Numquam Timebunt Umbrae
Translation: Never fear the shadows
Thunder roared all around them, windows banging, the wind howling in the trees and angry streaks of light blasting through the black sky.
"So much power, so raw, so untamed... show me what you can do, girl! Come on!"
He fires a bolt of lightning towards her and she dodges just in time. It hits the wall behind her, scorching it violently.
She stares at him, feeling rage course through her, through her blood, her skin feels hot and flush. She can feel herself burning up, her palms beginning to itch.
She yells at him. "No! You cannot command me to do anything with your vile threats! Put the necklace down!"
His light blue eyes glitter at her with mad glee.
Then a hissing voice speaks inside her head. A serpentine, malevolent, deep Voice.
It says Hit him, burn him, destroy him with your fire... you must let go. You must do this, Virginia. Face your fear.
The Necromancer says slowly, "Very well. If you will not protect yourself, what about your mother?"
She gasps in horror as he turns his attention to her mother and prepares to fire at her.
"Mother! Move away!" she yells and unleashes a stream of orange fire.
The entire courtyard shrieks with awe and fear as she blows a strong stream of fire on the Necromancer , trying her best to burn him.
To her dismay, he conjures up a wall of ice and her flame melts it rapidly, into a pool of water. He winds the water with his fingers, turning it into a whip and lashes at her with it.
She jumps out of the way but the whip catches her leg and she falls down.
The Necromancer lifts her up with just a wave of his fingers and the whip of water is now around her throat, squeezing her.
I cannot breathe. I cannot breathe!
She kicks out but it is of no use, he is holding her in the air by invisible magic.
There is a burning sensation in her chest and she gasps for air.
Again the Serpent Voice hisses at her. You are stronger than this. Do not hold back. Let go Virginia! Unleash your flame!
She decides to listen to the Voice and with a last burst of strength, she desperately throws an orb of flame at the Necromancer.
He nimbly tries to avoid it but his concentration is broken and he is badly singed by the flame. The watery whip breaks and she falls hard to the floor, gasping for air, body paining from the impact of the fall.
Her mother shouts, "Virginia, are you alright?!" She lifts a hand in response weakly.
Some of his soldiers charge towards her mother and she blasts them with a stream of flame, burning them to cinders.
The Voice in her head laughs violently and it makes her head ache. She realizes the Necromancer is also laughing evilly and she looks up to see him, standing there.
She feels anger, pure anger boil within her. Ohhhh says the Voice with glee. The rage, the fire, it is so glorious, isn't it my dear... Let him have it, Virginia. Make him burn, kill him, you want to... don't you want to killll him... it whispered to her slowly.
She forms fire in her palms and begins to create a giant circle around her, willing it to appear from within her. The Necromancer watches her silently now, alert and eyes gleaming with excitement. She has now encircled herself in a giant orb of flame, violently burning and ebbing.
She trembles slightly with the effort of holding it around her and the Voice whispers to her, Well done, my child. Well done... look at how proud your mother is...
She glances sideways to see her mother staring at her in abject shock, her mouth wide open, eyes wide with disbelief. There are the charred corpses of the soldiers around her.
The Voice hisses so maliciously to her, Is it pride... or disgust in her eyes? After all, it is not every day that one gets to see one's child become a murderer... Murderer... that is what you are, aren't you Virginia?
No, I am not!
Really... look at your mother... she is horrified to see you for what you truly are. A monster... A monster...
No! Mother! I am sorry...
Her control on the orb slips and as the Necromancer shoots a blast of lightning at her, she feels the flame explode violently, blasting her with heat. She falls backwards, hits her head hard on stone and then nothing...
She comes to slowly, the sound of the wind howling, bringing her to her senses. Then she looks into blank, blue eyes, so like her own, the face so familiar, the form so still, lying there quietly next to her. Hair singed badly. She looks down at the badly burnt body.
