„Light at the End of a Dark Tunnel…"
„You treacherous wretch!" Daria didn't stop at threats, caching Viconia's throat and lifting the taller woman up easily. Drow's eyes became wide as plates when she ineffectively tried to gasp for air, her hands clutching on Daria's, fighting for a breath.
"Daria, stop!" Jaheira tried to knock the sun elf off her feet, but it was like a colliding with a wall, though the elf did release Viconia from her grasp. Minsc moved before the dark elf, shielding her from Bhaalspawn's wrath.
Daria backed away. She wanted to kill and they were on the way. Why didn't they take her side, instead protecting Viconia? It was a conflict and they trusted the drow traitor more than her?
"How does it feel?" Viconia coughed, treating her neck with a minor spell, crawling on the ground like a poisonous vermin she was.
"What?" Daria barked. Her patience was running thin. The Slayer was very eager to be released.
"I'm asking, how does the need of revenge feel, fool? Tell me. Is it better than staring at the sea for hours? Is it better than resignation?"
Daria hesitated. She felt… an emotion, a need. It was good, she felt stronger, motivated. Jaheira and Minsc looked at Viconia confused, but stood in places, separating the two elves.
"Let it be the second lesson. Never forgive. Hesitation is for weak, forgiveness is for the stupid, but the greatest sin is to forget a misdeed. You may wait for years before fulfilling your vengeance, you may take your time, to learn, to observe, to plan, but never forgive."
A lesson it was, all of it. Was it? All her life Daria was taught by the books, protected by Gorion, by Khalid and Jaheira, watched over by Elminster, the Harpers, guarded, cloaked, shielded, blinded. They told her what to do and what to avoid, clearing everything up hand and made her listen to them unconditionally. They made her a puppet dancing on their whim. And now Viconia gave her a lesson. A lesson she would not forget.
Should she be weak, she'd already be dead, bled out in forsaken corner of the Underdark. But she was strong and she learned that by herself. Viconia set a trap on her that would make her become stronger or kill her, but learn she had to all by herself. This was the way of Shar. Not by relying on others, but by finding strength in oneself. And Daria realized she needs to learn more, much more.
"If I listen to you, it means I will kill you one day, when I don't need you anymore" she hissed at the drow. The rage didn't left her completely yet, but instead of blind fury it was a controlled urge to get revenge. And it could wait for years.
"Don't worry baut'wael. I'll be ready" Viconia smiled viciously, getting to her feet.
Daria turned on her heel and left, leaving confused Jaheira with Viconia, eager to inform the druidess that the diviner was under her 'care' now.
In the deepest shadows of the underground they could have been walking in circles for hours, but no matter how hard Daria tried she couldn't divine even which way was North. Jaheira's bond with nature and Valygar's tracking abilities were of no use in this hostile environment, only Viconia seemed to have some vague idea about where they were going. In the end they had to pick one random direction and pray, each to a different god, for the path to end somewhere safe. Without any solid food rations they were forced to trust Viconia identifying some of the creatures and fungi of the Underdark as edible, but that wouldn't get them far.
Daria thrived. Rests, when all her companions slept exhausted by the travel and the heavy atmosphere of a sunless cavern, she spent studying magic, learning in a terrifying speed, without the need to waste time on sleeping or reverie, with inhuman concentration absorbing spell after spell. What passed for 'days' in seemingly timeless Underdark, the sun elf spent literally devouring the knowledge of the drow ways and the teachings of Shar, walking alongside Viconia. Often, when a stray umber hulk or a group of kuo-toa would emerge to interrupt their conversation, the sun elf would move a step before her companions and try one of the new incantations she learned, leaving only smoldering ashes, a puddle of acid, or a block of crushed ice where her enemies previously stood. The Slayer did not emerge in the heat of battle. At least not yet.
At the beginning of the fourth time they started to walk after resting in some secluded corner, they finally encountered another sentient being. It was more than just a simple luck that the first greeting they were to hear in this alien landscape was from a patrol of svirfnebli, the deep gnomes, one of the friendliest species one could encounter in the Underdark.
The first spoon of warm strew felt like the taste of heavens. The meat of rothe, as Viconia called it was a pinnacle of culinary art, compared to half-raw meat of Umber hulk, smelling with fungi they had to use instead of firewood. The deep gnomes had to be the most hospitable creatures in the whole wide Toril, Imoen was sure of it, as she packed the food into her mouth, not bothering to use what passed for cutlery in Underdark.
The beds were gorgeous, thousands times better than the dirty couches of the Ape back in Brynnlaw. The pink-head thief could spend hours lying on her bedspread, taking pleasure in the feelings coming from her satisfied stomach and tired legs, grateful for a break in wanderings. These were the most intense now that she had no soul.
The pink-haired rogue picked her resting place next to Valygar. The ranger seemed friendly enough, though more of the sulky kind, but Imoen suspected that Yoshimo's recent betrayal might have been the cause. He obviously hated magic in any form quite heatedly and grimaced comically, as if he was gulping down very bitter medicine, every time she cast a spell to enable infravision to him. It was quite funny actually.
