering right down to her very shadow attached to her.

"The fire will help," I mentioned, drawing her attention from the narrow tunnel we now both noticed, "With keepin' warm an' otherwise."

"I don't hear anything else in here at least," she said while walking over and crouching down to warm herself near the fire, "Then again the creatures that live here may dwell deeper in."

After a few silent moments, I started to wonder again. Heart would certainly talk with me, but there was a withdrawn nature to her. What words she offered were generally in regards to our well being; directions, how to deal with some terrain, preparing meals, supplies we needed to acquire in the next town, setting up camp, etc. Yet any trace of the woman I'd started to get to know in the city would come forth. Her personally refusing to ever come forth. No matter my attempts; even now as we looked out at the cave mouth and into the storm beginning to trap us in for the night, "It's kinda cozy in a way, bein' trapped in here like this with an open fire."

"Is it?" she asked.

"Ya tell me, Heart?" I prompted hopefully.

She looked out at the pouring rain, now joined by flashes of brief light and roaring thunder raising it's voice.

"Do you think it will pass in time for us to get there tomorrow? We're running low on supplies," my hopes sank a bit as she answered.

"Heart, I know you're worried 'bout Waterdeep; but you're allowed to enjoy this at least a little?" I raised a brow.

She looked to me, seeming a bit thrown off by this remark.

"No, that's not what I was trying to say," she told me, "I just know we don't have much food left, and I'm sure you'd prefer to be in a town again than out in the wilderness like this."

"What makes ya say that?"

"The adventures you shared with me," she replied.

"Heart, I'm on an adventure right now, an' I'm havin' quite a bit of fun on it. I think it'd be better though if you'd talk with me though?" I told her.

"I am talking with you?"

"Heart, you know what I mean," I pushed back with a slight loss in patience.

She recoiled a little bit, telling me I was right.

"What happened to the side of ya that comes out when you're wearin' a mask? The brave, excited woman I saw traces of in that hidden away study? The one interested in dragons, an' let me near her in the first place?" I questioned.

"Duke...I-"

Thunder drowned out whatever it was attempting to say. Then she looked away from me, staring into the fire instead. It seemed that would be my answer, and I gave up for the moment. Though I would notice her burying her face into her arms as they hugged her knees close to her chest. I decided it might be better to let her be, and focused on making our meal.

As the rain poured on, we listened to whatever it had to say. The fire would crackle brief comments from time to time. I'd been in plenty of long silent moments like this before, but this one seemed to go on without end. Though clearly she was used to this as well. Too used to it, even for a thief like myself.

After a while longer of this, I noticed her looking at the backs of her hands; her expression that of uncertainty.

"Is somethin' wrong?" I asked.

"I don't really know," she said while looking over her wrists a bit now, scratching at something.

Finally I got up and stepped around the fire to kneel down in front of her. Not giving her a chance to recoil, I caught one of her hands and looked at it myself. Upon her skin, I saw the cause of her distraction. From the back of her hand up along her wrists, to just below her elbows, a casing of had begun to form. The blue scales from before were emerging gradually, hardening and sparkling as sapphire bracers she couldn't remove.

"They're pretty," I offered, "I guess this has to do with the magic in your blood?"

"I suppose so...?" she replied uneasily.

I risked brushing a hand along them to make sure they weren't hurting her in any way. My fingers glided along them, smoothly running up her arm and back to her hand that I held a moment longer.

"Does it scare ya?" I asked, "Havin' yourself change like this?"

She shrugged, and I sighed with slight exasperation, "Heart...-?"

Before I could finish, we both turned to hear the sudden skittering of a multi legged creature scurrying away before just catching the sound of gems gently clinging against the other. It had come from my pack and then gone down the tunnel.

"Everything accounted for?" Heart asked as I checked my bag.

"A few gems are missin'," I mentioned, before feeling through it to sigh with relief as my fingers grasped a particular shape.

"Seems we're not alone after all?" I mentioned as we both got up to follow after the skittering continuing down the natural hallway of rock and dirt.

The low light of the fire helped with this for a little while. With it, I could adjust my vision some. However, I could feel the slight strain in my remaining eye as it grew darker and it tried to make up for both. If I'd been in a manor using the dark and my other senses instead, it would be different. This was a new environment for me, with different sorts of things to try and find, and identify if they were a danger or not.

Though the continued skittering helped with some of this. Eventually, we found a small opening along the tunnel, leading into a circular pocket of a cavern. As I brushed my hand against the wall, I felt something very familiar as they clattered gently into each other. Taking a closer look, I would pick up the feint shapes of gems piled together, or more so arranged. I also managed to catch sight of a similar formation starting to move, pulling my hand away before what looked like a needle like appendage could sting it.

"What is it?" Heart inquired when she saw this.

"Not sure? Can I get some light?"

She offered her lantern we'd chosen not to use thus far, for concern of scaring whatever it was away. Upon lighting it, and turning it towards the wall, we found the shifting creature busy at work rearranging it's pile. It was an odd looking thing in it's own right, with gems formed to make itself up. It's basic shape was that of a scorpion, complete with the tail that had nearly stung me.

"What is it doin'?" I inquired as it seemed to ignore us to continue it's work.

"It didn't like that you moved it's pile," Heart mentioned while watching it carefully.

She then smiled and suggested, "Maybe it's trying to make a friend?"

However as we looked closely at the still formation, it was easy to realize, "It's missin' a piece for the head."

Quite willingly, I slipped my hand into the pouch on my belt, avoiding the shape of the gem I couldn't afford to give up, and found another. Upon retrieving the small emerald, I cautiously set it down before the clicking pincers of the scorpion. It jumped at the gentle clanking of the gem against the cave wall, before investigating what it was. Once it seemed to realize what it was, it immediately attached it to the rest of the pile. With a sudden sting of it's own tail touching the head of the makeshift creature before it, the other set of gems sprang to life!

"That's the last of 'em from the manor," I sighed, before giving a shrug, "I'd say this was a good use for it though."

Heart smiled in agreement, and I found my own smirk returning, "I'm sure I could acquire some more when the opportunity arises."

I then looked to the side, noticing another tunnel leading further into the cave. Curiosity pulled at me as I could hear the storm behind us picking up in strength.

"That was quite kind of you," I remarked as he told me about the scorpion.

"Yeah?" he asked in a bit of surprise.

Looking over the pages, "She seems to have agreed."

"May ya tell me what else she thought that night? I'm afraid some of it is a bit foggy as I try to remember...?"

"Of course," I replied while turning the page, before asking, "Let's see if we can piece it together then?"

"I'll try," he said as we continued with my lead.

I turned as Duke did, watching as he stepped closer to that tunnel and peeked down it a bit.

"It's better than sittin' around at least," he mentioned before looking to me, "Unless there's somethin' else you'd rather share with me?"

I looked to him in puzzlement, only to see him shake his head, "I guess not."

With that, he waved for me to follow him as we started down that narrow tunnel. His lean frame slipped along those walls with ease, and my own small form followed even easier than his had. This time I kept the lantern going as we walked further along that passage, careful to not brush the walls if there were more of those creatures scurrying about.

Though as we walked further down, I could feel a chill run up along my spine. Looking over my shoulder, I found nothing there. Yet I could have sworn I'd heard murmurs of a voice. It was during this distraction that I would look away again, not seeing what was ahead of us.

Suddenly, there was a gasp for air from the thief before me. Quickly turning to him, I would see Duke clawing at a tendril that had slithered down around his neck to pull him upward.

"Duke!" I exclaimed while trying to think of how to get him down.

His nails dug into the rubbery flesh of the creature holding him. This did little, as he was pulled further up. I looked overhead to see a pale, long tendril limbed creature, with a wide open maw snarling at his prey. Shining the light caused little harm, as it only turned away to protect it's dark eyes.

As this went on, I could hear those murmurs again, taunting me as I watched my friend struggle and gasp for air.

