The tower's corridors were narrower than Solana remembered as she followed Templar Lieutenant Colston. Where were they headed? Breakfast? Supper? She couldn't recall.

Someone's arms slid around her waist and lifted her feet from the floor before spinning her around. The all-too familiar scent of sandalwood and spice made her smile. She shivered when she felt his lips on her cheek after he set her down.

"Good morning, love," he whispered in her ear, making her legs turn to jelly.

Before she could return the greeting, Anders sauntered away. Her smile faded when she watched him pick up another apprentice and spin her in the same way. It felt like someone had punched her in the gut when he kissed the girl's cheek.

'You bastard. And after we shared a bed last night.' Her guts churned. She swallowed to keep from vomiting and shut her eyes. 'He doesn't' care about your feelings. He never did. How many times do you have to tell yourself that he will never love you before it finally sinks in?' She drew a deep breath and slowly let it out. 'At least one more, as always, I suppose.'

"Are you coming?" Colston asked.

The irritation in his voice didn't worry Solana. He would forget all about it as soon as she offered to get on her knees in a dark corner or on her back in a storeroom. Like most men, templars were easy to manipulate. They just needed the right motivation.

Her breath caught when he turned around to face her. Something in his eyes looked different– darker, somehow. His expression seemed sympathetic– on the surface. It was the same one that Solana gave to other apprentices when they spoke about some tragedy in their lives. She didn't really care but tried to observe typical social conventions.

"I can't imagine how much that hurts," he said.

Bells went off in Solana's head. What was Colston playing at? She straightened her spine but remained silent.

"If you ask me, he's a fool. It's obvious that he loves you. He's just too afraid to admit it."

Lightning crackled at Solana's fingertips when the templar approached her. She had no intention of casting a spell at him. Colston could block it with a thought, and she'd end up in the dungeons for at least a week. The spell was merely a distraction to ensure she kept her wits about her.

The templar leaned in and offered her a seductive half grin. Solana had always found him alluring in his own way, but there was something off about him. There was a malevolence behind his expression that she couldn't shake. He had always been a bit of a sadist, but she had never felt such darkness from him before.

He leaned in closer to whisper in her ear. "I may know a way to fix your problem." He stood up straight and gave a quick glance around before continuing. "Zara has a potion in her private stores that could help. I heard that if you drink it, and say a simple spell, the object of your affections will only have eyes for you."

Solana studied Colston's face. What was happening? The offer, the phony sympathy– the entire scenario was asinine. She took a step back.

'Think, Solana. Think.'

She tried to focus but couldn't. Her brain felt like it was lost in fog and shadow. The more she tried to concentrate, the weaker she felt. Her heart pounded against her ribcage. What was happening to her?

Feeling faint, she closed her eyes. She needed to calm down and clear her mind. As she released her thoughts into the void, something akin to an itch began to crawl across her brain.

'That's it!'

Solana's eyes popped open to see Colston's true form standing over her. He was a Desire demon, complete with purple skin and jet-black eyes. Solana pursed her lips. She should have known after the First Enchanter had spent the past six months teaching her everything he could about demons. It wasn't until she entered the Harrowing Chamber that she found out her test would involve the creatures.

The apprentice waved a dismissive hand. "Begone demon."

The creature smirked. "You and I both know it is not that simple. You are aware of how this must end. Unless…" The demon leaned on its left leg and crossed its arms. "You are certainly more intelligent than most humans. Perhaps we can make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Solana asked. It didn't matter. She had no intention of bargaining with a demon. It was simply a matter of morbid curiosity.

The creature's grin widened. "I can ensure that Anders will be yours and yours alone. I won't even ask to let me possess you. All I need is a promise."

Solana matched the demon's stance. "And what is it that you wish me to promise?"

Irving would have told her not to listen. He believed that allowing a demon any foothold into one's mind could lead to possession. Solana wasn't worried. If she gave into the creature, Anders would cease to be himself. That wasn't what she wanted. She wanted his love, not his compliance.

"I need you to promise that you will find an ancient Tevinter grimoire hidden in the repository. It holds a spell that you will use to bind me to another apprentice. You can choose anyone you like. That way, we both get what we want, and you don't need to worry about losing your pretty head."

Solana concentrated on her lightning spell and lifted her chin. "As appealing as that sounds, the answer is still no."

With a flick of her wrist, the apprentice flung her spell at the demon. It struggled against the electric bolts for only a moment before disappearing in a crackling blue light. It was a lot easier to destroy than she had anticipated. In fact, it was a little too easy.

No sooner had the thought occurred to her than the air grew heavy, and darkness closed in. The only thing visible was a light grey tendril of smoke that began enveloping her body. It snaked around her until it invaded her nostrils, making it impossible to breathe. She choked as the world around her started to spin. Fearing she would faint. she shut her eyes. The sensation of falling from a great height overtook her as her mind gave into the darkness. It continued until a creaky voice echoed within the void.

"I knew you could do it child. You are even more brilliant than I gave you credit for."

Solana's eyes shot open as her body bolted upright. She was in her bed. It was over. She looked to her right to find the First Enchanter sitting next to her bunk. Her throat felt like she had swallowed broken glass when she responded.

"Thank you, First Enchanter."

He patted her knee. "We should talk more in my office. Now that you have passed your Harrowing, there are a few things we need to discuss."

Solana hesitated. Why was Irving there? Even if she was his only pupil, he would never come to her dormitory to congratulate her. He would have sent someone to tell her to meet him in his office. She scooted back further onto her bed.

"First Enchanter, why didn't you just send someone for me?"

He laughed. There was something cold and ominous about the sound of it– mirth without joy, unfeeling and sinister. "You are too important to just send someone to fetch you, child. You've studied hard and proven yourself worthy of more than mere accolades. In my entire long life, I have never met anyone as brilliant as you. I suspect that when my time as First Enchanter draws to a close, you will be the one to take my place."

Solana tried to keep the smile from her face. She liked the sound of that. When she peered up at her mentor, an icy finger began creeping up her spine. Something about his expression set her brain to itching again.

Irving patted her knee again before rising to his feet. "Come child, we have much to celebrate. I may even be willing to part with a glass or two of my best wine if you promise not to tell anyone."

He walked to the door and beckoned her to follow with a tilt of his head. She looked past him into the hallway and saw only darkness. Even if there weren't people in the hall, there should have at least been light from the lyrium lamps. Solana met Irving's gaze. His eyes were as black as coal.

"I think perhaps I'll stay here," she said. "Very sneaky of you, by the way. Adding a second demon was a nice touch, but I'm too smart to fall for your tricks."

Suddenly, a bright violet light flashed around Irving. The smell of sulfur permeated the air as his shape morphed into the largest beast Solana had ever seen. The drawings of Pride demons in books could never have prepared her for how big they really were.

The creature laughed, the sound booming so loudly that it resonated in Solana's chest. She shivered when it raked a sharp claw across her cheek. "Your pride will betray you one day, young one. Perhaps not now. Perhaps not even in the Fade. But it will catch up to you one day and may very well serve as your undoing."