Then she starts to scream loudly with the horror of what she has done and the Necromancer places his foot on her head, pinning her down to the floor. He speaks to her, "Face what you are. Look at what you have done. You monster, you murderer."
As her hands are chained behind her and the Necromancer throws his head back and laughs, the Voice hisses at her, Virginia, you are everything the legends say and more.
A forked tongue licks her face lewdly and she screams as she is turned to face a huge, throbbing eye with a triangular, ruby red pupil, encircled in a thick, scaly, black rim, enshrouded in darkness. It blinks at her slowly. Her heart begins to beat violently as its gaze moves over her body.
It hisses at her softly, the tongue moistly flicking over her face,
I am your master now and I am pleased with what I see. You have been judged. I accept your power, your strength and your soul. Accept your fate. As my soldier.
Tony was fast asleep, dreaming of sunny meadows and Pepper running through them happily, with daisies in her hair. He awoke with a start, as his cabin door banged loudly.
"YALDSON", he sat up in bed, exclaiming loudly.
Just then, a particularly vicious streak of lightning burst through the sky and shone through the porthole, illuminating his dark room. A loud, rolling clap of thunder was heard and he took a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart. It was funny that the door slamming sound had awoken him, because the sound of breaking thunder had been continuous for some time now.
Tony got off the bed and went to peer out of the porthole.
"The sky is nearly purple with rage and lightning, how magnificent!"
After their energetic morning, spent climbing up the main mast, he and Pepper had enjoyed a late lunch with the Captain, entertaining him with tales of their adventures so far. Then the sky had darkened ominously and the entire crew had stood on deck, as the ship's navigator told them bad weather was coming their way.
Tony and Pepper had helped in any way they could, tying down the rigging, securing the cannons, closing portholes and so on. Finally, around eight in the evening, when the sky had gone very dark and there was not a star in the sky, the Captain had told them to head downstairs and settle down for the night.
Pepper had retired to her room early, saying she was tired. She had whispered to Tony, to come visit her later. But then the Quartermaster had roped him into a game of House of Luck, along with the navigator and the petty officers. It had been late by the time he had returned to his room. He had not wanted to disturb Pepper, so he slept.
"The weather was not this bad, when I went to sleep." He mused as he stared at the storm lash out at the sea, the ship rolling with the violent waves.
The Dragon was humming and then hissed loudly. Can you hear that, Anthony?
Indeed, the sound of someone moaning and crying out, was evident between the claps of thunder. Tony listened carefully. Then he opened his door and looked outside.
The sound was clearer here and it seemed to be coming from Pepper's room, two doors down the swaying hallway.
"What the hell? Pepper, hold on, I am coming!"
Tony ran to her door and then ran back to his room, cursing violently.
"Pants! Pants! I can't go to Pepper naked!"
He pulled on his black trousers hurriedly, nearly tripping over himself and then ran back to her room and knocked on the door.
"Pepper, Pepper! Open the door!"
He could hear her scream now and he pushed the door open.
Streaks of lightning bathed the room in an unearthly, purple glow. Pepper was writhing violently on the bed, sweating profusely. She was lying flat on her stomach, head pressed against her pillow firmly, as if she was being held down. Her eyes were closed tightly and she screamed loudly.
"Shit, she's having a nightmare!"
Tony came near her, aiming to flip her onto her back. He caught her shoulder and yelped with pain as the heat of her body burnt his hand.
"God damn it, she's burning up! She is too warm for me to touch!"
One of her arms was hanging limply by her side, the other behind her back but smoke was wafting upwards from both her palms.
He did not know what to do.
"How do I touch her! How can I touch her without burning...Wait!"
He lifted her thick scarf, which was laid out on a nearby chair and wrapped it around his wrists and hands. Then he caught her shoulders, hissing at the heat coming off her and shook her gently.
"Pepper, Pepper, wake up! You are having a nightmare!"
He turned her onto her back and she kicked out at him. Then he shook her roughly, desperate to wake her.
