A/N This chapter has been bumped up to an M rating, due to Violence, Language, and Dark Themes.

When Life Takes Hold
Chapter 8 - Evelyn

It is always darkest before the dawn.

The sun warmed her skin as the grass lightly tickled her face. The sounds of summer birds filled the air, their songs quietly lulling her. It was music to her ears. She wanted to stay like this forever and never leave. It was here she would always come when ever she needed to get away and right now she wanted to be away from everyone and everything. To just stay here in the sun and let it warm her through and leave everything else behind.

"Evelyn?"

A smile tugged the corners of her lips; she would know that voice anywhere. It was one she would never forget, and one she had known all of her life. It was a voice she missed dearly and this was the only place she would ever hear it again.

"Evie, Where are ye lass?"

Only two people ever called her by that name, and both had been taken from her. Evelyn did not answer right away, deep down she knew this was not him, as he had long since passed, and this impostor, no matter how badly she wished it, was not him but was a demon. She always fought against denying the demons their pleasures, but this time though, this time she wished to bask in the dream and not fight it. She was so tired of fighting them and now she would just enjoy it for however long she had left.

"I'm here Papa," she called out, sitting up and peeking over the top of the tall grass.

"Ah, there ye are, I thought I would find ye here."

And then he appeared to her. It was him in every way. From his warm loving smile to his bright green eyes, the thick dark auburn hair that mirrored her own. That smile always calmed her and his very presence made her feel safe. He wore his hair tied tight at the back and it reminded her of someone, but couldn't quite recall who. The image was just out of her reach as she let the dream take hold.

Evelyn remembered this day; it was the day when everything changed for their little family. Her father wore his best leathers. His prize bow and quiver strapped to his back, which was why she was here in the field; she had run off before he was to leave.

"Don't go Papa," She had pleaded

"Evie, lass ye know I have to." He wrapped his large arms around her, hugging her tightly. "When the Prince calls ye have to answer, ye know that."

"But why you Papa, why not someone else? Missy's Da is as good an archer, ye said so yerself."

"Ye know why lass, but I shan't be gone long. I'll be back 'fore ye know it. Now let's get back 'fore yer Mam starts to burn the forest down looking for ye."

She smiled at the thought, as this was something her Mother would do. She always worried, always expected the worst; it was her Father that kept her grounded and from losing control of her fears. Now it would be her turn. Holding out his hand to Evelyn, he smiled as she took it willingly, letting him pull her to her feet; she leaned into her Father's side as he rested his arm loosely around her shoulders.

"Yer a brave lass Evelyn, I need ye to watch over yer Mam and Sister while I'm gone alright?"

A lump formed in her throat as she fought back the tears, she didn't want to think about it. This was not the last time she'd see her Father she knew, and even though the time had passed quickly as he promised. He had only come back to whisk them away from her beloved homestead to the city to live.

That act in turn is what doomed her family, if he had just turned down the Prince's offer maybe they would still be alive. A nod was all she could offer him as they walked together back to the cottage, her eyes catching a dark figure looming along the tree line. Turning her head away she chose to ignore it and just let it happen.

"You found her!" That voice, so soft like Lucy's was. The words sent a shiver through Evelyn. The sound was so alive and just like her Mother. She felt a part of herself wash over with shame. If her Mother could see her now, she would be disgusted with her daughter for letting herself be led by these demons. Another part of her was tired of caring.

"See love, I told ye she was safe."

"Myles, for as long as I live I will never understand either of you." Her smile was soft and welcoming, yet it set the hairs on Evelyn's neck on end.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," her Father beamed with pride. "Evie and I have a connection ye just can't understand," he chuckled.

"Aye, so it would seem."

Myles grinned mischievously; it was a look Evelyn remembered so clearly. A small gasp escaped her Mother's lips as her Father wrapped his strong arms around her waist, pulling her to him and nuzzling her neck affectionately.

Evelyn looked away from her mock parent's embrace, this lie she could not handle watching, she could not defile the real love they'd had for each other. Turning away she crept into the small cottage while they said their goodbyes to each other.

