I only have a vague idea of what I want to do with this chapter, because it's the next chapter I really want to get to. I know exactly what's going to happen, but it's another Moyra chapter, and I don't want to get into the habit of making someone get a chapter every other one. So this one is Kellach.

Also, this is more for me, but I want all of my future chapters to be more than two thousand words. That's the kind of author I am; I hate short chapters.

Anyway, here ya go.

CHAPTER 9

Kellach's dreams were tormented by visions of the shadow. He saw the people he loved, Driskoll, his father, Moyra, being torn apart by vicious claws made of pure evil. And he was helpless to stop it. Suddenly, he felt something forcing him to the ground, and a clawed hand moved across his mouth to keep him from speaking. He also felt a strong muscular arm wrap around his chest to keep him from moving, and a long whip-like tail tie itself around his legs. He was utterly trapped, unable to do anything. Then he heard a hissing voice whisper in his ear.

"Look at it, Kellach," the beast of shadows sneered, "Isn't all of this carnage beautiful? Look at your friends and family dying around you. I did this. I will destroy you all, turning you against each other. But for you, Kellach, I will have the most fun of all. Oh, you have no idea what I have planned for you!" There was a pause as the creature laughed, and Kellach shuddered. "And she will be helping me the whole way! Your heart will be torn apart, and then, my dear Kellach, you will be mine!" The beast let out a horrible laugh as Kellach squeezed his eyes shut and tried to struggle against the shadow. But it kept on laughing, and he couldn't do anything but listen to its voice fill his ears.

Suddenly, Kellach felt himself being dragged off the ground by his arm. He gasped awake and clawed at the floor, desperate to fight off his attacker. He was pulled onto his bed and his shoulders were roughly pinned down, keeping him from struggling. Whoever it was leaned over him and pressed a hand to his mouth.

"Kellach, please calm down!" a familiar voice hissed at him, "It's just me! You're ok, it was only a nightmare!"

It took Kellach a moment to realize that the person leaning over him was Moyra. She gently moved her hand away as Kellach tried to regain his breath. He looked up at her as she stared at him, waiting for him calm himself.

"Sorry, Moyra," he murmured, "The beast invaded my dreams and showed me horrible visions of everyone I know dying around me. It was horrible." He shuddered at the memory.

Moyra lifted her hands off his shoulders and allowed him to sit up. "I'm sorry as well," she said quietly, "I shouldn't have been so rough with you. But I couldn't wake you up and you wouldn't calm down." She moved a little closer to him and put her hand on top of his. "Are you all right now?"

Kellach looked down at her hand, then at her. He let out a little sigh. "I think so," he replied, "Thanks for waking me up."

Moyra smiled. "Any time," she said.

Kellach started to slide back down to the floor, but Moyra quickly lashed out and grabbed the front of his robes, pulling him back up. "Oh no you don't," she whispered slyly to him, "You're sharing the bed with me tonight. We can't have you going into another panic attack. And I won't take 'no' for an answer."

Kellach started to object, but Moyra pressed her hand to his mouth, silencing him. She smiled gently at him when she saw the concern in his eyes. "Don't worry," she said softly, "I won't bite. And it's not like I'm going to do anything to you during the night. I'm your friend, Kellach, I just want to make sure you're ok." She removed her hand from his mouth. "Besides, we slept together on the floor last night, and you didn't have any objections then. And you were the one who asked."

That was true, when Kellach thought about it. But somehow the floor felt different. There was plenty of space for both of them, and didn't feel as intimate. But Kellach's bed wasn't really meant to comfortably hold two people, and they would be forced to press right up against each other, perhaps a little closer than Kellach would've liked. But he also had to admit that he didn't want to spend the night alone on the floor, and perhaps having Moyra by his side while he slept would banish the dark visions from his mind. He let out a sigh.

"All right, Moyra," he said quietly.

Moyra smiled again, then leaned in and gently hugged him. Taken slightly by surprise, Kellach found his worries slowly draining from him. He allowed the faintest smile to appear and hugged her back. Then, even more surprisingly, Kellach suddenly felt Moyra's lips pressed against his neck. Taking a sharp breath, he felt a shiver run down his spine, but Moyra didn't seem to notice. It didn't last more than a moment before Moyra lay down on the bed, turning her back to him. Kellach stared in astonishment at her and shook his head to clear it. Sighing quietly, he laid down next to her, pressing his back against her. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, his dreams undisturbed by shadows.

…

When Kellach woke in the morning, he was still turned towards the room and he saw his brother staring across at him. Blinking in surprise, Kellach opened his mouth to explain, when he suddenly felt Moyra shift against him, pressing closer. Driskoll raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like you had a good night last night," he mused smugly.

"Shut up," Kellach muttered, looking away. He wanted to roll over and shove Moyra away to save himself from any more of his brother's looks, but he also didn't want to disturb her. He heard Moyra mumble something in her sleep, but he couldn't make out what she had said. Driskoll sat up in his bed and stretched.

