Author's Note: For FELLOW Artemis Entreri fans I'd like to point out that I am one. One of my friends wanted to hurt me after one of the scenes in this chapter.

Entreri jumped into awareness when he felt a sharp jolt of pain that would've reminded one of being jolted with static electricity. He looked at Nova, who had been resting against his chest. Her white eyes looked into his, and he shuddered. It was just a reminder of her drow background.

"I suppose we'd best be going," Entreri said as he stood. Nova stood up with him.

"Yes," she said quietly. She looked at him a moment, then crawled out of the cave, Entreri following behind.

"He doesn't seem to believe in expensive undead," Nova remarked in hand code. She had just come from her scouting mission and had found many a zombie waiting for them around the next bend.

Entreri looked at her. "Do you think we should fight our way through?"

Nova merely nodded and said softly, "I hear you are a good warrior—I suppose it's time I found out just how good."

Entreri nodded and off they went, weapons drawn.

As soon as Entreri and Nova rounded the corner the zombies charged them… well as close as zombies can get to charging.

Entreri ducked low and sliced up with his blades. Two zombies fell.

Nova ducked and completed a devastating whirlwind attack. The six zombies that had been surrounding her fell. Entreri suddenly appreciated her fighting skill.

Five zombies surrounded Entreri and lashed out. With most people, even though they weren't thinking about this, an advantage would've been gained in surrounding your opponent. However, over three decades of being a thief, whether of lives or items, had caused Entreri to have complete awareness of his surrounding. The zombies all missed.

Zombies surrounded Nova. Like Entreri she had long ago learned to be completely aware, but she had also learned another trick. Nova lashed out with her two blades. Two more zombies fell, as claws tried desperately to get through her armor.

Entreri sliced both of his blades up, then came around and slice two more. Four zombies down.

As Entreri was doing his dance Nova launched another spinning attack. Her five fell, and she turned with her dagger cocked and threw. The zombie on Entreri fell.

"If you had given half a second more I would have killed it," Entreri said sharply as Nova pulled her dagger out of the zombies back.

Nova just smiled. "You're decent, but don't push your luck."

Entreri wanted to scream but decided continuing on his way was the better choice. Nova watched him for a moment then went after him.

"Think this is the door?" Entreri asked.

Nova looked at the imposing door and nodded. She could see the glow of undeath seeping out of it, and it was strong. It was very strong.

Entreri approached the door to examine it more, and it opened.

Entreri turned to Nova. "I guess we're being invited."

Nova peered into the gloom. Even her senses detected nothing but the undeath. Entreri drew his weapons.

"No! Not yet!" Nova snapped as she grabbed Entreri and spun him around.

"And why not?" Entreri readily snapped back.

Nova stepped back and quietly said, "You're not mentally ready."

"What do you mean?"

"You have not fully embraced your heritage."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Entreri asked, suddenly angry.

"You're an Entreri, and yet you've only summoned forth fire twice in your life." Nova paused to let Entreri figure it out on his own. She knew he only knew about one of these times, and she had to be careful.

Nova braced herself for the oncoming explosion and continued, "The only times have been when you are with your father. I think it's because you are reminded of who you are." In a mere moment Entreri had his sword to her throat.

"Do not compare me to my father!" he hissed.

Nova just stood her ground and glared at him. Fires danced in his coal eyes, and she didn't know if she was excited or horrified.

"I wonder what your real feelings are on the matter," she said calmly.

"I hate him," Entreri growled.

Nova raised a brow, "No you don't."

Normally after people made such comments, Entreri would kill them. At least that's what he tried to tell himself as he stood stunned.

Nova took the moment to move behind Entreri. Silently, she wrapped her arms around him and put her head on his shoulder. She felt him shudder, the vibrations rippling through his whole body. Entreri's arms moved to his side in defeat as he sheathed his sword.

Entreri twisted around until he faced her. He then wrapped his own arms around her waist and pulled her even closer.