She opened her eyes and jerked upright suddenly, breathing heavily and initially he was relieved. Then Tony looked at her eyes in the dark bedroom and swallowed hard. Their blue depths had an ominous reddish orange light, glowing within them. He then saw stars as Pepper boxed him squarely in the jaw.
He fell to the floor with the force of her blow and she scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room like the Devil was chasing her.
From where he got the adrenaline, he did not know but Tony picked himself up and ran out after her.
The Dragon was actually shouting in his head, She is going to jump overboard! Anthony, catch her! She is going to jump overboard!
His heart thumped loudly as he bounded down the hallways and climbed up the stairs two at a time, just to reach the deck. It was raining heavily now and thunder rumbled loudly. Tony ran out onto the wet wooden deck and turned sideways. His heart leapt to his throat.
Pepper was standing a short distance away, palm raised to the sky as if she was going to fire at it. Then she lowered her hand and turned to run towards the stern, like a ghost in white, hair streaming behind her. "She's going to jump! Pepper!"
He raced after her, flame surging within him and roared her name. Then Tony lunged towards her, calling upon all his strength and fell on her heavily. They both fell to the floor, Tony turning last minute with Pepper in his arms, to shelter her from the impact. He landed on his back and shoulder and grunted in pain.
His fighting instincts took over, numbing the pain. Tony turned nimbly and pinned Pepper face down to the floor, pressing her with half his weight, in an effort to subdue her. He did not want to hurt her, so instead of a chokehold, he caught her wrists and held her arms behind her.
The rain beat down on them mercilessly but he did not care. She was cold to his touch and did not say anything. He could not see her face but he yelled to be heard above the thunder, "Pepper! What the hell are you doing!"
She had gone limp under him and he heard her whisper, "I am sorry, Tony, please... please take me back to my room, I am sorry." He realized that they had to get out of the rain as they were both getting soaked. He got off her and she remained on the floor, head turned away.
He lifted her to stand and when she swayed precariously, he knelt, caught her around her knees and hoisted her into his arms. She looped her hands around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. As Tony carried her out of the rain, he felt her tremble uncontrollably in his arms and he tightened his grip on her. He could not see her face because she had turned it into his shoulder.
The Quartermaster and a cabin boy were standing on the stairs and looking at them curiously.
Tony spoke firmly, "Towels and a tub of hot water... needed as soon as possible in my room!"
The cabin boy ran to do his bidding. The Quartermaster looked at him with worry. "Is everything all right, Sir?"
Tony cradled Pepper close to him. She had closed her eyes. He said gruffly, "She had a bad dream. She didn't realize she was on a ship."
"Say no more, Sir. We all have our nightmares." He lowered his voice. "Perhaps some whiskey would help her. It soothes the spirit in times like these."
Tony nodded gratefully. "Yes please, if you can spare it."
"I shall send it with the boy, Sir. Good night."
Tony entered his room and set Pepper down, urging her to stand. She stood there silently, hair covering her face, holding the table for support. He laid his coat on the bed and made her sit down on it. Then he lit a succession of candles to light up the dark room.
They were both soaked to the skin. "This won't do," he muttered to himself, "She will catch a fever if we do not get out of these clothes." There was a knock of the door and he exclaimed with relief.
The cabin boy entered with a stack of clean linen towels. Another boy came in as well, holding a small wooden tub. "Set it down by the bed, near the lady please." The boy poured a large jug of boiling water into the tub. The first cabin boy had left and returned with a tray, containing a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
Tony thanked them as they left, then he proceeded to open one towel and start to dry Pepper off, rubbing her arms and shoulders vigorously.
"Put your feet in the water." She shifted to the edge of the bed and placed her feet in the hot water, with a slight hiss.
She was shivering and he renewed his efforts to rub her down. He knew he was rubbing her roughly but he did not care, he wanted her to get dry. He rubbed her hair and then muttered gruffly, "Your gown is wet, you need to take it off."
