Sorry for that last short chapter. And now Frozen Redemption has more reviews than Frozen Sapphire! Yay. And I am sorry about your ribs, Firedragon. And I think you might one or two things in this chapter amusing as well, Connet.
The hollow needle gleamed dangerously. Sapphire's stomach clenched when the cultist put the needle near her skin. Her breath started increasing in, and her chest went up and down. Then, she yelped and smacked the needle away from the cultist. It fell on the ground, clattering quietly.
She was grabbed by a female deathknight, and a bloated undead. They dragged her over to a metal table. She had been taken to Naxxramas, to her horror. Now, the cultist had been attempting to take more of her blood, Kel'thuzad's orders. Apparently he was intrigued by her, and wanted more blood to test. Her father, still hooded and hunched over as if in pain, and the lich stood watching. Lily stood a little ways away, holding a struggling Rot. The undead puppy howled in outrage, but a squeeze from the girl crushed his chest and he stopped.
"And here I thought you would be difficult," Her father growled.
Sapphire scowled, and then snarled.
She grabbed the deathknight, trying to boil his blood. He was completely unaffected. Sapphire tried to do something. That green fire had been great, but she was unable to call it forth. The deathknights slammed her against the cold metal, and Sapphire screamed. It was frigid, and she thrashed about.
"There is the resistance. I do enjoy her futile struggles," Her father chuckled darkly.
"She seems to glow with magic, but she does not know how to use it properly. Fascinating," Kel'thuzad commented.
"Remember what I said. I don't care what you do to her, as long as she is not permanently damaged. After your experimentation, Have her prepared for the ritual. This body..." Ner'zhul made a sound of disgust, gesturing to himself.
"Of course, Master."
The deathknight held her down, while the cultist pulled straps over her legs, and tightened them. When her legs were immobile, the cultists strapped down Sapphire's waist, and both of her wrists.
Sapphire cursed her father harshly, using words Marwyn had once taught her. The hooded man was unimpressed, and came over to her. She felt her bravery dwindle, and she whimpered. The cultist jabbed the girl's wrist, where her main vein is, and attached a glass tube to it. Blood, and the black little pieces of ice flooded into it.
"Stupid child. You are spirited, but it will not work. In a couple of hours...Well, you will not even have control over your own body."
Sapphire stared at him in surprise. "What?"
Ner'zhul leaned down, and she could see into the hood a bit. Rotten, brown teeth and thin cracked lips were turned up into a smile. When he talked, Sapphire could see a black tongue, and maggots in the mouth.
"Oh, yes. I need a better body. And you, my sweet child, have the perfect one. It already has magic infused in it, it is still growing, and you are not nearly as strong-willed as Arthas. I won't be brushed aside this time."
The look of absolute shock on Sapphire's face made the man laugh uproariously. With a swish of the cloak, her father turned around and left.
Sapphire felt light-headed, and felt a slight draining sensation on her wrist. She looked down, and saw the cultist remove the glass vial, and add another. She heard Kel'thuzad say something, but did not comprehend the words. She scowled in confusion, and tried to concentrate.
"Two more vials, and then sedate her. A spell will not affect her, but a potion should force her into compliance."
"Yes, Lord Kel'thuzad. Deathknight, Retrieve some Dreamfoil, and Bloodthistle."
Sapphire heard the deathknight's boots stomping on the metal floors. She groaned, and closed her eyes.
"Can't have Bloodthistle...Only elves-"
The cultist laughed indulgently. "Only if consumed, girl. I will inject a solution straight into your bloodstream. Just relax. Soon, you won't have to worry about anything."
Ethan and Arthas had come back to Theramore and to Jaina's tower. They asked where Jaina was, and told by a man that she was in her study. So, they went up to it, and entered And were greeted by Jaina and Darion Mograine.
The Highlord was leaning back in a wooden chair, feet propped against the mage's disorganized desk. He looked back at them, scowling.
Jaina came forward in a run and hugged Arthas around his neck, then backed away. She slapped him, and it surprised the man that it actually hurt.
"Ow! What the hell was that for?" The man snarled angrily.
"For running off without me! She is my daughter too."
Arthas furrowed his eyebrows. "Well. I, uh...I don't think a woman should-"
Ethan took a sharp intake of breath. "Ooh...Don't say another word, Arthas."
The mage woman just folded her arms, and tilted her head. Her eyes flashed dangerously.
"You don't think a woman should what?"
Arthas seemed to realized his mistake, and bit his lip. He held up a finger.
"Uh...I love you, Jaina."
She rolled her eyes. "Nice save."
Highlord Mograine seemed to not like being ignored, and stood up. He walked over to Arthas.
"So...The bastard is alive again. I don't see an army of Scourge behind you, or Frostmourne in your hands. I have an inclination to slit your throat. And you, Dog. Found your old master again? Be given a belly scratch and you're all best friends now?"
Lady Proudmoore folded her arms. "Darion, I told you. Arthas is himself again. Not the Lich King."
"Not to be rude, but I don't give a damn if he saved the lives of King Varian, and Tirion Fordring both. He's a bastard, and always will be."
Ethan frowned, and stepped forward. "Highlord Morgraine. Ner'zhul is the evil one, and he has Sapphire! I know it. He wants her body, we think, to control."
"Ner'zhul? He still exists? I thought his soul was shattered beyond repair. Only a creature as vile as him would survive something so devastating I guess. Where is the little demon spawn Sapphire?"
