A/N: Sorry to take so long to update. I forgot about nano wrimo, or I would have put a warning with the last chapter that I'd be working on something else this month and wouldn't have as much time for fanfics. I fixed the typo in the last chapter; thanks for bringing it to my attention, Redoak.

Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter :)

…-…

I looked around the camp at everyone's unconscious forms. We'd taken refuge in a mall and while you might think that would make us prime targets for any looters, pretty much everything that had been worth taking was already gone. Parts of the building were collapsing, too, so I doubt any demons or humans would think to look for the mysterious intruders here. I hope they don't.

Neesera, Cisty, and Nicolas had automatically regrouped and sort of separated themselves from the Horde. Again, I think it's really dumb, but at least they're even willing to work together.

Oh, in case you're wondering, Neesera was led back to camp by our troll guide—his name is Senta'ri and he was very specific that I can't abbreviate his name. Well, really it was his panther. I think he's kind of lazy because he just named it Cat.

See, when he learned that Neesera was keeping track of us via her mechanical squirrel, he decided that it would be easiest to send his pet to go get her and he would just take us straight to the camp. I was worried because it's really hard for Neesera to wander around when she can't stealth, right? And being a draenei, she really sticks out.

But Senta'ri just rummaged through more of the store before finding the plastic bags and being completely amazed. He totally took a whole thing of them for use later—I guess raiders have a sort of entitlement complex, where they think if they find something, it's theirs. But he rummaged through his own bags, pulled out these weird vials and then dropped them into a plastic bag and secured it with some rope to one of Cat's legs. We'd left the squirrel near the doorway to watch for intruders, but I guess Neesera had gotten distracted by more of our stuff because it had wandered across the hallway to another store.

We found her squirrel and Senta'ri made sure that it got a good view of his pet before he set it down and told it to go home. So it led Cat back to Neesera and then Cat led her to us.

Apparently one of the vials he sent with them is the same as the stuff that that hunter was chugging himself. An invisibility potion.

I knew about health ones and mana ones, but I hadn't realized there were so many different kinds. I'm betting it requires harder to find herbs than silverleaf and peacebloom, though.

Anyway.

Um, the Alliance and I are sort of feeling the timer running out more so than our Horde allies. You see, Clara and Fizz and Eric were taken like almost a week ago now. The longer we wait, the less likely they're gonna be alive.

I know, I know. I'm always doom and gloom, right?

Well, with Mr. Blackheart's demonic expertise, we've been catching a few demons and draining their essences. Senta'ri made a joke that we should have brought elves for this, but whatever. We don't have time to go back.

And that orc chick went for reinforcements anyway and honestly that's part of why this needs to happen now. Once Azeroth starts pouring through that portal, I bet they'll just off their prisoners and get some new ones who have better, more up-to-date information.

It's no surprise that when we got to the camp, my brilliant plan was pretty much thrown out and all the war grizzled veterans went about talking about how to save the day and get their own information without giving me much thought.

I mean, it's pretty much standard that I'm too clueless to help. I haven't even been involved in the demon siphoning. They say that I'm really important because I know the native cultures—kind of weird to hear them call it that, but whatever—and the native language and so we can't risk having the demons see me if I'm going to be sneaking into that base.

Oh, as much as I hate warlocks, they're super useful. Back when I ran through the portal in Zangarmarsh, Mr. Blackheart saw me running for it and instead of stopping me, he just threw a spell on me: Detect Invisibility.

That's how I could see the demons.

Kind of disappointed that magick isn't like taking its hold on me or something. Well, I mean, on the one hand I'm glad because I'm still me. But on the other hand, magic could be useful. But then the only thing really going for me is my immunity to spells. But…it seems like it's getting easier for people to cast stuff on me.

I wonder how easy it would be for Fizz to slow fall me now…

I digress. So, at the rate we're going—they've been going way far out into the city to gather demons from areas that are miles off from our camp so that they don't find us as fast—it's gonna be another week before we have enough essences to cloak everyone.

I guess the orc with us is into alchemy and he was making these potions that would make the rest of them look human for a little while. They figured I could just say that they were from Europe or Asia or somewhere and that was why they didn't speak English.

As cool as it would have been to see what Neesera would have looked like as a human, we just don't have the time.

And then there's Brath.

I don't know what I was expecting when I got there. That he'd be giving me some weird silent treatment, feeling snubbed? That he'd be all bubbly and touchy-feely? Whatever I expected, it wasn't this.

When he saw me, he just walked right up to me, put his hands on my shoulders, leaned down, and smelled my hair. And leaned there for a minute. Then he patted my head, whispered a quick thank you, and walked away.

I didn't get it.

So, he's been flying them around, making a big show of being a dragon so that the demons are looking for a lizard killing their kind instead of our group.

Well, Mr. Blackheart has also been staying around the camp because he's needed to summon them back. Another thing warlocks do. In case you're wondering, he made this stone they take with them and use to drain the fel energies out of the demons, so that's why he doesn't have to be there for that.

I decided to see if he knew what was up with Brath, seeing as they're bestest buddies and all. I mean, it's not that I wanted Brath drooling all over me, but…he was different. And…who am I kidding? I do kind of, sort of like him.

Which is like really weird since he is a giant lizard half the time, but whatever. Caring about him is just…

Whatever. Like I said, I went to Mr. Blackheart.