That's when the light of my lantern was caught by the scales on my arm, and the only thing I could think of sparked in my head. Before it could pull him up any further, I grasped a hold of that long pale limb and bit into it with my own nails.

"Let him go!" I commanded in a growl, as a burst of electricity emerged from that hand, rushing up that held onto arm.

The beast screeched as it pulled back it's arm out of instinct. Beside me, Duke dropped to his knees while grasping at his throat, his lungs begging for air. As he gathered himself, I placed a hand on his back to try and help, while keeping a close eye on the ceiling. The growling creature let out another pained, hungry cry before scurrying away into an above network of tunnels. Only when it grew silent, did I look to Duke as he caught his breath finally.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He gave a smile, "Thanks to you, sweetheart."

I shyed away at this remark. Though I did remain beside him as he got to his feet. He then admitted with some hesitation at first, "It slipped over my right when I turned around..."

"You got quite a spark to ya," he teased.

When I stepped back slightly from this, he shook his head, giving a sigh of sorts, "At least I got to see it for a moment?"

He held out his hand, offering to take the lamp, "It might help to make sure somethin' like that doesn't happen again?"

I nodded and handed him the metal hooded lantern, suggesting, "It might be best to head back and get some rest?"

I then glanced up to see the trickle of blood along his neck, left from the bite of claws at the end of that tendril. Concern must have shown in my eyes, for he shrugged and said, "I've been through worse."

"That's not the point," I said, "I don't..."

For a moment he looked almost hopeful to hear what it was I was going to say. What I wanted to say to him. Yet I found my attention pulled away when the whispers reached my ears again, growing louder with every passing second. However, Duke never seemed to hear them.

"What do we have here? Quite a lively creature aren't you?"

"Is it a warrior wielding that strength...or a beast?Either way...you will be the final piece I need..."

I tried to ignore these etched out words in my mind. To try and get away from this, I reached for Duke's hand only to pause. Instead I balled my hands into fists, and stepped by him to lead the way back.

"Heart? Is somethin' wrong?" he asked.

I wanted to say something, but another side of me kept me from this. It was just as well wasn't it? While I believed his eagerness to help, I found it rather difficult to reach out to him, even now?

"Don't get attached, remain free from any binds that could be severed..."

These truths echoed through my head, and reached down to my chest. Hands I couldn't see grasped onto me, as though my own shadow were embracing me. That shroud neither of us could see latched on, and wove the words that dug into me, breaking away what little of a connection I felt trying to hold onto the rogue behind me.

"Listen well..." I couldn't ignore it, my voice silenced in this brief moment, "As two sides of the mirror that is who you are, become separate. Let those two sides clash and collide, until only one is left. Will it be the warrior, or the beast I sense rampaging inside of you? Either way, I will drain away what remains. Of course, after I've had my fun, my pretty, shattered doll."

In that instant, I felt a tear in my chest that brought my steps to a sudden halt.

"Heart?!" Duke questioned sharply, "Heart what's wrong?!"

I pulled away quickly as soon as he placed his hands on my shoulders. He stepped back as though I'd bitten him, but otherwise didn't move away.

"As for this thief you want to pull away from...perhaps I should assist?...or is it that you don't want him to leave...I could help with that as well...?"

It was only now that I caught sight of it on the wall, the spindly appendages of ebony reaching for Duke's shadow as it remained latched onto my own. Pulling away only made it stretch it's limb further.

"Stop!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the tunnels.

Duke looked to me a bit shocked by this outburst.

After a few tense quiet moments, I stepped further back to make sure there was a clear divide of light between us where our shadows stood. The creature from before seemed to have pulled back to keep the rogue from catching on. This worked, as Duke's eye narrowed in frustration, "Heart...I'm tryin' to be understandin'...I really am. I know a lot's happened to ya lately, an' it's hard to trust others now...but this I just don't get?"

"Duke-"

"What?! What are you not gonna actually tell me now?" he tried not to snap.

At these words, my chest ignited with a hot pressure. Electricity ran through my veins. My own eyes narrowed as I looked up at him with a growl in my voice, "Stay away!"

Shaking his head, Duke about pushed passed me, and began to lead the way back to camp, "Alright, Heart. I will."

While I wrestled with the need to obey the being trying to puppet me, Duke walked further away. Inside my split core, I felt the two sides clashing at this very sight. The anger in me boiled, convincing me I didn't need such a companion. Yet the confusion in me demanded to know why he was walking away? I wanted him to know exactly the danger I could become, to be wary of the scales shimmering to hint at the power I could wield. That side began to win out, as I followed behind him with a glare in my eyes. Finally, what ever reserve I had to keep this side away was shoved away, as I heard the storm still rampaging outside in the closing distance.

When we reached the mouth of the cave, we found the fire had grown weaker from the damp cold trying to snuff it out. Duke went to add some dry branches and bark to strengthen it, turning his back to me.

I looked around with an air of intrigue, as I pondered aloud, "I think this will do nicely?"

"What will?" Duke asked without looking at me.

"This cave," I replied, while brushing a hand along the chilled wall, "with a town nearby it'll be more than efficient for my needs."

"What are ya talkin' about? That's what you've decided to finally tell me?"

"Consider it more of a warning," I mused, "and consider yourself lucky you get one. Others may not when coming here."

I turned while still kneeling on the ground at the fire. The low light of the flames casting a twisting shadow over Heart's face, as she continued, "When I need to, I'll go into town as I did before, gather supplies when needed, and spread intrigue to heroes seeking fortune...only to end up lost here for me to find them."

"Heart, what's gotten into ya?"

"Why do you think others stayed away? They knew what I was, knew the blood coursing through my veins. My own guards and staff turned on me because I'm some sort of monster," she explained with an air of contempt in her tone as she looked down at me.

"Nights like this, that energy in my blood hungers in a way I never knew before...just as it did the night of the attack," she mentioned while looking at the scales along her arms, "Your saving grace is that you saved my life, and I owe you thanks. So I will grant you a chance to leave after you get a night's rest. After that, I can't say what will happen if we cross paths again."

At this, I got to my feet, my own anger rising at these words, "I'm not goin' to just let ya do this, Heart! This isn't what I saw when we met! You're lettin' yourself loose all sense of everythin' to push others away! Why?! What about Waterdeep an' this quest we just started? Are ya givin' up already? If ya go through with this, they'll seek ya out an' kill ya! Is that what ya want?!"

"How would they seek me out, unless you would tell them after I let you go?," she hissed with vague amusement, as she strolled over to me with a possessive grace, "Or do you intend to try and slay me?"

Her eyes seemed to darken at this thought, becoming more serpent like as she looked up at me.

"What I want is to embrace this magic in my veins, to show them the fury of the storm held back for so long. If your intent is to stop me, then perhaps I should show you this as well? It will be your last warning," she growled with the thunder outside backing her up.

Before I could step back, her scaled hand shot out and grasped exactly where the choker had. Her nails now dug into those same wounds, as she glared up at me, "Tell me why I should let you go, if you intend to stop me? I could-!"

Then she stopped. Her very sentence cut off, as she immediately let go and pushed herself a step or two back from me. Her demeanor that had been strangely dominant moments ago, now returned to the reserves I'd seen in her before. She looked to me, with widened eyes in a pale blue much softer than the sapphires I'd known her to have.

"What was I...?" she stammered while looking at her scales, before then glancing at my neck and stifling a gasp with her hands flying to her lips.

I felt what she was gasping at. The stinging from her claws, and the warm flow of blood poured in small streams down my neck. Luckily, she'd missed anything vital; but it hurt like heck, as I found myself gasping for breath once again.

"Duke...you need to leave, now!" she pleaded with another step backed up from me.

"What's goin' on, Heart?!" I demanded.

"Please, just go!"

"An' let ya slip further into whatever that was?! Let ya hurt anyone that comes near here or you?!"

