Chapter 7: Control

A pair of elves waited at a closed door at the end of a dim, dust filled hall. One leaning against the wall on one shoulder and the other sitting, head tilted back with eyes closed.

"How much longer are we going to wait?" muttered the standing elf, "It's been almost a day since the master has ordered us to guard this door. Not like anyone will be down here anyways."

"You want to leave, then leave, "said the second elf not bothering to open his eyes, "Don't blame me when the master decides to use your blood."

"Bah!" said the standing elf waving his hands, "The master does not scare me but the one that controls him…that voice…" The elf shivered.

The second elf opened his eyes and sat up straight, bringing up a hand to his head. "The voice is bad enough, but I keep hearing…"

In less than a second both elves were dead, throats slashed. Quick and painless. Cole stands up from his kneeling position next to the second elf as he cleans his daggers on the side of his pants. After sheathing his weapons, the rogue takes a look at the door and then kneels back down to pick the locks.

"Mew"

"I know, "said Cole not bothering to look at the calico cat that walked up and sat next to him, "The whispers are strongest on the other side of this door. I need you to be careful."

"Purrrp?"

"Yes, I will be careful too, "replied Cole as the lock released. There was a small popping sound, accompanied with a flash of faint green light. "Oops."

The cat's tail twitched angrily as she sent a narrowed eyed glare towards the rogue.

(Fade)

A biotic wave knocked a group of demons out of the way as Jane continued towards her target and worse possible nightmare: Cole possessed by Harbinger. Problem with that plan was that instead of putting her down, the thought, the image of Cole in that state just got her pissed and she knew who to take that anger out on. She knew in the real world, Harbinger would just switch to another body but here in the Fade he most likely couldn't. The mage Harbinger was controlling was his only means here. Take out the mage, Harbinger will feel it as he was kicked back to the real world. Well that was the theory anyway.

Seeing the wake of destruction Shepard was making as she made her way to Harbinger, Skyhold sighed as she fired away to thin the demon numbers, "She's too angry. If she's not careful, she'll be summoning rage demons."

Justice actually chuckled and replied, "I wouldn't worry about that. Her anger is not blinding her and it is focus on one thing, the creature that dares to threaten the one she cares for. I'm more concerned with her constant use of her powers. Normally she would almost be completely drained and in pain by this point. It's the reason why she depends on fists and daggers."

Down below, Shepard had reached the fake Cole. An explosion of biotic energy scattered the demons he had surrounding him and knocked Harbinger back a few feet as well. A biotic powered punch knocked him on the ground and Shepard planted her foot firmly on his neck. She pulled out her shotgun and said, "If you think I was a problem before, you haven't seen nothing yet. I will hunt your body down. I will have it shredded and buried so deep, that even if this world's sun goes nova they will not be able to find your remains. I will not rest until you are erased. The cycle ends on Thedas." She then aimed the shotgun right into fake Cole's face and fired.

(Under Skyhold)

A man wearing bloodied merchant clothes jumped up with a scream, grabbing hold of his face. "That bitch!" he growled. How dare she threaten the master like that! She will pay! In the waking world she was now vulnerable. It would be child's play to take control of one of the servants and have the bitch's throat slit open while she was still under the influence of the Mortal's Fade. The mage's hands lowered slowly as he noticed something was wrong. The wards were gone.

Out of nowhere a pair of double bladed daggers came to stab him shoulders only to meet a barrier protecting the blood mage. The blood mage sent a ring of fire to catch the assassin, only to find an apparently empty chamber.

"Well it seems that the bitch's little pet has fangs as well, "the mage snarled as he drew out a dagger and ran it across the palm of his left hand, "First I will kill you, then her and then I will take control of the Inquisitor's mind for the master."

"You will not hurt anyone ever again, "came Cole's voice. The mage sent a fireball in the direction he thought the voice was coming from only to hit bare stone. Cole added, "I won't let you."

"Who are you to stop me, "snarled the mage, "A demon trying to fit in with mortals? Or are you a worthless boy with the pathetically weak powers of a minor demon? You're a freak! Not a demon, not a human! Some…thing they sent down here alone since no one cares if you live or die. I'll be doing the Inquisition a favor destroying you."

"I am Cole and this is Lady Chases-Shadows, "the rogue replied just as a certain feline dropped on top of the mage's head and somehow disrupted his barrier as she attempted to scratch out his eyes, hissing and yowling. The mage was able to reach up and grab hold of the cat, throwing her in a random direction.

"Assuming direct control."

The mage bend over and clenched his fists as gold light started to break out in cracks over his body and then he stood straight up with glowing gold eyes. A bright flash of blinding gold light forced removed all the shadows in the once dim room, revealing a now blinded Cole. With a metallic sounding snarl, Harbinger walked over to take hold of the rogue's neck and picked him up.

To be continued…