The place felt smaller then she remembered, yet it was kept clean. The fireplace was lit and burning low. A large cast iron pot hung within the room, most likely cooking the night's dinner. The distinct smell of herbs and cooking meat lingered in the air, stew was the only thing her mother could make well, she recalled fondly. She'd always said living in the circle they never taught such things, and that in the first week that her mother and father were married she'd told her that she had almost burned the house down three times. If it had not been for their father, she surely would have.

A small table was tucked into the corner, and a vase of fresh flowers sat in the middle. Every morning as long as Evelyn could remember her father would bring her mother flowers, always something new that he would find in his morning hunt. This demon was accurate.

A soft cry emanated from the back bedroom and Evelyn crept tentatively towards the room where the door was slightly ajar. The soft cries grew louder as she hesitated in front of it, then reached out and slowly pushed it open. The crying stopped and Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. The room was empty of everything but a crib that had been lovingly made by her father's own hands. He had told her that he'd made it when her mother found out she was pregnant with her, and had been used for Lucy as well.

She stood staring from the doorway at the object in the center of the bedroom; she inhaled a shaky breath and took a step towards the crib. As she crossed the room, a pair of dark green eyes watched her intently from under short dark blonde locks of hair. The child smiled at her approach and reached out with chubby little hands.

"Lucy…?"

The baby giggled and began bouncing up and down with excitement. Her heart ached as she remembered, Lucy was only three years old that day and Evelyn was almost seven.

"EVA!" The demon child squealed with delight, wiggling her tiny fingers, begging her sister to take her away from her confined space.

"Lucy, ye know Papa hates it when you whine like that," Evelyn scolded affectionately, reaching out and plucking the giggling babe with ease from the crib, cradling her against her chest. "Don't worry Lucy, I won't let anyone hurt you," she whispered softly, kissing the top of the child's head. It was a lie of course, she knew it was. One she made before she remembered, and it was one she had to live with for the rest of her life.

There was another presence in the room, she had felt it before, and again would ignore the vile demons pleas. She would not let it take this from her yet, wanting to revel in this lie a little while longer.

"Evelyn..."

"Piss off demon, I have no use for your lies and trickery," she snapped, holding the child tighter to her chest as it giggled playfully, unaware of the other presents.

"Please Evelyn it's me, you have to know it's me, I'm begging you."

Evelyn spun around, a deep seeded loathing threatened to consume her, bright green eyes met dark ones as she glared at the being in front of her. This was not the first time this 'thing' had done this, but she was set that it would be the last. This demon was good, almost had her believing as it locked eyes with her. Eyes that looked almost like her own but darker and filled with a worry that Evelyn knew was not real like everything else.

"I know what you're trying to do and it will not work, I am finished fighting. Isn't that enough?" she grumbled.

"Evelyn no! You can't stop fighting, you can't let it win. It will take you over. Please Eva plea..."

"YOU ARE NOT LUCY!" Evelyn roared and the room around them began to shake, the child cried out then disappeared as if it had never existed. Magic oozed from Evelyn and lightning sparked around her hands. Her body trembled as she glared at the solid form of the demon that claimed to be her lost sister.

The small comforting room lost its shape, twisting and swirling around them. Walls shifting from soft wooden browns to hard wet grey stone. It was dark and the stench of mold and death clung heavy to the air.

Tears welled up in Evelyn's eyes, of all the places she did not want to be... just like before. She knew what was coming, it had happened before and it was happening again. She glanced frantically around the small confined room and all the rage drained from her, replaced by fear.

The demon grabbed her wrist and held her tight, she tried to pull away but the expression of the impostor held her entranced, it was too much, it was far too real. Of all the times she had seen this demon it had never dared to touch her, but this was wrong. It didn't feel like the others, its touch was warm, alive, yet Lucy was not alive. She rarely touched the demons but when she did they felt cold and hard like stone, but this one, it felt like...

"Evelyn we have to get out of here," her eyes were pleading, filled with fear.