"No! I don't want any of that!...but I can't...control..." her voice shook as she saw me trying to brush my hand against my neck, wincing a bit from the burning sensation her nails had caused, "Duke I'm sorry...please, just go! Find another way to save WaterDeep!"

"If you go, I can close myself in here. I can use a spell or something to keep me from-"

"Heart, stop tryin' to shove me away! Stop tellin' me you can handle this alone! Somethin's wrong, an' I can see it! I might only have one eye, but I'm not blind!" I shouted, trying to reach her.

"Duke, please!" she begged, "I don't know what will happen! I didn't know what would happen when this emerged the first time! Now it's hurt you...and that's the one thing I know I DON'T want!"

My remaining eye widened to hear this ringing through the cave. Her trembling hands covered her face as she forced something back, perhaps words, or maybe tears...? Either way, she stepped away from me, as though preparing to run. Before she could, I quickly grabbed for her arm, to then have her forcibly shove me away from her, causing me to catch myself before losing my balance.

"Heart, what's happenin' to ya?" I pushed while keeping my distance, but watching her closely.

"I...I don't know...just please!" she told me earnestly.

I then noticed her footing shifting, ready to run back down the winding tunnels of the cavern, where no one, but the creature from before, and whatever else lurked within, would ever find her. Realizing this, I quickly side stepped out and darted in front of her to try and stop her. She attempted to slip by still, and I leapt forward to tackle her to the cave floor. With her smaller frame, it was easy enough to pin her down at first. Yet her hands stuck out with claws trying to emerge, and energy began lashing out in bursts from her fingertips.

"Get off of me!" She screamed.

"Heart, stop! This isn't you!" I shouted.

"You don't even know me!" She half growled and cried.

Looking over her, I could see her eyes shifting back and forth between rage and panic. In that instant, I loosened my grip slightly on her wrists and attempted for her to hear me clearly while I still had her pinned, "I'd like to know ya, Heart!"

That instant was all it took for her to get one hand passed mine and strike at me, her nails clawing my cheek; before that gasp of fear emerged from her throat. I ignored the stinging of those fresh cuts, and reaffirmed, "I want to know ya...I've been tryin'..."

Stunned by my words, tears began to brim her eyes. Then they widened into panic, as she looked up at the cavern wall behind us, and pleaded, "No! No! Duke, get away from me please! Get off!"

Rather than trying to lash out, Heart was pulling and writhing in any way possible to get out of my grip.

Before I could question this at all, I then felt an odd pain grip my very core. Instantly as it did, my grip on her shoulders loosened, my stance growing unsteady, as I began to stumble. Finally causing me to fall onto my side. I tried to cry out, but found even that took too much as my very vitality seemed to be stretched out from me.

"No!" She screamed as she reached out to me, "Duke!"

I watched as she sharply pulled her hand away, looked to the wall, and then backed away. It was now that I looked to see why she was so frightened, as she pleaded still, "Let him go!"

There, upon the wall, I saw it.

Growing up as a young boy, I'd heard vague warnings of such creatures. Beings of pure ebony, undead souls left to wander with an undying hunger for lives they'd forgotten they'd once had. Shadows. It's smile, without a face, had grown ear to ear as it watched me grow tired. Yet as she stepped farther back, it's grip began to loosen. Finally it was ripped away from me, causing me to cry out as my strength tried to rush back, my connection to it severed by the flames lapping at the wall. To be certain, I realized, she began throwing the rest of the wood into the fire. The dancing of crimson, orange, and yellow lapped at it's limbs to keep it from reaching me again.

Yet this also made her force herself to stay far back from me, as I tried to get back up.

"Don't!" She begged when I tried to approach her.

"Heart, let me help ya," I attempted with a hand out to her.

"There's nothing to help!" She suddenly snapped, her eyes opening to reveal to me her nature had tried to shift once more, "You have to leave!"

"I'm not givin' up on ya, Heart," I said.

"What do you know about me to justify that I'm still here?!" She asked, as though she were caught between the two demeanors.

"That ya see value in what others would turn their backs on," I realized, only briefly thinking on it.

At this, Heart paused, but remained cautious. She also stayed standing where the Shadow couldn't reach me.

"You're fascinated by dragons an' magic...You're trustin' a gang of outlaws to protect your home 'cause ya see the shreds of good in us," I told her, "An'...when I saved ya, you knew full well who I am, an' yet ya let me close enough to catch a glimpse of the real you...even if it was a brief chance."

Taking a step towards her ,I added softly, "An' I have a feelin', ya desperately want someone to see that in you too? Don't ya, sweetheart?"

Her eyes told me what words failed to say.

"I might not know a lot about ya yet, why ya won't let me near ya like before, the magic startin' to flow through ya, or how you're feelin' about all of this...but I would like to...if you'll let me?" I offered a hand to her.

I watched as she held her hands against her chest, with the shadow looming over her still. To it, I warned, "Let her go, cretin!"

She shuddered when catching sight of the damage she'd done to my throat and face; but I didn't waver, "Heart, it's okay. I'm goin' to help ya through this. Whatever spell or curse he's put on ya, we'll find a cure...-Wait!"

I quickly turned around and started digging through our packs. As I did, I instructed her quickly, "Heart stay right there okay, keep it on the wall for me!"

"Duke-?"

"Trust me, okay?"

I glanced over to see as she did this, and I couldn't help but give a slight smile.

Finally I'd found what I was scrambling for, and hurried over to Heart again. In the hollowed eyes of the ebony shroud, I saw contempt. That is, before I said, "This cure potion should do the trick?"

Somehow, those hollowed eyes widened as it tried to hiss.

"Release her, or I'll throw it," I warned.

"I'll survive!"

"Maybe, but it'll take ya a long time to recover. Heck, it may even turn ya into a lesser shadow if I aim it right?" I mentioned.

It's eyes narrowed to see the bit of blood staining my collar from my cheek and throat. It hissed.

"You wouldn't waste such an item!"

"Who said I'd be wastin' it?" I smirked while pulling my hand back, ready to throw it.

"What is it you want then?"

"Simply release her of whatever spell ya put on her, an' let her go," I ordered firmly.

"I can not undo what I have cast," it snickered, "she will continue to shatter! Two sides fighting for control, until what's left of her has been grinded into dust to be swept away!"

"Then we'll find a cure, now let her go!" I ordered with a glare in my eye.

As I watched it loosen it's grip, I gave the slightest of nods to Heart, gesturing towards the mouth of the cave. She didn't respond in any notable way, that I could tell. I would have to act fast. I gripped the potion in my hand to make sure it knew I wasn't bluffing.

"You're quite the fool, to try and fix an already broken doll..."

I ignored these words and focused. I simply watched, as it at last released Heart. Then as it went to slide away, I quickly shouted, "Heart, get down!"

With that, Heart dropped to her knees, and I swung that glass bottle against the wall still. The case shattered and splattered across the wall, and we were both met with shrieks of pain that followed after this.

In this instant, I hurried over, pulled Heart up, and sprinted back out of the cave. As we did, I quickly swept up our packs as we rushed by them. We didn't stop to look over our shoulders, nor did we plan for whatever was ahead. We just ran into the damp, night air. The shadow's shrieks grew tense for a while, before finally dying off. Fortunately, so had the storm, as we ran out of the cave.

We didn't stop until we were well away from it, knowing it wouldn't dare pursue us outside of it's domain. As vindictive as such creatures could be, they didn't go so far out of their way when a meal wasn't as easy to obtain. Nor could they survive for long without favorable conditions.

Once more, I was gasping for air with my neck aching from the small gashes in it. Still, I hadn't let go of Heart's hand.

"That was a close one," I tried to laugh, but found her looking at me in a fair bit of confusion, rather than laughing at all, herself.

"Why didn't you just leave?!" She questioned.

"I couldn't just leave ya there!" I pushed back, losing patience I was trying to hold onto.

"His curse is still in me! I could hurt you again!" She parried back, while pulling her hand away.