"I'm going downstairs to get breakfast started," he announced, "When you two love birds are done snuggling, it'll be waiting for you." Then he grabbed his jacket and walked out of the room.

"We're not love bir-" But Kellach didn't get to finish his sentence as Driskoll slammed the door shut behind him. He sighed, annoyed, and rolled over to look at Moyra. She was still fast asleep and had been gently pressing her forehead against his back, but now that he had turned over she thrust her face into his neck, making him gasp. He felt her start to stir and he hoped she would move away in that moment, but she didn't. Kellach felt his heart start to race and he gently nudged his friend.

All that accomplished was getting Moyra to let out a strange little sigh, and Kellach shivered as he felt her warm breath against his skin. He felt her lips press to his neck, just next to his throat, and his heart sped up even more. She was asleep, wasn't she?

"Moyra," Kellach whispered as gently as he could.

"What?" Moyra muttered somewhat irritably into his neck.

Kellach blinked. So she was awake. He hadn't expected her to respond, so he had no idea what to say. He took a breath. "It's morning," he pointed out awkwardly.

"That's nice," she responded, not sounding at all embarrassed that she still had her face in his neck. Kellach tried not to shake.

"Um, are you planning on getting up soon?" he wondered. He didn't want to sound rude, but he had to admit he was baffled by her sudden change in attitude. Why was she doing this to him? Didn't she realize how uncomfortable he was?

"Why, are you?" Moyra countered. Kellach could swear he felt her press a little closer.

"I was planning to," he muttered. He suddenly felt her clutch the front of his shirt with both hands, and he had to stop himself from sighing. If he wanted to get up, he would basically have to rip himself from her grasp.

"Please don't go yet," Kellach heard Moyra say quietly, the edge gone from her voice to be replaced by a hint of sadness, "I just want to lie here with you for a little while longer."

"Why?" Kellach asked, genuinely confused. Moyra gave him no answer. He sighed silently. "All right," he resigned.

"Thank you," she replied, letting go of his shirt. She moved a little closer to him, and he felt her gently curve her body to match his own while her mouth pressed a bit harder against his throat. Kellach felt a strange tingle race along his entire body as Moyra gently breathed into his neck. He didn't know how long Moyra planned to lay there next to him, so he tried to stop himself from growing impatient or anxious.

After awhile Kellach was certain Moyra had fallen back asleep. Just as he was about to move away to get up, he felt her sigh, and her breath warmed his neck again. He shivered, and Moyra suddenly spoke.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. Kellach blinked in surprise.

"About what?" he wondered.

"I know I'm making you uncomfortable," she replied, "You think I can't hear your breathing? Or feel your heart beat, or your trembling? I'm not stupid, Kellach. I know how you feel about this. It's just…" She paused to think about her words. "I felt so vulnerable after the fire, but you immediately comforted me, holding me and making me feel safe. You're always making me feel better. Ever since this whole shadow beast thing started, I've felt more exposed and threatened than I ever have. But being next to you makes me feel better. Feeling you against me calms me down. I…" she paused again. "I'm sorry I keep making you uncomfortable."

Kellach felt ashamed of himself. Of course she wouldn't feel safe after the fire! It had destroyed her home and nearly destroyed her family. Plus, was it not Moyra who had already calmed his fears not once, but twice already? Why should he be so nervous around her? That first kiss had meant nothing; she had said so herself. And everything else? He felt horrible for being so uncomfortable when he should have been trying to comfort her.

"I'm the one who should be sorry," Kellach murmured, "You're my best friend, I shouldn't be nervous around you." He sighed. "I'm a lousy friend."

"No, you're not," Moyra insisted. She shifted herself so she could look directly into his eyes. "You're the best friend a girl could ask for." She leaned over and gently kissed him on the cheek. He blushed and looked away.

…

About a week passed and there weren't any instances with the shadow beast. Kellach had a small hope that it had gone away, but he didn't hope much. After that first night, Moyra insisted that Kellach share the bed with her every night, and Kellach had to admit that the nightmares seemed to have vanished. Except for one night, a week later.

Kellach had just lain down to sleep, with Moyra pressed right up against him. After admitting to himself that he was being silly, he didn't mind Moyra being so close to him anymore. And Moyra seemed content just lying next to him.

As he fell asleep, Kellach could feel Moyra's gentle hand on his shoulder. He drifted into sleep and he dreamed. He could hear the sound of a heart beating, softly at first, but it slowly grew louder and faster. Kellach opened his eyes and found himself in a dark and empty space. As the heart beat grew louder, tendrils of darkness started slithering towards him. Before he could react, the darkness wrapped itself around him, slowly smothering him. As it did, Kellach could hear the sound of a familiar laugh, and the beast of darkness pressed up behind him.