"Lucy?" her voice trembled.

"Yes, it's me Eva, I've been trying to help you; please you must listen."

"Lucy, how..."

A large crash broke her focus as the door behind them splintered and slammed open. Startled, Lucy released her grasp on Evelyn's wrist and the pair stared in fear at the looming figure that stood in the doorway.

"No, no, no... Not again... I can't, not again." Evelyn staggered away from the Templar, pressing her back tight against the far wall. It was him, of all the Templars it was always him. Evelyn knew why the demons chose him, and yet she always hoped they would choose someone else.

"Ser Ramsey," Lucy gasped, cringing away.

"Hello pet." His smile was twisted and sickening.

Ser Ramsey was bigger than Evelyn remembered; he was a large bulk of a man, but with the demons hulking frame he looked larger than life. Stepping briskly towards them, his black greasy hair tapered down the sides of his face, his piercing brown eyes looked black and locked onto Evelyn's cowering frame. He had been the one that captured her, that tortured and raped her, turned Lucy into a mindless tranquil and the whole time confessing his warped love for her, or so he professed.

He was insane. Rumor in the circle was he ingested three times the necessary amount of lyrium for a Templar and his addiction caused some undue side effects, one of which was the loss of his sanity. Yet the Knight Commander turned a blind eye to his abuses. Ser Ramsey was the best Templar in Skarkhaven and could do no wrong in the eyes of the Knight Commander.

Fear enveloped Evelyn. She could not move, as past memories rushed into her mind. She was vaguely aware of her sister's screams, everything was just like that night; Lucy's fearful cries as she watched Ser Ramsey beat her Evelyn down. He had found out about Compassion, her hold on the spirit had changed, the spirit was slowly becoming corrupted and the shift within Evelyn was becoming more apparent.

That night Evelyn was sure he was going to kill her, but instead he took Lucy, took away that last link to her family. A jolt of energy began to run through her. Something inside her snapped and her fear ebbed away, replaced by rage. Her promises to Lucy replaying in her mind as the Templar Demon pressed her against the wall, the rancid stench of his hot breath against her face like rotting flesh.

"I have big plans for you my pet," he hissed in her ear.

"Fuck you," Evelyn shrieked and she planted her hand firmly on his chest and shoved.

His unwavering sneer widened, her attempt was futile as he was three times her size, anything she would have tried physically would have little affect on the demon.

"In time lover, but first I have something to show you." Grabbing her arm in a vice like grip, so tight she thought for a moment her arm would be crushed under the pressure he yanked her away from the wall. As he turned to drag her out the door, fire erupted around him, causing him to cry out in pain and loosen his grip on her.

Lucy stood blocking the door, fire streaming from her hands. "Evelyn let's go!" she shouted.

Evelyn twisted her arm away from his fingers as they dug painfully into her flesh. The one thing she always hated about the fade is that everything felt a little tooreal at times, as pain shot up her arm.

"Let go of my sister you asshole." A wave of force magic vibrated through the room knocking both Ser Ramsey and Evelyn to the ground. Evelyn scrambled to her feet and as she darted towards Lucy, a hand clutched her ankle yanking her off her feet. Evelyn's face smashed on the floor, pain radiating through her head, sending her mind reeling. 'It's not real, the pain, Ser Ramsey, none of it is real' she chanted to herself. She could feel the pull of the demon in her mind, trying as it may to convince her, to drag her down into this nightmare.

Ser Ramsey staggered to his feet, Evelyn's ankle still in his grasp, she could feel the strain begin to build up on her magic like the air being sucked from her body. Even in her nightmare he was still a Templar and with that came all the same abilities, real or not, it still had the same affect. The release of power sent a shock wave through her as the smite radiated out, knocking Lucy back out of the door, her body smashing against the wall and fell into a broken slump on the ground.