Nova grinned and moved a hand up to stroke his face. He nuzzled her hand. Then, he looked at her, his dark gray eyes searching her own for the words of the book that was Nova Von Houchie.

Then, he found the words that said what she wanted. The only question was if he wanted it. For a moment Entreri just looked at Nova, then he made his decision and kissed her passionately. How he had made the decision he didn't know, but there was a tugging, and urge. It felt similar to earlier when she had kissed him and he hadn't done anything.

Nova was more than happy to oblige, if a little started. This had not been what she had been expecting, but it was what she wanted. She stared into his eyes. Five gold flecks in each, like Aramil's. Then, Entreri fully broke away.

"I suppose we had best be going," he stated, breathing hard. Nova nodded, and they headed through the door.

They had found absolutely nothing. In truth that worried Jarlaxle more than if they had found an army. He couldn't afford any more mistakes after the surface incident, and this looked like it was about to become one.

"We found another door, and it's trapped as well as locked," one of the soldiers signed to Jarlaxle. He nodded for them to open it, carefully.

How could so much be at stake? Jori and Artemis would die if he couldn't do this. Jori and Artemis? What did he care? Jori was interesting and a good bed partner, but he didn't love her, was barely even really her friend. Of course, that was something he wasn't going to tell Artemis. Artemis? Only then did Jarlaxle realize that he had thought "Artemis" instead of "Entreri."

Jarlaxle sighed. He didn't want to think about all of the implications. He couldn't bring himself to think of all the implications.

The smell of death greeted Entreri's and Nova's noses as they walked through the door. Almost immediately Entreri felt an absence of something. What, he couldn't tell. All that he knew was that his senses were telling him something was wrong with this place, and it was uncomfortable.

Nova looked at Entreri and noticed his discomfort. Should she tell him? It wasn't an absolute in the least. If he knew… Nova let her thoughts trail. She really shouldn't be thinking about this.

They had unlocked the door only to be attacked by a horde of undead. How could so much be going wrong? Jarlaxle had no doubt about whether or not the group would be able to handle them, but he did wonder about himself. It was strange, he felt more vulnerable around capable soldiers of the organization he had started than around…Artemis.

"Artemis," he said quietly. The man's whose life was in his hands. Jarlaxle tensed and then joined the fray.

"Come in," an eerie voice beckoned.

Entreri looked at Nova. They had to buy time, not attack straight away. The plan was simple, wasn't it? When the lich started showing signs of discomfort, they would attack so that he would be weak enough when Jarlaxle smashed the rest of the organs. Simple, right?

Nova looked at Entreri, and they started to walk forward.

The room was large, very large. In the very center of it was a table with about six panoptic jars. Jarlaxle's men looked around warily. Was this what they wanted? If it was, where was the guard?

"What a pleasure to see you all again," a dark and smooth voice called from the doorway. It was a voice everyone knew…Marilak.

The Lich Lord turned and eyed Entreri skeptically. He respected the woman the assassin was with more. "What a pleasure to finally meet you both," he said in a voice that could best be described as horrifying.

"Dread Lord Athos," Nova said bowing low. "I could not have agreed more with your statement."

Entreri nodded in agreement but knew better than to bow. Looking the lich over he…wanted to sneeze. It took him a moment to realize it, but he was allergic to the lich.

"I hear you were Aramil's only apprentice. A cat he called you," Athos said, turning to Entreri.

Entreri nearly fell over. That was not exactly the statement he had been expecting. The Dread Lord looked into Entreri's eyes and attacked.

"What do you want Marilak?" Jarlaxle snapped.

The vile drow smiled and motioned with his hand. There was now an iron golem and scrying mirror looming over the table. In the mirror Jarlaxle could see Entreri and Nova fighting the Dread Lord. He turned for just an instant to Marilak, and the room exploded into fire.

"Ethgri' Helgring!" Athos cried out. A red ray shot from his finger, aimed at Entreri. The man deftly moved to the side.