"You should have used that potion to heal yourself!" she furthered.

"So you could give up an' become his puppet?!" I demanded, "At least this way, we can try an' find out someone to help ya!"

"No one's going to help! Especially if she takes over!" She exclaimed.

"Why are ya like this, Heart?! Why did ya trust me to help ya before, but not now?!" I finally questioned, letting my reservations go as I faced her.

It was now that her pained expression shifted a bit into one of twisted anger and confusion all at once. She started to laugh while grasping at her own hair as she asked in return, "Why are you so insistent?! No one else would help! I didn't ask for this, but I'm stuck with it, this curse is no different!"

Her trembling hands grabbing at her hair, pulling it loose from her ponytail, covered her face now. My own reached out in time to catch her shoulders, holding her up a bit as she collapsed into me.

"You're in a lot more trouble than I first thought, aren't ya darlin'?" I asked gently as we stood there in the lingering rain.

I couldn't tell what was rain and what were tears as she looked up, trying to answer me. I brushed some of her dampened strands of burgundy out of her face, "More than we even thought back home?"

"I don't really know..." she admitted while trying to hold herself together.

A dam in her had snapped, but she kept her hands rigidly against her one way or another. So I simply wrapped my arms around her, and felt her cave in. I didn't move, I didn't speak; I just let her cry as I realized the mask she'd been wearing since well before the days of becoming the Black Viper, was now broken as she faced a reality she couldn't hide from.

"Why are you so different? Why didn't you just leave me there?" she choked back her sobs to ask me.

"We're on this quest together, an'-"

However, looking into those sapphires of hers, I would quickly realize that she wasn't asking about leaving her back in the cave.

"I have a knack for knowin' when a treasure is there to be stolen away," I smirked playfully to try and ease the pain in her eyes at least a little, "An' you're quite the sapphire Lady Heart."

"What...?" she asked shakily.

"I'm goin' to help ya, Heart. You trusted me to, an' I'm goin' to see this through with ya," I told her, "But you need to let me."

"Duke, you've already done enough," she protested. "I could hurt you again."

"So could have that creature ya saved me from," I parried back with a grin, "Or that shadow, but here I am still standin'."

With that, I started setting up camp for us to rest at for the remainder of the night. By now the rain had tapered off, leaving a chill air lingering around us with parting clouds overhead. The fire I managed to build helped with the cold, as we huddled up close to it.

"I was afraid of getting used to you being around," she said rather abruptly, but still in a soft tone after a long while of silence.

I looked to her, a bit surprised to hear this, and grew more so as she continued.

"I enjoyed hearing about your adventures when you were willing to share them. Back home, I found I was excited to see you whenever we crossed paths. There was also an odd comfort of having to hide away with someone for once, even if it was for different reasons," she mentioned with a slight smile trying to break through.

I thought back to our first meetings in Waterdeep, and how we'd helped out another out at the time. Then even since leaving the city, we'd had to take cover when a wagon filled with prisoners had passed by, no doubt being brought to a more secure location to be locked away. While it was easy to hide in plain sight in a city or town full of people, my face would be easy to recognize to an officer knowing what to look for out on an open road.

"If I'd been stronger, then you could be back with your gang right now. You wouldn't have to worry about any of this. That's why I didn't want to ask you to join me at first...I know your heart is set on being in a city where you can be comfortable again. Somewhere you can slip in and out as you please, find your friends to laugh with, and treasures to take to your heart's content," I said to him.

"Even without this curse I'd still be trapped for what runs through my veins now. I can't blame people for fearing this,..."

"Why?" I asked, "That magic in ya is what saved your life the other night?" Duke asked, while offering me a warmed drink he'd brewed over the fire.

"Yes, but it's caused problems as well," I mentioned bitterly, "I'd almost forgotten about it...until the night it ignited during the attack on the castle..." I shuddered before forcing myself to take a sip.

"What happened, Heart?" Duke prompted gently.

With a sigh, I looked into the sloshing warm liquid, before turning my gaze towards the fire.

"When I was child...maybe eight years old or so...we were having guests over, that had to stay longer due to a storm that wouldn't let up until the next day. Madame Lucille and I were at the manor with them, my second home...There were other lords and ladies, some my age and others older...there was another princess among them...and they all found me reading about dragons and magic...They weren't as okay with it as you were. They told me dragons were monstrous, and I was a monster for liking them so much. I did my best to ignore them at first...Then...as the storm raged on, and when Madame Lucille thought we were all asleep...I snuck down to the ballroom to watch the storm. "

Duke listened intently, as I continued nervously.

"I didn't know I'd been followed. The other princess began to mock me, then the others found her and joined in, even shoving me against the window, my head hitting the glass. I began to panic, and...I thought it had just been a bad dream from blacking out after that impact...but lightning like before began to burst from me, striking the others. I was scared...and hurt...When I woke up, none of the guests would speak to me. Madame Lucille had to apologize for something, but I didn't know why. I...I think I'd hurt one of them by accident..., but she told me I hadn't? That it had been from being close to the window during the storm to knock her back when the lightning struck outside?"

He encouraged me with a soft smile.

"It must have been whatever this is..." I grimaced while grasping my side at the memory, causing his eye to widen with worry, "This magic? No one else has ever understood my fascination with such things...Maybe some part of me knew it wasn't a dream? Yet I couldn't fully remember either?"

I looked to the rogue, as he remained sitting beside me, "Then you showed up?"

"An' I'm still here, aren't I?" he said with a firm, but still soft, voice.

He then gave a cheerful grin as he said, "Ya stood up for yourself, an' showed ya had the spirit to fight."

"You're the first to say it like that," I mentioned halfheartedly.

"Ya did nonetheless, an' maybe that gift in ya doesn't have to be looked at as a curse or bad omen?"

Bewilderment spread over my face as he said, "Why judge it before it's had a chance to do anythin'? You've given that shot to dragons people fear, an' ya gave me one as well, didn't ya? Why not give yourself the same?"

"There's still that other side of me, the side that..." I grimaced, ashamed as the glow of the fire revealed my own markings on his face and neck, now bandaged.

"That can be cured, Heart. We'll find someone who can help," he assured, "Then maybe you can find a way to accept what was gifted to ya, rather than be afraid of it?"

"Until you're cured of his curse though, we should stay around here. Now that I know his spell is in ya, I can deal with that side to keep ya from hurtin' anyone," he added.

"What about your adventures through the city, your heists that you enjoy?" I then asked, "Don't you miss all of that?"

"It's so odd to hear someone encouragin' that," he chuckled, "Heart, this is more important than some rocks...an' a bit more fun in a way?"

When I stared at him in slight shock, he put his hands up and laughed, "I jus' meant the adventure side of things, Heart. I know we have a lot to focus on...but that doesn't mean we have to hate every moment of it."

Something about his confidence and optimism was infectious, because I found myself smiling with him. Then he added with a slight sigh, "Maybe I needed ya to come along, an' see I had the potential to be somethin' more than a thief? Before I could see it myself?"

"Either way, ya have my word, Lady Heart. I'm not goin' to give up on ya," he promised me.

"Why are you doing this?"

"You're the hope of our home, an' I promised to look out for ya? I know you've been on your own a long while, even before the attack, but ya won't be now."

We'd taken turns getting sleep that night. Though I felt uneasy about being left awake alone not knowing when the other side could flip, I knew he needed the sleep. I realized he'd never mentioned, or even complained about his injuries. When I tried to ask if they hurt, he shrugged and laughed, "They're nothin' new."

This didn't help, but I knew he didn't want me worrying over what I couldn't control.

The town that we eventually found ourselves in, had turned out to be a rather superstitious one. Their answer to my predicament was as I had feared. We were chased back out with little remorse for the mere mention of a curse. It seemed there was no healer, and they didn't want to take the risk of my infliction manifesting, or spreading.