Evelyn wanted to go to her sister. Hold her, comfort her. She kicked and struggled to break free but he just laughed and held her fast. Feeling her mana draining from her, nausea hit her like a tidal wave. She began shaking, her body weak as she fought against the demons hold, her mind felt like a thick black fog that threatened to overtake her. Weak from pain and mental exhaustion, the demon growled and started dragging her helpless body through the door. She stared helplessly at Lucy's crumpled and lifeless body as they made their way out the door and down the corridor.

The halls were long and wet, she could feel the water soaking through her robes. Evelyn wanted to fight back but with the Templar draining her, she could hardly keep her head from bouncing off the stone floors as he dragged her along behind him.

The demon paused, released his grasp on her and pulled her up to face him as his black eyes bore down on her. Fear made way for panic as she tried helplessly to gather her feet under her. The Templar grabbed a handful of Evelyn's long auburn locks and yanked her closer to him.

"You can walk the rest of the way bitch, were almost there."

Evelyn glared at Ser Ramsey, her entire body ached from being dragged like a rag doll. She sneered at him, spit in his face and with a growl of rage, he brought his hand up and struck her hard. Blinding pain shot through her face as she buckled to her knees.

She tried to hold on to her thoughts and remind herself it was the fade, it was not real. She kept telling herself over and over. Her mothers training flipped through her mind, but the demon's hold became too much, and she slumped forward in defeat. She had nothing left.

Ser Ramsey yanked her up by the arm and shoved her forward. She stumbled but let him lead her away to wherever the demon would have his game.

"If you give in to me, I wont kill them you know," The demon purred behind her sliding his hand around her waist, continuing to press her forward.

"I don't know what you're talking about demon." Her voice was flat, she was tired of the games. Her feet felt like they were filled with lead as she moved forward through the darkened halls.

"Don't play stupid with me, cunt, you know full well what I mean. I know you've been fighting the hold, I can feel it."

"I don't make deals with demons, I'll die first."

"You will die if you let him get his hands on you, he doesn't want freedom from the dreams. He wants freedom from you. I can offer you life and freedom away from the nightmares, all you have to do is let me in and I can hold him at bay."

"What part of 'I don't make deals with demons' don't you understand?"

"Then you choose death?"

"Guess so..." she shrugged weakly.

"Foolish bitch, do you not care what those who love you will think? Giving up and letting him win?"

"Of course I care, but..."

"But nothing," the demon seethed, "you have brought this on yourself, dabbling in old magics long since dead; did you not expect it to have repercussions? That you would not draw out those who hide in the shadows. Foolish human, I offer you life and you throw it back in my face."

"Don't try and ply me with your bullshit demon, I don't play those games."

The demon scoffed, shoving Evelyn hard against the door, pressing himself against her back so hard she could feel the edges of his armor dig into her skin.

"Then I guess I will just have my fun with you before he arrives then won't I?" His breath was hot on her neck, his stench making her light headed. He pressed into her further as she heard the springs of the lock release and the door swung open. The room before her was dark, but still brighter then the hallway. Her heart began to pound, her knees buckling at the sight before her. The demon held fast to her keeping her from falling, and hot tears burned her eyes as she fought for composure. This was not real, not real at all. No this was a nightmare, but it was so hard to be sure, the magic was so thick here, the realism of it all. She tried to think, to remember.

"It's not real, it's not real..." she murmured, but the fear in her voice gave her away.

"Ah, but it is my pet," The demon mocked, "Welcome to your reality."

A/N: Sorry for the long delay in posting, I've had a rough few weeks with the death of my dog and a bunch of other not so great things. I will try and get the next chapter out within the week if I can.

I want to thank all my readers and reviewers profusely, you all mean so much to me and I thank you all for following this and dropping messages with your thoughts. I really appreciate it and for the lurkers out there *waves* I love you too. :) I would love to hear your thoughts as well.

I want to thank my dear friend and beta RandomWittering for doing an awesome job and beta work for me, thank you muchly hun for putting up with my frazzledness this week. Also I want to thank Jinx1983 for just being you and a awesome dear friend. ^.^ Also a shout out to ArcturasB cause I know she's away this week, and she normally helps with beta and I don't want her left out even though I know she's not here. hehe *hugs to you all*