AN: Hello! If I seem to disappear for extended periods of time, I probably haven't died. I have a few hours of spare time every couple days, and most of those times I have better things to do than get on the Internet. I do love to write, and I wish I had more time to do so, but...until about November (which is when marching season ends), it'll be slow going. And this year, I'm planning to be involved in more afterward, so...yeah. I guess you just won't see me much during the school year.

But I'll try!

Oh, and PS: I have an excellent idea for The Beginning of the End.

"Nephamael..." Ethine sighed deeply in an attempt to steel herself for what was to come. After their last encounter, she was much more wary of him, knowing that he was almost literally capable of anything, especially with his new position as King of the Unseelie Court.
He looked icy and imposing, as a Lord of the Night Court should look. He gave the impression of a marble statue; his skin looked so smooth and white and his eyes seemed to be made of glass. He stared at her like something unpleasant he had stepped in, or, maybe more accurately, something that had run out into his path, and that he'd had to deal with. "What?" he snapped irritably, as if she had demanded something out of him.

She decided not to waste time with petty chitchat, with the pretense that they had remained anything more than coldly hostile acquaintances. He was a danger to her; she was a potential victim to him. It was as simple as that. She knew she took a great risk in coming here to plead for Roiben's life.

She remembered what Roiben had said to her once he ha discovered her association with Nephamael:

"Please, Ethine, believe me when I say that there is little joy to be found in loving another who does not return your love."

She had attempted to shrug off his words with the predictable "You couldn't possibly understand" cliche, but she had known inwardly that he was right. He could understand, and very well, at that. He had been considerably hurt when she had shot back with that, but she had not given much thought to it at the time. Now she was wishing that she had had the chance to apologize before he was subjected to such torture, even death--and it was sure to be painful--under Nephamael's rule. How typical of Nephamael to ruin everything.

"Please, I implore you to release my brother. He has endured much in his years in his service to Nic--your--court, and--" She winced at this painful blunder.

"No." He didn't address her mistake, merely cut her off with a sharp refusal.

"Please, Nephamael, have mercy."

"It does you no good to beg for mercy from me. That is one thing I do not give. Never have, never will." He stated this so matter-of-factly that it shocked Ethine. How could she have ever been attracted to this monster?

"Fine," she sighed, resigning herself to a sort of compromise, although it pained her to do so. "Keep him for awhile, have your fun, but then, please... you must let him go."

"Oh, really?" He leaned forward and fixed her with his intense gaze; she seemed to have forgotten how threatening it was He certainly did not seem to appreciate her telling him what he, the Lord of the Night Court, must do. "For that, I will simply have to keep him as long as I wish. I am a very impatient man, Ethine, and I tire easily of my amusements, which is quite unfortunate for your brother." He smiled poisonously, making Ethine's stomach clench in fear and revulsion. "I would advise you to enjoy the short amount of time he will remain among the living. In fact, I may keep my eye on you yourself."

He laughed, and for a moment, the deep, silky sound soothed her--until, that is, she remembered exactly why he was laughing.

"No! You can't! Surely--"

"Someone, please, remove her from my sight," Nephamael sighed and flourished one elegant hand in a dismissive gesture, resting his head in the other.

As Nephamael's surrounding guards dragged a distraught and helplessly struggling Ethine away, Nephamael called out to her, "Oh, and Ethine? You will learn not to make demands of me, you can be sure of that."