Before this, Duke had managed to at least acquire some food and other supplies. Though when I asked how, he gave a smirk and said, "Some I paid, others were secretly quite generous."

I shook my head, only encouraging him as I did.

Once again, we were back on the road. Since sharing my story with Duke, I'd found myself talking with him more, giving input that wasn't based around merely surviving.

"Should we try the town headed the other way from that post near the cave?" he asked.

"I've been thinking about that actually..." I mentioned, "I'm not sure that cave should be left open like that? Not with that thing inside there waiting for anyone to just wander in."

"What do ya want to do about that then?"
"I'm not sure; but I don't want this happening to anyone else," I said.

He gave a smile, "Well, let's come up with a plan then."

We made our way back to our campsite from the previous night, and started sorting out ideas. Together, we gathered that the being had been a shadow, nor lesser or greater. It was a menace to not be taken lightly.

"It certainly doesn't like sudden light," Duke commented while waving his hand under the sunlight to play with his own shadow to demonstrate, "While ours need light to be shown, these things don't share that nature. They must be some sort of undead, based on what it was tryin' to drain from me."

I winced, trying to say, "I was trying to keep him from-"

Duke rested a hand on my shoulder as he reminded me, "Ya did, remember?"

I nodded.

Then while starting to sort through what we had, "There's my lantern, some candles, but we need somethin' a bit stronger-" he snapped his fingers, and smiled at me, "That spell of yours could help?"

I blinked for a moment, before remembering I had indeed used that magic when the monster from before had grabbed him. In the panic of everything, I'd briefly forgotten. Then I looked at my hands curiously, the scales caught the sunlight as I turned them over in observation.

Duke seemed to notice me doing this, and grew curious, "How does it work?"

"How does what work?"

"Your magic? Ya have to sense it in ya? How does it feel?"

Thinking over this for a little bit, I tried to explain it, reaching out an open palm in a flowing motion outward, "It's almost like a current of energy simply being unlocked. When I'm not in need of it's effects, it simply flows like a river, always ready, but calm. What triggers it seems to be a need of some sort, from basic to complex."

"So with that thing yesterday?" he asked while rubbing his neck a bit.

"I wanted it to let you go, and I knew it wouldn't. Pressure acted like a trigger of some sort, think like a mechanism in a crossbow going off? You give a simple command, and it fires with that prepared build up of magic."

"Though not all spells are like that, nor all magic. Madame Lucille taught me some cantrips and beginner spells to use not long ago. Yet this lightning is wild in nature, and I'm not even sure what the source of it is," I told him.

The look in his eye was not unlike a child, filled with wonder and near begging for me to show him. Seeing this, I looked around until I noticed the lantern still nearby, but far enough for demonstration. Duke followed my focused gaze to the handle of the lamp, and I couldn't help but smile to see his jaw drop. For as he watched the lamp was carefully lifted off the ground by an unseen hand and then carried over to him. After taking the lantern in his own hands Duke looked to me and exclaimed, "Heart, that's incredible!"

"I-Is it?" I asked while trying to mask my delight.

"Of course it is, sweetheart!"

Then after a few thoughtful moments, Duke asked, "I guess ya need blood like yours to wield magic, or a school to learn spells?"

"Those things help, but magic isn't so exclusive as all that. It's there for those open to it in a lot of ways, and there are a variety of ways to harness it. Druids tap into the magic and energy in the land and nature. Wizards learn through tomes how to offer ingredients as a sort of trade. So on and so forth. My own comes from an innate part of myself, my soul in a way that was already awoken to the possibilities of magic, but then strengthened by my blood it seems? I'm still learning all of this... Mage hand was one of the first cantrips I ever learned," I explained, "but I've seen others tap into smaller pockets of magic. Magicians, performers, and others-"

"Wait, could ya teach me?" he asked, and I could feel the jump in his chest at this possibility.

We'd been sitting rather casually before this, my legs tucked under me. Duke had been leaning back against the trunk of a tree, his form relaxed. Now he was sitting with his feet met before him, almost crisscrossed with his hands tucking under hit boots, like an over eager kid. With this, I could see the traces of the adventurous little boy that had turned into the confident rogue I was getting to know bit by bit.

"I could try, I'm still learning myself though?" I mentioned again, so not to get his hopes too high.

He shook his head,but furthered eagerly, "I'm not expectin' to learn what a sorceress can, but I'd like to try if you're willin' to show me? Who knows, it might help ya practice?"

He had to know I was beet red from these flattering remarks. In fact I was certain when he added, "I know it's scary, but I'm sure it's a bit excitin' too, isn't it?"

"It...it is," I admitted, "Heart, you could be the hero you've read about in your books".

"I'd say you're off to a great start," he added with a warm smile over his face.

"I …." I faltered from his words, too flustered to speak at this point.

Over the next day or so, Duke and I tried to come up with a plan to deal with the shadow lurking in the cave. We were careful to stay out of sight of carts we thought might be like the prison wagon we'd hidden from. Otherwise, we paid more attention to practicing my cantrips and trying to work out ideas.

So far, I'd been able to focus enough to keep that other side asleep, but I wasn't sure if this were entirely true. Nor was I certain how long I could fend off this curse. Having magic to practice and teach gave me a goal to focus on, and keep me grounded, but...deep down I could feel myself fighting tor that control. My very core was splintering, especially at night, and with those memories I drudged up.

I hadn't been sure how to tell Heart about the brief battles I'd had to cover up thus far. Since camping out near the cave, there had been times where I'd woken up to a sense of unease. This had rewarded me with glares and threats, but it seemed flat out harming me wasn't her goal at this point. Not while her control was so short, and the real Heart could stop her. No...I had a feeling she was bidding her time until her real self was too tired to hold her back. Finding some sort of healer, or more so not locating one, wasn't helping her.

By the third afternoon of asking travelers, and me going into town to seek someone out to no avail, Heart was growing quite discouraged.

"We'll find someone. Just try to hang on, okay?" I attempted.

She nodded, but I could see her true answer in her fatigued eyes. Trying to think of something, I asked, "Could ya show me how shockin' grasp works? If I could maybe learn the spell, it will help with dealin' with that shadow?"

"S-Sure...I can try," she attempted a revived smile.

This seemed to cheer her up for the moment.

Had I known the strain it was putting on her however, I would never have asked.

For as she started to explain, I failed to notice her shift in demeanor as she conjured up the cantrip. Her shoulders tensed as I'd seen before, allowing her limbs to flow into a focused river, the electricity infused blood igniting from her core. Suddenly, as she went to grab at the practice dummy we'd thrown together, she turned at the last moment and reached for my arm instead. Luckily, instinct kicked in as I hopped back to avoid her grasp just in time.

"Heart?!" I exclaimed in alarm, before catching the look in her eyes.

"You wanted to know how it worked, didn't you?" she taunted with those sapphires darkening in shade, "Let me show you, personally!"

"Heart, we can get through this like we have the other times," I assured her with my hands up and outstretched in caution, "Listen to me."

Instead, she laughed, "Every day this goes on, the more she erodes away. Her magic is growing stronger, and so am I. I want that magic, I want it to grow. You can call her back, but it won't work much longer. Soon enough, I will be all there is to this girl, and it'll be all the better when those reservations she clings to are torn away!"

"Heart this isn't what ya want! You want to save our home, an' help protect people, remember?" I mentioned.

"You do realize the longer she goes being shown how people treat our kind, the harder it is to hold onto that desire?" she scoffed, "Three days and she can't even go to town with you to at least get a hot meal because of her supposed infliction?"

"Not everyone is like that. Heart knows that," I insisted.

"All she knows is that you, and maybe your crew, aren't like that. Which is why I need you away from her. The sooner you are out of the picture, the sooner I can finally shove my weaker half into the dust. Then I embrace things as they are. Let them fear me, let them see my magic grow!" her laugh twisted into a growl, "Let me become whatever I'm supposed to!"