The only thing Imoen didn't like about the ranger, the only new addition to their party, was the look he was giving to Daria every now and then. It was the look careful adventurers gave to an enemy they were forced to accept among their midst, when they had to watch their backs at all times, the look of those who kill at the first sign of treachery and don't ask why.
They all looked at Daria differently now. Jaheira for the first time appearing completely lost and unsure, without as much as trace of her usual self-confidence. Minsc, strangely silent, not even once proclaimed the need of a righteous butt-kicking. Only Viconia looked at her without hostility, like a person ready to dance with the fire, but it didn't change the fact that they all looked at her as one looks at a monster. All but Xan, because… he didn't look at her at all.
Imoen rolled on her bed, feeling all positive reactions to food and rest becoming less and less important. She had to help her sister, but how? Things were much more serious than being grounded for sneaking out to the library to play.
'Let's try with the food' the pink head decided. Maybe sis would learn to enjoy the simple pleasures of the taste like she did, making them a temporary replacement for lost emotions. Daria was probably sitting in some silent corner with her nose in the books and a faint Light hovering over her head, just like in the old times. Only back in Candlekeep she didn't have this gold glint in her eyes, like that of a jealous dragon gathering the knowledge like its most precious treasure.
Svirfnebli hospitality wasn't cheap.
The hole in the ground inside the cave where the beast was said to dwell smelled with demon, sending the stench far through the corridors, some of it reaching even the living quarters of the small deep gnomes' outpost, a distinctive scent of brimstone and evil being all too familiar from their short trip to Abyss. The monster plaguing the settlement had to be of infernal blood, but how it ended up trapped in the walls of Underdark remained a mystery. She'd know it by now should she have her divinations, but…
Not that it mattered much. Nothing mattered much, not the food, not the rest, not the secluded haven of deep gnomes outpost. But in exchange for this little meaning safety, provisions and information about Irenicus, who seemed to be well known even as far as in the Underdark, they were sent to kill the beast threatening the existence of the town and bring the ceiling down on its head so it wouldn't rise again. A reasonable precaution, given the fact that no demon could be simply killed in material plane.
Demon's abilities – Daria scanned her memories for details. Since the loss of her spirit her memory worked absolutely faultlessly. It was almost too easy to recover every detail, when her head wasn't clouded with needless emotions and fears. Even the memories from the Irenicus' dungeon were all at her disposal and she could easily recall every torture she suffered, every pain she was dealt. She could just as effortlessly throw it away from her mind, but instead she used those recalling to strengthen her determination to get possibly bloody revenge on the mad mage, just as Viconia advised. Daria couldn't say it worked, she considered herself indifferent to a person back then, a weaker one, broken that easily by physical pain and few illusions. The fact that Irenicus was to die by her hand was not a result of it, but it was still obvious.
"We need protection from fear, paralysis and fire" she commanded to her party and began to cast herself, adding some powerful abjurations to defend them, but none for herself. In a minute she would need no protection. Imoen and Xan began to cast their own spells, which Daria instantly recognized as simple fear protectors and other basic defensive charms. Jaheira began to cover them with orange-colored magic to protect them from infernal's blaze.
"Everybody ready?" she looked around at her party, with their faces colored with varied shades of hostility, all centered on her. In a moment she would give them a batter reason for hate… and envy.
"Get in positions" she ordered. "I will call the demon. Attack only when it emerges fully, otherwise evade. I don't want anyone to check how deep this hole is."
Daria turned to the lair of the demon taking a deep inhale and called the Slayer, just as Viconia taught her to call the inner darkness, growing fluently, calmly.
Long hook-like nails… no, talons, she had talons now, with harpoon-like strings. This hands… paws, weren't useful for holding anything, a real pain when handling delicate things and she couldn't even imagine using them to cast, but they weren't made for it, were they? They were shaped to rip their victim to bloody pieces, leave it torn and dead, beyond resurrection, beyond as much as recognition. This body was shaped to murder.
It would be only so easy to kill any person standing near her. Take Minsc for example. She saw him overpowering a troll with his bare hands only, but she was certain she could snap his neck without breaking a drop of sweat. She almost… no, she did want to know was she right, she wanted to use this form to its limits, test it properly. She would die anyway, she would go to hell anyway… she had nothing to lose.
'Later…later' she thought. Testing strength could wait. For now… the demon. A shiver of excitement ran along her spine at the anticipation of the upcoming fight. No lowly infernal could stand against her in this form. She knew.
The Slayer walked to the edge of the deep pit on its scaled legs with three long toes, each ending with a talon. And it howled, a terrible sound, alike to nothing a mortal creature could produce, echoed on the walls of the demon's lair. Daria walked away from the hole calmly, remaining in the form of avatar, ignoring the petrified look her party was giving her and squatted casually by Viconia, lashing her reptilian tail back and forth. Even the drow priestess looked whiter than usual, grey, considering her dark complexion.