Arthas narrowed his eyes. "Do not call my daughter that, or by the Light-"
"Light! Hahaha!" Darion threw his head back in laughter. Arthas took a step forward, but Ethan grabbed his arm. The boy shook his head. The man growled, but restrained himself. Darion looked impressed, but said nothing. Jaina caught his attention.
"So, Darion. Please, will you help us find my daughter?"
"Just for you, Lady Proudmoore, because I respect you. And maybe the Dog because I like him. Perhaps Naxxramas is a good place to start. That's where most of the rebel Scourge is. Or was. Apparently, most killed themselves. They have been raised back almost to their original numbers...And I hear of new, horrible things being made in that necropolis."
"New things?" Ethan asked curiously, frowning.
"Yes...It might be good to find out what such creatures they are making. Kill two birds with one stone."
There was a nervous caw from one of Jaina's bookshelf.
Invincible landed on top of the necropolis, hooves hitting it with clicks. Arthas dismounted, and held out a hand for Jaina. She just scowled, and smacked it away. Arthas felt a burst of anger from him, but shrugged it off. Two skeletal gryphons landed down with them, one with Ethan and the other with Darion Mograine.
Apparently, some more deathknights were supposed to be coming, but had not yet arrived. They could not wait though.
Arthas slid down to a large opening of a pipe, bracing himself against the curved edge. He gestured for them to come one at a time. Ethan came first, dog head helm down over his face. Arthas grabbed him before he went over the edge, and down to the snowy landscape below. The boy thanked him, and climbed into the opening to the necropolis. Glowing green liquid spilled out, and Ethan winced as he splashed his boots in it.
"Ah, fuck. I hate the smell of this stuff. You might want to carry Jaina, Arthas. Who knows what would happen if it touched her skin?"
Darion slid down, and glared at Arthas when the man caught him.
"I could have just let you fall," Arthas just growled.
"And I would have dragged you with me," The Highlord retorted. Ethan helped Darion into the pipe.
Jaina came down, and Arthas took her by the waist and pulled her firmly against himself. She did not like it.
"Arthas..." She warned.
The man just smiled coldly. "That green stuff? You might not want to touch it. I will gladly carry-"
"No. I know of a spell that might help. But thank you for the offer."
An altar was in the middle of the otherwise empty room. It was dark, and decorated with skull shapes and scenes of torture. Candles burned with blue fire around Sapphire's prone figure on the altar's flat, smooth surface. She was curled up into a ball, fitted into cultist's robes. Hands and feet were manacled, but loosely. After all, she could not escape, even if she wanted to.
The drugging had worked very well, affecting her almost immediately after injection. She had slipped into a confusing, but relaxed state of mind. Happy, in fact. When the cultist had undid all of the restraining straps, Sapphire had tried to stand up, which resulted in her collapsing, and then erupting into a fit of giggling. A couple of undead had to carry her to the altar for the ritual.
No. Any sort of mental fight over her body would not be taking place. Once Ner'zhul took control, Sapphire would just be reduced to a minor entity. She would be entirely conscious, and would see and know exactly what the evil spirit would do. She might even witness Ethan, Arthas, and everyone else she knew, killed by her own hands.
But, that would only make Ner'zhul pleased at the trauma that would give her. He will reduce her to a small and quivering child in the back of her own mind.
The hooded man came forward, followed by the most powerful necromancers he could find in Naxxramas. They all took their positions around Sapphire. She opened her eyelids for a second at the noise, but then slipped back under with a smile on her face.
Even with such skilled necromancers, Ner'zhul had no idea how long this ritual would take.
They began the spell, speaking in a tongue that would make most mortals cower in fear. Dark purple energy flowed over Sapphire like a blanket. She winced, and frowned at the feel of the magic on her skin.
There was a tingling sensation at the base of her skull, but she had no idea what it meant. She smiled. Who cares? What was she just thinking about...How odd? And funny.
Ner'zhul added his own magic, what was left anyway, to the circle of necromancers.
He felt it spread over Sapphire, the magic dig into her skin...
Pain exploded in his head, and the undead creature shrieked. What was this?
No...You...will NOT...touch her...
More pain, more than Ner'zhul had ever felt, burst around him. He gasped, and the body he was using sunk down to one knee. The magic around Sapphire dissipated.
The doors to the room slammed open, and Ethan roared in fury. His sword rang out, and he rushed at the necromancers. They could not even protect themselves, and he cut them down with uncontrolled violence. Jaina let loose a barrage of icy spikes. Arthas and Darion quickly ran at Ner'zhul, he snarled and fled the room. Both deathknights followed, while Jaina and Ethan quickly got to Sapphire, and lifted up his helm.
"Sapphire!" Ethan cried out, pulling her up into his arms. She moaned, and opened her eyes.
"Oh...Ethan. You're so cute. Cute as a...ghoul. Can I pet you, puppy dog? Hehehe..." She giggled, and raised her hand to his helm. Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Lovely," He said in a flat tone, and looked to Jaina. "She's been drugged."
"We need to get out of here. Quickly."
They left the room, Ethan carrying Sapphire. They went through a maze of hallways, and soon were lost. Jaina tried a teleportation spell, but the necropolis prevented it from working.
The mage turned a corner, and was grabbed by Lily. She snarled, and put a knife to the woman's back. Ethan froze. Jaina did not move a muscle.
"Lily?" The boy asked.
"Shut up, idiot. This knife is dipped in plague. Now, unless you want Lady Proudmoore to be infected, you'll do as I say."
"Why are you doing this, Lily? Does your sisters know?" Jaina asked softly, not accusingly.
The girl growled, "No! And they never will. Now, follow me."