Get this. I didn't follow all of it, but it goes back to what Neesera said about old gods corrupting the black dragon flight. Well, apparently they're trapped in the earth in Azeroth, constantly whispering in Brath's head, so he's like schizophrenic, but the voices aren't part of his imagination. Again, someone did explain this to me before. However, the old gods rely heavily on magic, or so they're guessing.

When Brath went through the portal to my world, the voices stopped.

That's what Mr. Blackheart thinks anyway. Because I guess Brath isn't as much fun and doesn't feel as corrupted or something?

And that kind of makes sense. Because you know that one pure black dragon who let Brath come here? I think, he had a pretty good idea that this would happen. I think he wanted to see if getting far enough away from the corruption could free his brother—I think they're brothers?

But, then, he didn't consider the fall out, you know? Like, if you're crazy and that craziness makes you kill people and it's all you have for like ever and then it's just gone…

What's going through Brath's head right now? Does he regret all the people he's hurt throughout his life? Does he feel responsible? Is it killing him inside?

Mr. Blackheart totally phrased his answers in a way that had me worrying before he'd even finished them. He so did it on purpose. He must be bored stuck in camp and screwing with me is one of the only ways he can have fun.

Well, I've tried to just watch Brath when he's around to see how true our theory is. Last night, he caught me. He had just come in from being gone almost a full twenty four hours and I'd been worried that the demons were making themselves some dragon-scale boots. When he got back, I kind of watched him around camp a bit and when he got up to go wandering through the nearby stores, I followed.

Quick side note, everyone wanders around from time to time. Then they come back with an iPad or a computer monitor or like a squeaky toy from the burned out pet shop and want me to explain to them what it is and how it works. I never knew toothbrushes could spawn such a long conversation, but yeah. I think it's gonna be a new thing for tauren. Assuming, you know, we make it back to Azeroth.

Back to Brath.

Turns out today was not a learn-about-the-strange-world day. Turns out he just wandered off because he knew I'd follow and then he could ask me what was wrong with me. So he got me cornered and was all wondering what was going on and so finally I just…I don't even remember what I said exactly. Something about him acting funny.

All of a sudden I look up and he's standing right in front of me, with that stupid amused look in his eyes. And that dumb, border-line evil grin of his. He caught me by my waist and pulled me to him, leaning down so that our cheeks touched as he whispered, "Does my little Amy prefer me wicked?"

My mind blanked. Not for as long as it used to though, since I'm getting used to him screwing with me. Even as I gathered my wits and indignation and turned my head to glare at him, he caught my chin and kissed me.

And I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back.

There's not really much else to tell about that because Mr. Blackheart was looking for Brath, too—of course their bromance would get in the way—and as we heard that despicable, withered voice calling for Brath, he pulled away from me and just started to walk off.

Again.

"You can't just keep doing that," I snapped.

He just grinned, darted back over to me, and gave me a quick peck on the lips before slinging me over his shoulder and walking off to meet his warlock.

I hate men. Well, not all men. You know what I mean.

But the truth of it is that it was then, as I retaliated by using one of my daggers to slice off his ponytail and he dropped me in utter horror that I would 'stoop so low' that I realized that he's quite possibly the most important person to me.

And I don't want anything bad to happen to him. I don't want him to keep gathering demonic essences and walk into a trap. Or to be killed by Greg and the others.

And I don't want anything horrible happening to Neesera or Nicolas or Senta'ri or any of the others. I haven't known any of them very long, but they're like family.

That's why I drugged them.

I figured that I could probably sneak into the base better on my own. To heck with having Nicolas pretend to be in charge and me as a translator, or having the others pretend to be guards for him or however their new plan was going to go.

While they were beginning to dose off, I excused myself to wander and slipped into my suit. I stopped briefly to check on them to see that I hadn't used too many pills or anything—I didn't know how much it would take to knock out a tauren or a draenei so I kind of guessed—and as I turned to leave, I found Mr. Blackheart leaning against the door of the shop we'd taken refuge in.

He was dressed in a suit like mine. I recognized the clothes as what Senta'ri had brought back with him and frowned. However, even as I did so, Mr. Blackheart straightened up and grinned at me. His face was still so grotesque that it made me want to hurl, but as he stood up and walked over to me, that hunch in his shoulders as though his head was too heavy to carry, he offered a small vial to me.

"You were planning on taking this anyway, yes?"

I stared at the dimly glowing liquid. It was the fel energy they'd gathered. My gaze slid back toward Mr. Blackheart and he held up his other hand, greenish energy swirling around it. I have to say, it was kind of impressive to see him use magic so easily in my world. I guess that's because the demons have begun to taint it so badly.

Even as I took the vial, he clasped his hands and lifted them over his head. The magic looked like it ran down his arms and over him and as it consumed his body, he changed. I think…he looked kind of like this boss from the game. I mean, I know I saw my brother fighting this guy with giant batwings a couple of times and he showed me some opening where that same guy with wings and horns was saying something about being unprepared. His skin looked grayish and taunt, but green symbols ran along his arms and his wings had an eerie glow to them. He had horns, too.

With a bow he offered me a clawed hand. "Drink up and let's lay waste to the Legion."

I eyed the vial and then frowned as I heard someone stirring behind me. If I was going to infiltrate a base with demons, I was going to need to be demonic. And if I wanted to make sure to slip in with a small group, it would have to be now. With a deep breath, I tilted my head back and drank it down.