Nova charged the Dread Lord; he batted her aside with just his bony hand. Entreri then moved to attack.

"Ethgri' sheilven!" Athos called out a spell again and pushed Entreri back, ramming him into the wall. He then did the same to the fast approaching Nova. Now that neither one of them could move, he began the spell that would destroy mind, body, and soul.

Of course iron golems would be immune to flames, and Marilak could dodge them easily. Unfortunately, most of Jarlaxle's men died instantly.

Jarlaxle pulled out one of his wands and aimed it straight for the golem, hoping that Kimmuriel and the others could hold Marilak off. A bolt of lightning came from Jarlaxle's wand, stunning the golem momentarily. Jarlaxle rushed over to the table and tried to push it over, but it wouldn't budge.

The lich would have his spell finished soon! Nova wanted to scream in denial. Artemis would die! Gingerly she cocked her dagger and aimed at the lich's arm, hoping to deflect the spell from the defenseless Entreri. The man was partly imbedded in stone.

She threw and hit. Screaming, Athos turned to face her as he completed the incantation. A yellow bolt shot from his hand and struck Nova. She felt the undeath being sapped from her. Slowly, she fell to the floor.

Entreri screamed in denial.

How can I be feeling like this in the middle of a battle? Callahan's mind screamed at him. He felt pain and…denial. He turned, looking for a new target. A wizard! Silently, Callahan knocked an arrow and got ready to fire.

Jarlaxle tried to just push over the jars, but they wouldn't budge either. The golem would recover soon, so Jarlaxle used his feather to summon a giant bird right in front of it. Hopefully that would hold it off longer. Then Jarlaxle called for Kimmuriel to help him. Kimmuriel should be able to make this table possible to move. Then Jarlaxle heard what he most certainly didn't want to: Entreri's scream.

"I only had one of those spells ready," The Dread Lord said coldly, and he approached the helpless Entreri. He lifted one bony hand and put it on Entreri chest. "Thereby I will simply tear your heart out."

Kimmuriel turned and pushed the table psionically as Jarlaxle pushed it physically, slowly it began to tip over.

Entreri felt a wave of different emotions well up inside of him as he looked at Nova lying still. He hardly noticed that the Dread Lord was slowly moving his claw-like hands into his chest. He had just come to accept her. He almost felt that this was Shar's way of reminding him that he would never have anyone to love.

Callahan fired his arrow at the Sharite wizard. It had to hit! The boy looked on in dismay when he realized that it would miss. Suddenly, a breeze came through and it hit the mage, disrupting his spell. Such a sudden change wasn't natural.

The table rolled over. Jarlaxle smiled and signaled for Kimmuriel to open a portal back to headquarters. He then cast another lighting bolt so he could retrieve his feather and ran through. Before Marilak could get there, Kimmuriel closed the dimensional door.

The pressure on his chest stopped. Entreri was only vaguely aware as the lich disintegrated into a pile of ash. He ran for Nova.

"Are you alive?" It seemed a dumb question to ask, but he figured that a witty remark would be the most likely sign she would survive this.

She looked bleary-eyed at him. Blood-red tears had formed in her eyes. "Take my dagger, but don't touch it," she said quietly. He did as she asked, mildly aware of discomfort when he touched it.

"Now what?"

"Kiss me and promise to say goodbye to Aramil for me." Entreri nodded and put his lips upon hers.

At that moment Avariel and Cletran came in and stared. Entreri had wrapped Nova's dagger in a cloak so it looked as though he carried a babe, but what startled them more was to see the two kissing.

Entreri felt her die. It wasn't her body, it was her spirit. He felt as though his dagger wept and that a piece of his soul had just been torn away.

Sadly, he got up and started walking out of the room. There was no need to explain things. And even there was, he couldn't and wouldn't.

Author's note: Most of my magic phrases are going to be stolen from Eragon. Which, by the way, is very much worth the read.