The demon crawled slowly from its hole, one clawed paw appearing first, then the other, and then the ugly horned head showing in the field of vision. It was covered with a mix of blood-red scales, thinner than the Slayer's, and tangled black fur with the ever-present stink of brimstone surrounding it like a closest friend.
'Not nearly as terrifying as me' Daria found out with amusement.
Minsc slowly approached the monster, but Daria waited in place not to make her companions panic. They would have to get used to the Slayer, but she had time. The next went Valygar and then Jaheira, Viconia beginning a chant quietly. They all walked slowly, aiming to get as close to their opponent as possible before attacking.
The demon smiled, showing two lines of yellow teeth. It roared, but the aura of infernal fear slipped off the magic defenses on Daria's companions, not to mention that its roar came out pale in confrontation to hers. Then the beast charged, spreading dark bat-like wings, till now hidden behind its back.
"It's coming!" Jaheira managed to shout, before the demon clashed with the first-line fighters. The heavy blows of its arms with muscles tense like cords were difficult to block even for Minsc, as they tried to withstand the initial fury of the charge. Valygar rolled on the ground under one of the long arms and cut the scaled abdomen, leaving a long, but shallow gush. Dark blood stained the stone and the Slayer stirred with interest.
'Almost the time' Daria thought after the pole of divine fire fell on demon form the ceiling, swashing it with godly rage at the call of Viconia. She watched her comrades struggling to wound the fiend, keeping an eye out just in case. Or maybe Slayer's intervention wouldn't be necessary?
It was. The tanar'ri batted its wings, spreading them to their full length and shot forward. Imoen, who was just trying to sneak behind it, was rapidly shoved back with the gust of air, in the direction of the dark pit. The pink-head stopped just on the edge of the rift, trying to catch balance. Slayer's head rose to look when Imoen flapped her arms helplessly a few times, already knowing her stoneskins wouldn't save her from collapsing, and then went down.
Slayer's eyes didn't follow her sister's fall. The avatar's body relaxed and Daria moved forward with the impossible speed, bouncing from the ground a step before the edge of the pit and then diving into it. She saw Imoen in the air with her mouth open wide for the scream and caught her gently, cautiously, as a mother would, caring for none of Slayer's thorns to slash girl's skin. Then the scaled arm shot to the stone wall like a lightning, boring a deep gash in it and stopping the fall. Surrounding her sister with the other arm to prevent her from falling out of her grasp Daria jumped up, bouncing from the vertical wall, with all Slayer's strength. In one leap she got out of the hole, landing safely on the ground. The avatar looked around to make sure the demon wasn't near, cornered by Minsc and fried by Viconia and Xan. Only then Daria freed her sister form Slayer's arms, putting her carefully on the ground. She extended her scaled arm to help her stand on her wobbly legs.
"Stay away from her, beast!" Valygar with his face covered with hate aimed his red-edged katana at her.
"Aw, shut your trap, Valygar!" Imoen managed to stand on her own. She turned to the ranger, still looking as if she was about to throw up from the recent ride, and stick out her tongue at him. Then she patted the non-spiked part of the Slayer's shoulder and smiled. "Thanks sis. If not for you I'd be a goner by now. I owe you one again."
If the Slayer could smile it would, but such exertion was beyond her misshaped maw. Instead Daria dashed forward, leaped into the air and fell at the demon like death from above, unable to contain the pure bloodlust greater than any before. With most dreadful strength it caught beast's both wings by their base and pulled, tearing them out, making the demon howl in pain. Everybody jumped back from the two fighting fiends and the gushing red liquid covered the view as Daria began to tear her opponent to pieces, her claws crushing flesh and limbs and throwing it like useless trash all around. The tanar'ri died at last and a most peculiar howl came out from avatar's mouth, a long and broken titter.
The Slayer was laughing.
The scales began to fade showing the blood-covered skin and silver-less violet once again shining in her eyes as she returned to her elven form, still laughing madly, unable to stop. Without any distinction the laughter became a series of frantic sobs, squeezing tears from her eyes. 'Why?' she asked herself. She felt so good, finally without the guilt and worry, with nothing she considered powerful enough to imprison her again, able to protect whoever she wanted. Then why was she crying? The sun elf fell on the ground, unable to withstand the crushing emotion coming from unknown source.
"Sis, are you alright?" Only Imoen dared to walk up to her. The pink-head put her hand on Daria's shoulder, despite demon's blood covering it completely.
"I-I'm getting better" the diviner stuttered. Her sister's touch made her shiver. "Are you unhurt?"
"Oh, sis…" Now Imoen began to cry as well, and hugged the elven woman, smearing blood all over her clothes. Almost like in Candlekeep… Another lost memory appeared in the emotionless mind. They never cried separately, always together. When one began, no matter of the cause, the other was soon enough with her to cry together. But there was no blood on their clothes in Candlekeep.
Finally, after nine days, Daria was overcome with sleep, and she fell to its lure in Imoen's arms.