Kar pushed harder on Parcival's throat. The threads came out faster as the staff flashed.

"Don't bother me." He half-turned, opening his free fist in Han's face, a red intricate rune of light floated above his palm.

"Back off."

Han's eyes pinched tight and his mouth curled back bearing his little fangs, he hissed while stepping back. His spectacles slid down resting on his muzzle.

Her mind was foggy. It was hard to focus. Everyone was doubled and blurry. She rubbed her eyes, it helped a little.

Han ran behind one of the larger containers hacking at a large cable that curved around alongside it. The thick pink liquid gushed out spilling onto the floor.

"Stop doing that, you overgrown pin cushion!"

Kar twisted the base of his staff, it hummed drawing the threads out faster.

"Aetae, spirit of the wind I invoke of you grant your aid once more."

Aetae was slow to come his shadowed form faded. What was wrong?

"The soul requiem of the land begins."

His voice as soft as an owl in flight, his shadowy eyes held a pain.

"What is it?"

He closed his eyes tight wrapping cold hands over hers.

"Trust no one."

He granted speed again, it was lighter then ever before it would wear off soon. Unnamed had said that before, had he corrupted Aetae?

Aetae spiraled through the floor as if pulled on. His soft cry echoed in her ears. Her heart ached. This was wrong, all wrong.

The moans from Parcival grabbed her attention.

She streaked on the floor pulling with her hands yanking on Kars arm.

"Imprudent Elf, why won't you just give up?"

He lifted his arm up, and her with it.

"Let them go." Come on, Han run.

Han was on the container across the room hacking away at it's cable.

The speed spell faded and left. Don't wear off now, come back.

Kar shook her off. He went over to a support beam and smashed her chest first into it. He repeated this until she slid off his arm and dropped to the floor. The pink glop pooled under her stomach.

He bent down and pulled her head up. "Tell them to leave, and make them not want to come back. Do this and they may go."

Han crept around the containers, backed away from both of them. His eyes were wide and his fur slick against his body, like a bear cub that was dunked in a river. He crept low, avoiding eye contact.

Parcival slid down the wall his skin gray as dusty steel. His eyes closed, and his breathing slowed. Shouldn't do it, but what choice is there? Can't let this human die. No, correction friend. Her throat tightened and became sore.

"Well?"

"Let me help him first."

"Do it quickly."

Kar went over to Han who was wedged on the far side of a container. Kar swore at him every time he dodged away.

"Get out!"

Everything below the hips was numb as she crawled over to Parcival.

"Spirits take from mine and mend of his. I will pay the cost." It came out as a harsh croak.

She placed her hands on his chest. Stay with me.

Spirits of darkness and light came through the floor. In most cases they refused to be together in one place, as each opposed the other. For this, they would. A taste of life was the only coin that mattered to them, considering how tired they looked they needed it. Aetae wasn't with them.

She pointed at Parcival. They swarmed over him joining hands while leaning over his mouth. They breathed out a wispy golden breath that twisted into a stream into his.

They came over to her, holding out her hand, they both touched it. The dark one's touch was like those hidden nightmares that slipped away on waking, ancient and chill. It wasn't evil, more sad then anything. It never really left; became a part of you.

A part of her left with, as did much of what was left of her energy. The light one came over and did the same. The payment while steep could be afforded. Two years for each spirit wasn't as bad as what some wanted. They flew through a wall and vanished.

His breathing was deepening and his skin returned to a healthy color. They were quick that couldn't have been more then a minute.

"There's a mirror, only you hold. While broken its mending. Friend." She whispered in his ear.

"Now, get up."

Parcival pushed upright and frowned. "What did you do?"

"Nothing for you to worry about." Kar was still busy with Han.

"You have to get out of here. Go." Her arms wobbled, it was hard staying upright.

A flurry of soft padding of feet from behind. Han came over, breathing hard. His eyes wide.

"I have shown restraint, more then you deserve. She is where she needs to be. Leave."

She twisted around, Kar stood there.

Parcival shot up, lost his balance and crashed down. "I'm not much use right now."

"Crawl out. I don't care how you go. Do it soon, before I decide to drain you both of your life force."

"Han, get out of here and take Parcival with you."

"Are you insane? I can't morally leave you with him!" His tail twitched.

He vanished and stood next to Parcival, his staff pointed at the doorway.

Han looked at her, his ears and whiskers drooped. "We'll get help."

"No, don't come back."

"You don't mean that." His eyes teared up.

"I do, I told that silly human to leave me alone. You too. Take him and get away from me. I can take care of myself."

The words hurt and it was hard to look at him.

He scampered over to Parcival, held up his arm over his shoulder, and dragged him out the door.

Hope they make it out. Goodbye. Her eyes stung and watered she rubbed them. She sniffed and wiped her nose on a hand.

Footsteps behind her, Kar came into view.

"I do regret doing this, but what you have in here ..."

He tapped her head, a pulse spread from his finger tips through her head.

