Child of the Dark

[Vahene]

The caves felt uneasy, even to one such as her. The unnatural swell of magic throbbed gently throughout the air, whispering softly and urging gentle promises of further lore and knowledge. Tables lay strewn on the ground, cracked in several places, and bodies rotted in the corner as she passed with ease by the Minotaurs, invisibly, completely undetected. Sliding down another rope, she sinks further into the caverns, and the magic beckons her closer, she notes it is almost like a cat following a piece of yarn.

Entering the Illithid lair, the gate slams closed, and the Minotaurs look confused for a moment before losing interest. Even when she summons her 'pet' in front of them, they still don't understand, until the abrupt moment they are attacked. Toying with them, she allows them to draw blood, feeling it seep from her onto the ground, and as it spills, for that one sole moment, her mind feels completely whole.

She gives in to the darkness in her mind for that one single moment--taking Kell's advice, and feels an overwhelming urge to simply destroy the creatures in front of her. They were her enemies, they must be destroyed. The spell fell from her fingertips and she didn't even know she had cast it until she heard the banshee's wail, and the bodies lay on the ground. The darkness faded, and her mind retreated, separated and broken again, and Heaven leaned against one of the cages, tears streaming down her face.

The only watching soul was a pair of glowing eyes, which belonged to a very concerned looking panther... the summoned pet having disappeared with a glowing white shimmer. The panther crept forward slowly, not wanting to startle his mistress, and nuzzled her hand gently.

"We shouldn't dwindle," Rethion growled to Heaven.

Heaven blinked down at her familiar, tears blinding her vision.

"The golems will find us if we stay here, Mistress." The panther prodded her.

There was absolutely no response.

Rethion frowned. "Why do you give into it? Does that drow have that tight of a hold over you? I know what you know, remember? He -told- you to give into it. Do you think he's really helping you? You humiliated him, and now you're broken--why would he help you?"

Heaven looked down at Rethion, seeming to stare past him. She hestiated and then said, "He has nothing to lose and everything to gain."

"How is he gaining by helping you get those stones back? Shouldn't they be destroyed?" Rethion barely got the words out of his mouth before a shock of fire flung him against the wall.

"DON'T EVER SAY THAT!" Heaven screamed. "You've felt that way all along, haven't you? Felt that I'm wrong--you're just like the dragon that I had, always judging me. You're like all of them. Well, they're wrong.. and so are you."

Rethion backed up a few paces once he got to his feet.

In a low voice, one that would have truly frightened any sane person if they overheard the conversation, Heaven said, "You'll serve me as long as I allow it Rethion, and then, when I'm finished--you'll give me what I want. Kell was right about one thing. Knowledge certainly is power."

The words sent a shiver down the panther's spine.

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(OOC: Just a bit of a clue as to what Heaven's up to..)