"So they can hunt ya down?" I asked, "Is that what ya want?"

"Let them try," she shrugged.

She then took note of the mostly healed gashes in my neck, and the now feint scratches on my cheek. A warning emerged from her throat, "It'll be much worse if you don't leave while you can. In fact, I insist on it. Next time, I might just slit your throat in your sleep. When she wakes up and see what we've done, she'll finally give up!"

Then she pondered something a moment it seemed. A cruel smile curved her lips before she giggled, "Then again...keep doing what you have been, that will work as well."

"What?"

"Oh, it's nothing for you to worry about," she giggled, all while eyeing the cave.

She added with a shrug, "She must really be tired though, her voice has gotten weaker every night...every day ignored by the very people you two want to protect."

"I know ya don't want this. Don't give up. Someone will help. In the meantime, we'll take care of that cretin before he does this to anyone else," I insisted, "Don't give in to this."

"You really are stubborn, aren't you?" she scoffed, before taking note of my neck again, "You do realize she notices you lying to her about these chats, saying they're not as bad as they sound...that she doesn't see my other attempts trying to get you out of the way?"

"Of course I know, but that's not what matters...it's more important you know I'm goin' to stick with her, with you. You are still a piece of Heart, the side that's been hurt too much, an' now you're tryin' to lash out. I'm not gonna give up on ya."

Her eyes narrowed into a harsh glare, her teeth gritting into a tight grimace, "I don't need you any more than I need some tired conscience! Besides, what happens once we're "cured" as you put it?! You're setting me up to be left alone to again, you do realize that don't you?! When all of this is said and done, I'm to take the throne without any family left, or anyone I know at my side. While you get your freedom to do as you please with your gang?"

While admittedly a bit thrown off by this revelation, I replied with caution, "We don't know where the road will take us yet."

"I do, but I'll wait to let her see it herself," she taunted with a twisted, but lonely, smile painting her lips, as I failed to see her glancing behind me, "Then I'll finally have control, as that last spark in her will dies!"

"Heart, if ya give into this; all you'll see is blood spilled, blades an' spells thrown at ya, an' then nothin' when they've hunted ya down! Do ya really want to be part of the reason people fear creatures such as dragons?"

"They do, no matter what she's said before! So let this start with your blood spilled before you have a chance to warn anyone!" she hissed.

I had barely turned around in time to see the invisible hand she'd conjured to pick up the dagger resting behind me upon the floor. The summoned hand weakened, until finally dropping it when ordered to attack, allowing the razor metal to clatter onto the ground. Then I spun on my heel, back in time, with my own dagger blocking her other as it nearly struck my throat.

I gave a smirk, that only infuriated her, "I'm not that easy to get rid of, though a number have tried."

"Give it up already!" she screamed at herself, while I kept a steady hand as she pushed back against me.

"No! I can't give up! I won't let you do this!" Heart started to resurface.

She was grasping at her hair with one hand, trying to stay back from me as I reached for her. Until she noticed the dagger on the ground and looked up at me in horror at what she'd nearly done.

"What was I...?" she quickly saw the dagger in her hand as well, now close to my neck.

Immediately dropping it, she tried to back away from me. She once more caved in, breaking down from fear and stress. Thus collapsing into me as I dropped my own dagger and caught her. Again, she didn't hold onto me in return, but she didn't pull away either. She tried to tell me how sorry she was, how she didn't want to hurt me, but I could also hear her very voice breaking into pieces with these murmured apologies. All I could think to do, was hug her tight in some attempt to console her, to keep her from falling into further pieces, "I know Heart,...I know..."

The next morning, after getting some much needed rest, Heart seemed to have a much stronger grip on her sense of self. It was then that we decided it was time to try and prepare to head back into the cave, and find a way to stop that creature from getting a hold of another soul.

However, as we drew near the mouth, there was a quick tug on my sleeve from the woman walking beside me. Looking to her, I would see the unease in her eyes as she said rather suddenly, "Duke...I don't think this is going to work."

"No?"

She shook her head, "We didn't deal with it long enough to pin point what sort of light effects it. If we're wrong, and it gets a hold of us...even one of us...Duke I don't want you getting hurt again."

"We have to do somethin', Heart. We can't let that thing loose," I mentioned.

"I know that; but going in this way isn't the way to go about this either. Especially when I don't know how much control I have left," she replied.

Placing my hand to my chin, I pondered over this. It was a good point. We were going in rather blind, for a lack of a better word. The overcast hovering above wouldn't help either if it chased after us for any reason.

"Do ya have any magic that could block the mouth of the cave?"

"No, and I don't think you and I alone could close it off."

"We may have to just try then..." I said with unease of my own cracking even my confidence a little, "It's too dangerous to let that thing loose in there."

"It's dangerous to go in there, Duke," she protested.

"It is either way; but I'd rather try," I told her with a forced smile, "We'll just look out for one another, an' follow the plan we had."

"You said that scroll you got should help?" she inquired, giving in just barely.

I nodded, "However, I need to wait until I absolutely need to use it. It'll only last a minute, an' I only had enough gold for one."

"I just don't want to lose control while we're in there, and something happen to you..." she protested.

"You're quite sweet, ya know that?" I smiled, "but it'll be okay, Heart."

A bit of a sigh escaped her lungs, as she gave a nod, "Alright...I'm ready when you are?"

"Let's go then."

We began at the mouth of the cave, just as before. Reaching the back of the first earthy chamber, we found the shattered glass of the potion bottle scattered across the floor. When Heart glanced at my mostly healed injuries, I shrugged in reply, "I still didn't waste it."

My attempts to make her smile, even at least a little, seemed to be working. As I guided us down the winding tunnel with the lantern, I was sure to keep a close watch above this time around. When we came to the chamber where our crystallized friends had been, it glistened just as before, giving a brief moment of ease for the both of us. With the lamp light cast out towards the center, the whole room glistened, like a chandelier we stood in the middle of. Then, with a deep breath drawn in together, we headed down the next tunnel.

Every so often, I would focus the light on the ceiling to make sure one of the other creatures from before weren't there to get a jump on us. With the coast clear, we continued forth. This would bring the both of us to a chamber we hadn't reached the other night. Standing there now, a distinct chill ran up my spine. In that same moment, I felt Heart reach for my hand, as I heard her breath, "I'm sorry..."

I snapped to attention, as I spun around to face her darkening eyes, along with her twisting smirk. They focused on the lamp briefly. Until it went out, and I quickly understood what she had done. Even before I heard her say, "Take him, so we can go forth with our deal."

That same shudder from before, ran through me as his claws swiftly grasped my shoulders. His spindly digits sank into the shroud of my own shadow, enveloping me there in the dark. Then he hissed,

"Now thief...what shall I rob you of first...?"

"Perhaps I'll make you go numb, so you can never steal again?"

I felt my hands, or rather my fingers, gain a tingling sensation as I tried to grasp for anything at all to no avail, even dropping the lantern I'd been holding.

"Maybe I could drive you to madness, or dull that clever mind of yours?"

I tried to maintain my focus on what I was doing there, on my senses and resolve as they attempted to slip away.

"I could make your very body much like that of a corpse, decaying that healthy flesh and frame of yours to build my own?"

Though without seeing it, I could feel my flesh weakening from this taunt. Nothing was permanent yet, but it was clear he had no intention of letting me go free this time. Then, a wicked, sickening voice rang in my ears as he proposed,

"I can drain you of your very soul if I wish, your sense of self. All your charm and desires drained away."

At this, I felt that just that. Without even realizing it, I looked for Heart standing close by, only now with vague interest being barely left there. Simply existing seemed to be the answer now, and my intrigue of magic floated away as well.

Then it all rushed back as he played with my essence. Everything that I was, now for him to take as he snickered in amusement from his options.