"Is needed. It won't be much longer now. I can't say if you'll survive."

She didn't want to answer, but the fogginess increased. Her vision doubled again.

"What ... did ..." Her head slumped to the side.

He shifted and his forum wavered back to the youth.

"Much better. If you behave and don't fight it you'll feel much better. Try relaxing."

"I-don't understand."

"It's simple, I know you house the unnamed one. Only an adapt could survive its toxic spirit."

I don't know what you're talking about, she almost said. But, as she thought it a sudden headache stabbed the side of her head.

"Gahhh." She ground her teeth and waited for it to pass.

"You'll find out soon enough just what that potion does, it's fully activated now."

He smiled that hollow smile of his and tapped his own forehead.

"Its effects will be clear soon enough."

"This is awful. You're awful." She swallowed a lump in her throat.

"There see honesty. Good girl."

"Do not fight me, or in this case even think about it."

"Undergods burn you!"

"Such language." He did a series of complicated hand gestures.

"Faster."

What? She stood, the numbness left her legs.

"I don't feel like carrying you. Follow."

She rubbed her eyes. Don't get tired now.

"We are moving to the Great Hall. Night is coming and it's going to become quite cold."

He walked out of the room, she was compelled to follow behind, fighting it just shot pain up and down her spine.

She sucked in air through her teeth the fogginess increased it took over, she walked quickly catching up.

Asleep or awake? She clamped her hands together. Awake, definitely awake.

"Tell me, did they cast any protection spell on you?"

He walked faster down the hallway.

She tried to resist. This earned her another head pain.

"Y--e-s."

"The containers, the liquid was meant to pull Unnamed out by converting him to algae. It don't work as expected. The rest is far too technical to bother to explain it to you."

He turned a corner down into a dark candle lit narrow hallway. The lights flickered and cast shadows that moved about as if they were alive.

The walls were decorated with elaborate paintings. A huge one that spanned from the ceiling to the floor was a woman. She had long blond hair that went down the length of her back. The detail was amazing, as if you reached out to touch it, then it would be as soft as it looked. Her eyes were a bright amber like wolfs eyes, and her lashes thick and long. The rest if her features were of equal beauty.

Kar stopped silent and watched her. She looked at him.

"That was my wife of a distant past. You remind me of her. Both of you were obstinate and strong willed." His face hardened and what little softness was in his eyes vanished.

"You will have but no choice to listen."

He stormed over to her.

"You and your people will end this world. Do you have any clue, that what you carry within?" He shook his head.

She leaned back as much as possible. Acid rose in her throat burning.

He passed under a large archway. Straight ahead was a large fireplace, tall enough a person could stand in it. The wooden Overmantle had carvings of knights with swords and spears drawn. On both ends of the mantle was a large winged griffin. Their wings were held up and curved upward.

He moved her over to a wooden high backed chair, this was a few feet from the fireplace. A small table on the left side, with another chair at the end.

He sat her down on the one on the right. He was in front of her, his breath smelled of something sweet.

"Vow to do as I say and not to escape, I tire of chasing after you, like a misbehaving pup."

She glared at him, and wished he would fall down below in flames to greet the dark gods. To be bound to him by a vow, no, no. Her mind went blank.

"Say it."

He put a hand on her right shoulder squeezing it, the pain was intense and seared the skin, wisps of smoke wafted through his fingers right on the still healing scratch.

"I refuse."

A vow can never be broken, doing so always incurred Olenus wrath. Have to fight this. She sat up straight and looked though him, not at him. Another jolt of pain singed through her again she ground her teeth. Every hair on her arms stood up. His nails grew longer and he dug them into the scratch widening it.

She orbited her shoulder and leaned back, pushing on his chest with a hand.

"Get off!"

A Dusk rat came over to Kar.

"Master the man things are still down stairs."

"I don't have much to say, but that what I say you should weigh carefully. What do you think will happen if you continue to refuse?"

The fireplace caught her attention and she stared at it.

He moved close to her face next to an ear.

"Do it, or I'll bring your friends back and have them take the potion. What I will make them vow would be of a far-less pleasant nature. The human how long do you think he'll be able to hold out?"

He held up a finger.

"I say a minute or less, he's so young ..."

She hung her head, her eyebrows twitched as she fought back a snarl that pulled on her lips and face. It was true. Parcival was at least thirty years younger ...

"I vow ... to do as you say, and not to escape."

The clamp of the vow became physical, a small feather etched on the top of her hand, like a light scar long healed. A reminder from Olenus.

Her eyes burned they stung as she fought back the tears.

"One more thing. If the others return you will protect me at all costs or that what you drank will instantly kill you."

He placed his other hand under her chin and squeezed it.

"I'm being kinder than you know. The others how much do you trust them?"

"Far more than you."

She blinked rapidly and breathed in a few breaths. He didn't say I had to give direct answers.

His eyebrow twitched. He squeezed again and pulled his hand away roughly. Kar went over to the fireplace and flicked his fingers. The logs in it sparked and soon a fire started.