NB: Thank you those who's been following this story. It had been some time since i write any long tale so I try to keep every chapter short (so my plot bunnies won't get scared away). Thanks to the lovely world we are in, I have accumulated quite a bit of draft. Once I feed them through my trusty beta, this will be the first place to update.

Lost in Realm

13

In all fairness, Jhalnin behaved exactly like a Drow should: never leave survivors, especially when one is the leader. She really should not be surprised. Therefore all she did was halt, take a glance at the now very dead Ratman, let out a sigh and continue on. What she did not expect was him pointing the tip of his scimitar at her next.

Not quite what she expected. After all, they were on the same contract. She thought that might stop him from behaving so…Drow.

"For so little coin? My."She quirked a brow.

"Keep the coins, I want the beast," Jhalnin drawled.

"He is injured!" She frowned.

"Not exactly a problem." The Drow male smirked.

"Magical wounds." She reminded him.

"Hand him over."

"No." She narrowed her red eyes. There was a reason why he wanted Bishop. She knew it as soon as he recognized what he was. The wee kitten was weak, but with enough resources and coin, it wasn't that hard to nurse the young creature back to health. Given what he was and his age, anyone would be interested in having him.

Jhalnin didn't say anything more. Instead his blade pushed forward and aimed at her weak spots. Of course, she had weak spots. All beings had them. He was once the Weapon Master of her house, as well as the one who trained all priestesses in melee combat back in the day. He would know their combat style like the back of his hand. She had no doubt of it. Without thinking twice, she moved back.

"Oi! Shouldn't I be out?" The sound of the merchant's boy, the individual they meant to rescue, called out from behind the door.

Neither of the Drow bothered, nor had the time to answer. Jhalnin's scimitar continued to make its attack on Nhilva. The two bodies flipped, sprung, slid, clashed and arched in the old rundown eatery. To Nhilva, it was all part of the natural reflexes from her original host. In theory, magic users weren't required to learn weapons combat skills. Yet both her and her sister received the trainings. She wondered if her Matron Mother had them prepared for the possibility of potential Lolth disfavoring them, for their house wasn't exactly top rank in Menzoberranzan. Whatever the old Drow woman was thinking, it was now in pretty good use. Might be the first time since she got to the surface, too. There hadn't been any intense fights requiring her to do this up until now. Alas, her skills in melee could not match those wielded by her one time master. A few rounds later, she was injured in several areas. Her state was as bad as the Ratman next to her.

"On second thought, maybe I will claim the reward from the merchant as well," Jhalnin panted with a widening grin. He slowly sheathed his weapon, adjusted his ragged breath, and made his way toward her.

"Bastard…." Nhilva cursed. Inside she was panicked as hell. She had never experienced any situation like this in another life before. Was that what the original host, or the sister of the original host, felt like since they were young? By the Gods, she wished she was powerful enough to kill him.

"And proud to be." The Drow bent down, reached out and ran a finger along her jawline. Then it went to her collar.

Nhilva made a sharp intake of her breath. She squinted her eyes shut tight and mentally prepared for whatever was to come. Instead she heard him burst out laughing.

"You are too old."

Nhilva was overwhelmed with relief.

Jhalnin hooked his finger around the strap of her bag and tugged. He removed the bag from her and frowned.

"What the deuce…where is the kitten?!"

Nhilva looked at him in confusion. The displacer beast had always been in there and both of them knew it. The wee thing was weak. There was no way he will leave the gat by himself, least she thought so. She rolled her eyes the best she could, wondering if the creature somehow fell out by accident during the fights. Clearly the Drow male thought the same, for he walked about the room, check the corners and behind the still intact crates.

"Hello? Yeh two gonna let me out or not?" The young fella they were here to rescue called out again.

"Oh, yeh shut up!" Jhalnin barked back before turned to glare at Nhilva. "Best not hide the cub, you."

The Drow woman chuckled. "Me? Where? Don't forget Lolth had disfavored me."

"Maybe I should strip you," he threatened and paused. "Hey, there he is... What the...?"

One minute, the small young thing sat in the corner by the door they came in, next thing he knew, the silhouette dissipated and vanished.