She did not do or say anything, she just sat there, head lowered and Tony decided to take matters into his own hands. He selected the biggest towel of the lot, and wrapped it around her, then he picked up his dagger from the table. When he unsheathed it, Pepper stared at him, wide eyed, eyes filled with fear.
Tony was at the end of his patience, especially with her silence and he roared, "Consarn it, woman! I am not going to harm you! I simply want to get you out of this dress! Hold the towel to you, while I cut it open!"
He paid her no attention then and made a slight tear in the hem of the dress. He looked straight ahead the porthole, caught the gown at the tear blindly and tore it apart. Still Pepper did not say a word, she just held the towel mutely to her as he tore the gown off her.
Gently... easy there, Anthony... something has scared Virginia to her core. She is not entirely herself. Do not lose your temper. Easy... the Dragon whispered to him soothingly.
Tony threw away the soaking wet gown, now in tatters. He took another towel and wrapped it around Pepper. Then he began to towel her torso off, staring at the porthole ahead, trying not to look at her.
My god, she feels so soft. This is a new form of torture, rubbing her through the cloth... I am not going to look down, I am not going to look down... alright, that is enough rubbing.
He stepped away to his trunk, pulled out his tightest button-less shirt and went back to Pepper. He raised her hands above her head and pulled the shirt down over her. She let him do so, like a child. Tony studiously looked at the porthole as he pushed away the two towels around her.
I have been staring at this damn window for so long, I can draw it in my sleep.
Once he was satisfied the shirt was on her, Tony picked up the two wet towels and dumped them near the door. Pepper's beautiful legs were completely bare and her feet were still dipped in the tub. She idly swirled them in the water, face lowered.
Tony shivered suddenly. Shit, I need to change as well.
He picked up a candle and rummaged in his trunk for his braies or loose, drawstring drawers. He found them and picking up one towel, Tony walked to the other side of the bed, away from Pepper's side.
She raised her head and through her curtain of hair, turned to watch him and he growled, "Look away now!"
She turned away then and he quickly pulled off his drenched trousers and dried his legs off. Then he pulled on the dry pants and tightened the drawstring.
Tony walked back to the other side of the room, wrapping the towel around his shoulders and drying himself vigorously. He stepped to the table, opened the bottle of whiskey and took a deep appreciative sniff at the rich, smoky bouquet of the alcohol.
Tony toweled his hair off and then draped the towel over his neck. He did not feel very cold anymore but he knew the whiskey would warm him up completely. He poured two glasses out, only two fingers for Pepper and handed her the glass.
She finally raised her head to look at the glass blankly and then looked at him, shaking her head slightly. He quirked one eyebrow at her and she silently took the glass, raised it to her lips and drank it in one go.
Tony sat down next to her and rubbed her back as she sputtered with the burning taste of the whiskey. "Hey, sweetheart, it is not water, you should have had it slower. There... there... the burning will fade." He kept rubbing his hand along her back, feeling her soft flesh, then he lifted his hand away abruptly.
Tony pushed the tub away and knelt in front of Pepper, who stared at him sadly, blue eyes soft and wide on her face. He caught her chin in his hand and said to her firmly, "Do you want to talk about what just happened? Your nightmare?"
She bit her lip and shook her head slowly. He sighed, exhausted and rather sad she would not confide in him. Tony straightened, rubbed his eyes and said tiredly, "Since you do not want to talk, I am going to go to your room and sleep. Good night."
He turned and put one foot out of the door, when he heard the bed creaking and suddenly Pepper was behind him, her hand soft on his wrist. He heard her whisper pleadingly, "Tony, I am sorry, let us talk please... please, I will tell you the truth now... about my powers."
He turned to look into her beautiful face, eyes blank and sad and mouth drawn in tension. He nodded and stepped back into the room, closing the door.
Pepper got back on the bed, curling her knees under her and Tony pulled a chair closer to the bed's edge, so he could face her. He took a sip of the whiskey from his glass.
"First, I must tell you about Summac..."