"How does it feel to be slowly smothered to death, Kellach?" the beast whispered in his ear. He could feel the creature's claws gripping his shoulders, and as Kellach tried to fight against the darkness, the beast roughly forced him to the ground. Terrified, Kellach felt the beast move on top of him and pin him to the ground. "Isn't it so terrible to be helpless?" the beast taunted, "Knowing you can do nothing to save yourself or anyone else? I'll make you feel helpless. You think you can hide from me forever? I have power over you, Kellach, and soon I will have enough power to wreck this city. I'll spill your blood and the blood of everyone you love." The beast leaned down and Kellach was forced to look it straight in the eye. Its cold, dead, hollow eyes.

The heart beat grew louder.

The beast licked its lips, then ran one clawed hand gently through Kellach's hair, making him shudder at its touch. Its grin grew wider and it leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"Am I making you uncomfortable, Kellach?" it hissed with pleasure, "I would say I'm sorry, but you know I'm not." The beast snickered.

"Why are you doing this?" Kellach managed to ask, his voice coming out in a cracked whisper, "Why are you tormenting me?"

"Because I was summoned to do so," the beast told him, "It's my job. Whenever I'm summoned, I take on the tasks my summoner wants me to do. And boy, does my summoner hate you!" The shadow beast chuckled, then threw back its head and laughed, as if remembering a great joke. Then it leaned down to Kellach again. "This person made it very clear that I was to torture you, use your friends against you, and kill you in the most painful and awful way. And once you are dead, Kellach…" The beast's voice lowered to a quiet whisper. "You will be mine forever! You will join me and the rest of my victims in eternal damnation!"

Kellach squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the beast's horrible laughter. The heart beat in his ears grew louder and louder until he couldn't take it anymore. He woke with a start, sitting up and gasping. Breathing heavily, Kellach looked around the room, which was still covered in the darkness of night. Moyra was still sound asleep next to him, unaware of his sudden panic. Through the darkness he could make out Driskoll asleep on his own bed, snoring softly with his face in his pillow. Kellach took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, then carefully got out of bed and threw on his robes. He silently walked downstairs and stealthily crossed through the living room where Royma and Breddo were asleep to the kitchen. Lighting a single candle for light, he went over to start boiling water and then sat down at the table, rubbing his temples to try to think.

The shadow beast… what had it said to him? That it had been summoned to kill him? But why? Who would want him gone? The only people Kellach could think of who could possibly be powerful enough to summon such a creature, and want to do him harm, were either dead or safely locked away. Could it possibly be an old enemy of the old order of the Knights of the Silver Dragon? But then why target him? Kellach was worried that the shadow had been ordered to go after Driskoll and Moyra as well, and he was afraid of what it might do to them. Sighing in frustration, Kellach got up and took the water off the fire and poured himself some tea before sitting down again. He mentally made a list of all of their enemies and almost immediately eliminated them as suspects, leaving absolutely no one left. There wasn't a single person he could think of who would've summoned the beast. Unless…

Kellach looked up when he heard a sound and saw Driskoll and Moyra standing in the doorway. They looked ruffled, obviously haven just woken up, and slightly annoyed that they were awake in the middle of the night. Driskoll let out a huge yawn.

"What are you doing awake at this hour?" he asked, sleepily, "Don't you know what time it is? Dad would kill us if he knew we were up."

"Then why are you two awake?" Kellach inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Answer the question!" Driskoll snapped.

Kellach sighed. "I couldn't sleep," he replied, "I had a nightmare about the shadow beast." He heard Moyra take a sharp breath and watched as she walked over to sit beside him. Driskoll gripped the back of a chair.

"You've been having nightmares, too?" he asked, concern showing in his eyes. Kellach stared back at him.

"I didn't know you were having nightmares," Kellach said, "Why didn't you say anything?"

Driskoll shrugged. "I didn't really think it was important," he answered, "Just my mind scaring me with images of the shadow beast or something."

"So we've all been having dreams about the beast of shadows," Moyra muttered from where she sat next to Kellach. "But what does it mean?"

The three of them sat there silently, trying to think. Driskoll sat down in the seat across from his brother and put his feet up on the table while Kellach stared at the ground, thinking about his nightmare.

"There was one thing the beast said to me in my dream that I found interesting," Kellach said eventually. Moyra looked at him.

"What was that?" she asked.

"It said it was summoned by someone who hates us," he replied, "I've been trying to think of who that might be, but everyone I've thought of couldn't have possibly have been able to summon it."

"Maybe it's not one of our past enemies," Moyra suggested, "Maybe it's someone who's been posing as a friend."

The potential horror of her words made Kellach shiver.

Ok, I'm gonna end it there. This chapter is getting pretty long, and I'm starting to get to some of the parts that I'm really excited about writing.

At least something kind of important came out of this chapter. Anyway, next time we go back to Moyra's POV, and I have a nasty idea. Look forward to that. :D