"No matter my decision, you will become one of my own kind in the end. Stealing life, rather than gems. Slinking in the dark as you already do. Grasping for what no longer belongs to you, and never will again. You'll crave vitality, you'll beg for a brief reminder of what it was like to feel...if you ever did to begin with. For the beauty of it all, is you won't even remember the life you had...not stealing hidden away treasures through the night, any wrongs done to you or done by you; and most certainly not the companionship of another soul. All you'll understand, is that you are a shadow of whatever you were before, and always will be just that...constantly starving for who you may have been!"

I looked to Heart, finding her standing before me in the dark. She simply smirked back and said, "I gave you the chance to leave. This way she can't interfere, because I'm not the one trying to take your life, and she's far too weak to fight me off this way. She'll see what's been done, and finally give up, falling into pieces."

"Heart!" I shouted still, "Heart, whatever deal ya think ya made with this thing won't mean anythin'!"

"We seem to be quite the duo so far, to trick you from day one?" she pointed out with a hand resting on her hip.

"How?" I questioned.

"Heart didn't tell you all of her spells, she left out the most crucial one in our plan, in fact. While she was showing you Shocking Grasp and Mage Hand, I was focusing on Message while you were resting; seeing how I couldn't do anything to you, myself. So I would get in view of the cave, and send a silent offer to Shadow. Once Heart was weakened from all the magic she was practicing, along with fending me off, I would bring you back here. All the while, you thought it was to try and defeat him. Shadow would take care of you, and I would get a place to dwell as I become whatever I'm meant to with this magic coursing through me. Let people wander in to us, Let them fear my magic and become another shadow. Why should I care?"

I couldn't help but stare back in a bit of shock to hear all of this.

"The best part is she only vaguely remembered any of this, but as passing nightmares. Those bouts you thought you had with me before last night, were to keep you from getting on our trail. It seems to have worked. Meanwhile, I was fully aware of your strategy, and was able to plan for it!" she mused with pride.

"Heart, they'll kill ya if ya go through with this! Is that what ya want?! Other adventurers will find ya! Do you want-?!" I demanded while trying to pull free.

"I want to embrace my magic! I've always loved magic, and getting to wield my own is a wondrous gift that people wrongfully shun! You're-"

"I agree with ya, Heart," I said quickly, but firmly.

She glared at me in disbelief.

"It is a gift, an' others should be givin' ya a chance...but this isn't the way to-"

Before I could finish, I felt that shadow reach up to my head to begin his work. I tried to focus while my mind began to spin. Now my senses were going mad as he brushed a chilled set of fingers over my remaining eye. I tried in vain to shake him off, pulling and shifting from his digging grip on me. My heart raced in my chest as I tried to hold onto my resolve, my sense of self.

Otherwise...I managed to look to where Heart stood watching. If I didn't get free now, our home, our hope...it would be lost. Not only that; but...she would be as well.

With this focusing direction still clear in my head, I would suddenly feel a strange source of pressure beginning to build in me.

In that instant of desperation, all I remember was looking to Heart, I created an order and focused and focused on it. I moved without thinking; grasping that Shadow's hand over my shoulder, and breathed sharply, "Let go!"

That command was the ignition that I'd just begun to realize was in me, and that motion carried it out. I allowed my limbs to be the conductor of the energy that had switched on in my core, connecting with that Shadow as he screamed out in a sudden fury. In these precious seconds, I swiftly pulled free, and grabbed for Heart's hand to pull her into a run, "Come on!"

She quickly tore her hand away from mine while glaring up at me, "Don't touch me!"

I hadn't the time to try again, when I heard that Shadow snarl,

"I'll drain every bit of you that I can, thief!"

I quickly spun around on my heel, risking Heart at my back to face him, as well as divide them. In this same swift motion; I drew my rapier, and slipped the scroll out from my sleeve it had been tucked in. Unfurling it in those brief seconds, I waved it over the blade in my hand. Instantly, the razor sharp steel began to glow, giving off enough light for me to see the shroud of, what was once, a man perhaps standing before me with a hollowed, wicked grin.

"Do you plan to fight us both?" Heart mused, while running her hands up along my back, reaching my shoulders.

"No, sweetheart," I replied, whether Heart really heard me or not, "I won't be like others."

Knowing I didn't have much time, I then lunged at the Shadow as he hissed. With some luck, my blade met with his side as he tried to weave out of the way. He, in turn, struck at me, but missed with the light warding him off. I took another swing, and heard him shriek with anger from the biting pain.

Then he looked passed me, and gave a sadistic grin. Catching this, I turned in time to block her dagger with my sword, as I said, "That doesn't mean I'll let ya kill me, either. I have a promise to keep."

Her stance remained steady, as she tried to push me back a bit, "If you don't fight back..."

she giggled, "It'll be all the easier to see you fade into a Shadow! One way or another, I'll be rid of you, and she'll give up!"

I raised a brow at this, "So you're still there?"

Her eyes widened, and I smirked, "No wonder you're holdin' back."

"What?!"

"If ya really wanted me dead, you'd have already done it," I was certain as I stepped back and spun around, swinging my blade as it struck the arm of the Shadow reaching for me.

With precious time allotted, I got another hit in before the light started to dim. In that growing ebony, I could hear him giving panting growls as he glared at me, torn in pieces from the radiant glow. Yet he quickly gathered what composure he had to give a sickening snicker,

"My curse won't break even, if I fade...that broken doll will be just that...and almost as useless as one!"

I risked a glance over my shoulder at Heart, still wielding a dagger in hand, with narrowed eyes focused on me. I knew the risk. I understood what could happen when I faced her, with the remainder of that light nearly faded out. In that moment, in those eyes, I thought I saw something in them...some sort of feint light, sparking for an instant when she looked up at me.

"Go ahead, Heart. If ya want me dead, then go ahead an' kill me. I'd rather it be you, than a noose around my neck...I will not be another soul that hurt ya," I swore, as I let the hilt of my sword slip from my grasp, the blade clattering upon the ground as the last of that light died.

All around me was darkness now. Before me was Heart, behind me was that lingering Shadow, both of them hanging on by a thread.

This was my gamble.

"Tell me, thief...was it worth the risk?"

This time I dropped to my knees as my strength was quite abruptly pulled away from me. Before he could begin to drain away my sense of self; I smiled up at where I knew Heart was, and answered, "Of course."

Just as those words were breathed out from my scarred lips; I would hear a sudden shriek from behind me as the room suddenly filled with bursting light and electricity I barely had enough time to shield my remaining eye from the bombardment of illumination, The Shadow attempted to utter some sort of curse, but was torn apart by the energy engulfing it, it's cries echoing down the halls.

Then it was quiet, even as the light faded out. As it did, I looked up in time to see her catching her breath a bit.

I found I couldn't have gotten up if I wanted to. With that last strike, he'd managed to drain a bit of my energy, leaving me a bit shaken. So I waited, at her mercy, to then hear her kneel down before my weakened form, and then throw her arms around me, "Duke, are you okay?!"

With a sigh of relief blending with some sort of a chuckle, I hugged her with one arm that I managed to lift, "I'll be just fine, sweetheart."

Though as I went to stand, I felt myself stumbling weakly from the drain. Heart quickly slipped under my arm to catch me, keeping me stable. Even in the dark, I smiled and said, "You an' I make quite a team, don't we?"

"I'm sorry, Duke..."

"What for?"

"For not keeping control...if I could-"

"Just hang on a bit longer, okay?" I assured her.

As we traveled back through the caverns, I started to wonder over what had happened. I was grateful to still be breathing, but I wanted to ask nonetheless, "So what did it?"

"Did what?"

"What brought ya back?"

"Everything happened so fast, but...I told you I didn't want you get hurt...when you dropped your sword, and he latched onto you...I felt something sparking..."

"That did seem like a much bigger spell than the one ya showed me before,...an' felt like I it," I replied thoughtfully.

After a moment or two of walking and limping quietly, Heart then said, "You...you've given me some hope, Duke...after losing my home, what family was left to me...I just..."

I wanted to say something to assure her, but fatigue was making it difficult to walk at this point as it was, let alone talk. Still I managed to say, "Glad I took that gamble then..."

As we found the mouth of the cave, my legs could no longer support me, even with her aid. Giving in, I ended up stumbling to the cold, rocky floor, but she managed to slow my fall a bit.

"Duke?!"

"I'll be alright with some rest. Don't ya worry," I assured her, while sitting back against the wall with a tired sigh.

"If she wakes up, you-"

"I'll be fine...," I smiled, before letting myself close my eye a moment to try and rest a little.

Yet before I could drift off, with her sitting beside me, allowing me to use her shoulder to rest my head against; we both suddenly heard steady steps approaching us. In unison, we looked up sharply to see a towering, broad figure stepping nearer. Swung over his well built shoulder was a rather large travelers pack. An orc, that stood a good foot and a half over me, looked down at us now with friendly, brown eyes, and a top knot of black hair set on his head. His strong chin was set in a greeting of a smile, "Do you two need some help?"

Heart and I both looked up in surprise. Strength or not I pushed to ask, "Can ya cure her?"

Both looked to me a bit surprised. I then explained to the stranger, with introducing ourselves blended in, our dealings with the Shadow, as well as Heart's curse. I didn't care that I was tired. I didn't even seem to mind that I couldn't even stand at the moment. What mattered was that we didn't lose her...that we didn't run out of time to keep her from breaking altogether, that my own hope in having someone that trusted me, as she did, didn't fade away.

After a moment of taking this in, and then looking over Heart. She had been honest with telling why we hadn't found aid for her thus far. In return, the orc introduced himself, "I'm Grin. It's nice to meet you, Duke and Heart."

He had been sitting with his legs crisscrossed while listening to our tale. Now he was venturing through his bag, and rather quickly produced a flask that he handed to me, "Drink this to help recover your vitality, stolen from that Shadow."

Then he looked to Heart, and crouched down just before her. Placing a strong hand firmly over her eyes and forehead, he closed his own and let out a breath. With this, a soft glow of gentle, cleansing blue light emerged from his palm and washed over the girl beside me. Before drinking the potion offered to me, I reached over to give support as I grasped her shoulders.

"Two sides, once split together like torn pieces of the same cloth, be woven back together as though never severed. Embrace who you are, and leave the shards trying to cut at you behind," Grin commanded, almost as though he were simply giving advice.

After a moment, the glow washed away, and he slowly pulled his hand away. Heart's already fatigued eyes closed, as she collapsed into me, "Heart?!"

"She will be okay now. Just let her rest a bit, while her two sides close the gap," he assured.

Gesturing to the flask, he said, "In order to carry her though through this, you will need your strength."

"How much do we owe ya, friend?" I asked with a relieved smile returning to my face.

"Not even a copper," he replied, "I took a vow to help people, however I could. Regardless of background, race, or otherwise. If I have the means to do so, I will provide strength and aid where I can."

"We appreciate this; but I feel we should offer ya somethin' in return," I pushed respectfully.

He seemed to take this comment to heart, placing a hand to his stern chin, and then suggested, "I'll settle for a night's rest around a campfire, perhaps with two new friends to share a meal with?"

I found myself very willing to accept this offer. After swallowing the gifted medicine, I could feel a rush of vitality coursing through my lean frame, and restoring the strength lost. With this, I was able to easily lift up Heart's smaller form into my arms and carry her. As I did, I lead Grin to our campsite. While my companion rested on her bedroll, with a blanket I'd draped over her, I tended to the fire in order to cook a meal with our new friend.

"Thank you for helpin' her," I found myself saying, breaking the long period of silence, and taking a sip of water.

"It is a shame that others couldn't reach her sooner. It would have saved you both it seems," Grin replied, "but you needn't keep thanking me."

"I'm not jus' thankin' ya for the act of healin' her...but for showin' her there's more than one soul willin' to reach out an' help her. I don't know what would have happened, had this gone on much longer with just me to hang onto."

"Whether one or a million, the quality of a bond is far more important," Grin pointed out.

"While that may be so, there was only so much I could do. I'm not exactly a healer, just an adventurer of sorts-"

"And yet someone she was willing to fight for from what you have told me," he pointed out sternly, "Don't discount the strength that kept her tethered through that struggle."

I couldn't help but feel a light smile curving my scarred lip, especially as I glanced at Heart, who was still sleeping soundly nearby. With a sigh of relief escaping my throat, I said, "I won't."

As the night went on Grin shared his stories of places he'd visited and people he'd helped, more so to tell of their quests. He mentioned two brothers fighting monsters with a best friend, a red headed soldier he'd mended the bones for before sending her back out, and a bright minded alchemist he'd visited and even helped with some of the brewed medicines they'd made. While speaking of them, Heart had woken up and joined us at the fire. After briefly asking if the other was okay, and seeing they were, we let the fears and exhaustion of the last several days wash away.

Through the conversations, Grin asked Heart to display some of her magic. When she obliged, I couldn't help as I watched, just as mesmerized as I had been before.

Then Heart would tell him of why we were out on the road in the first place. This gained some interest from our new friend. To the point where when Heart asked if he would be willing to give aid to us when the time was right, he said, "I would be honored to offer my strength and support to such a cause, my friends."

With this, I watched some more hope return to Heart's eyes.

Eventually we took to taking turns to watch for the night while the others rested. Though it was nice to truly see, that for the first time in a while, it wasn't needed.

When morning found us, we were well rested and fully recovered. We packed up after a nice breakfast shared, and prepared to head out. We soon walked up to the sign post to see what the next town after Notsob was. Eniam. While Grin waited back a bit to look over the roads, deciding where to head next himself until we needed to call for him, I looked to what I saw to be a very uneasy Heart once again.

"What's wrong?" I asked, a bit thrown off, almost looking to see if anything was nearby to cause such a troubled expression to cross those eyes so soon.

"Duke...are you sure you want to continue with this? You could go back to Waterdeep, and I could take care of this?" she replied, "You can return to the life you enjoy so much, take care of your gang?"

I half chuckled at her words around my profession, so not to be too open at the crossroads about it. The sign before us pointed out the city she was referring to, it's name carved in long ago and now etched in with other markings. Other wooden strips into odd looking pointing out hands, bore other names to follow after.

"Lady Heart, I said I'd support ya, didn't I?" I pointed out cheerfully still.

"Duke, I can't ask you to keep going like this with me," she protested with reluctance in her eyes.

"Ya don't have to," I heard myself say.

She looked to me, puzzled by this remark. I remained standing before her, with a pleasant smile on my face as I furthered, "You an' I seem to make a good team. So, why not continue with a good thing?"

"Don't you want to go back to how you had things before? Not tethered to anyone, seeking out treasures, and taking on adventure after adventure?" she asked,

"All of that sounds close to what I'd be doin'...but that first part really does seem to have an air of loneliness to it now, doesn't it?"

Again, I saw that spark of light in her eyes, and I offered, "I'd much rather be offerin' my skills to a better cause with ya, than continue to wander alone like that Shadow. As for seekin' out treasures an' havin' adventures, I don't see why we can't do that together while on this quest?"

"A-Are you sure?" she stammered with that light growing brighter.

"Of course I'm sure, sweetheart," I assured her with a delighted smile shared with her.

Her very frame told me how relieved she was to hear this. She stood, gripping the straps of her backpack, along with a soft blush upon her cheeks. This only encouraged me in my decision. With this I offered a hand to her and asked, "What do ya say, Lady Heart? Ya mind travelin' with a rogue like me?"

The hope in those sapphires glistened, as she placed her hand in mine, and replied, "I'd like that Duke. I really would."

To this, I laughed and asked, "Is that what you've been worried about all this time?"

I knew the answer, but couldn't help but tease her.

With that we were on our way, not knowing where the road would take us next; but happy to travel it together while we could.