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| - Vixeena moaned softly as she slept fitfully in the cottage she had rented for her and Velik in Darkshire. Her warder grunted, rolled over and held her pressed to him as if protecting her from the unseen forces even though he was sleeping at the time. The reserved young man had insisted on sleeping in her bed the rare times they rested at the same time so he would be near her in an instant if she was being assaulted. He had announced this in a very logical, precise, fashion with no sentiment attached to it as was his manner. Vix knew there was no romantic intent behind it even if her thoughts had wandered down that path in her waking dreams may times. As she slept a dark dream held her in its maw. The dream far too vivid to be wrought of imagination. It was a memory long since repressed bubbling to the surface like the air bubbles in a hot springs. In her dreams Vixeena was chained to the rough hewn walls of a cave in the dry, furnacelike heat of Durotar. The demon had ripped her blood stained gown in two with its claws..her beatings had left a myriad of plum colored bruises blossoming on her pale olive skin. Her mouth was swollen and she could taste the coppery flavor of her own blood in her mouth from where her lip had split. She heard the discussion of her captor with the a deeper more intelligent being in an orb. Her captor sounded disgusted and impatient eager to return to its sadistic pleasure having determined she was not useful to its superiors and wanting its reward now. The demon who chastised it sounded coldly angry. You idiot..of course you will get nothing from her if you beat her to death before you get the information that is needed, the demon spat from the communication orb. The wench has nuthin of use in her pretty head..but I can think of plenty of use for er before I suck the soul out of her body, the hulking demon rasped its jaws slavering as it watched Vixeenas limp form suspended from the mancles, If they need to pick that mind again let em find her shard, but she has nuthin of use I tell ya. The intelligent creature had a note of fear mixed in with the irritation. It was clearly washing its hands of this flunky lest it incur the displeasure of the lesser demons superior. The warlock will not be the only to meets its demise when your superior determines your failure. My contacts tell me she indeed has knowledge of previously unknown races of demons from other planes..beings who have powers far different from our own that can be studied..taken..and acquired. No matter fool, I will recover the shard eventually and gain for my master the knowledge you failed to attain. It will just take longer, the demon replied coldly,I have the patience born of greater intellect. The communication orb ceased its glow and Vix looked up as the demon approached her a look of hunger and cruelty in its eyes. Vix woke up instantly. She wanted to scream but bit her hand instead to stifle herself lest she awake her warder who would be up in an instant reaching for his sword which he kept in easy reach. She carefully and silently crawled out her bed the cool night air assaulting her skin as she wrapped herself in a wool robe. Velik still slept thankfully and stirred only slightly as he had become accustomed to her getting up during the night to tend the fire. He looked so beautiful and almost vulnerable as he slept the russet fan of his lashes resting against his tanned cheek as he curled up in a fetal ball. At least Vixeena now knew why she had been abducted by the Legion..those dreams were not merely imagination or the results of a late night snack, they had truly happened. She sat by the fire and rocked thinking on this revelation..surely she would be hunted and in time they would find her. She looked back at Velik her face and eyes uncharacteristically soft. She prided herself on her emotional reserve since she had been wounded by her previous lovers. Her walls since then had been carefully erected her trust eroded and her need to encase herself under many layers of protection evident. This man who slept before her seemed to get past all the emotional defenses she possessed without his even being aware of it. His simple direct manner instilled a measure of trust she thought she was no longer capable of. She knew that she was taking an immense risk as the inkling of desire and incipient affection took root in her frost encased heart. His kindness, his protectiveness were only his duty, he was hired to guard her and his concern was just that part of his job, nothing more. Vixeena padded quietly to his side and lay next to him. She curled up next to him wrapping her arms around his sinewy frame and stroking his soft spice colored hair. If this is the only nearness she could enjoy with him then so be it..she would secret it away in the confines of her spirit and only enjoy it in the quietness of the night. A week had passed since she had dreamt about her abduction. She reflected back on it as she ran to the Kaldorei ruins in Ashenvale where Tharion, Fethas, Syrnia, and Taldarion waited. Vixeena was panting by the time she got there and felt strangely out place in the graceful gathering of night elves. The Shando had called the meeting to exchange information collected by the members of the academy. First Fethas gave her crisp report which was as Vix suspected was quick to get to the meat of the matter. The stoic elf reported that she had learned some information of import in her surveillance of Daeloth. Daeloth had killed Sraath and taken his command, thus he know had some reason to fear his vengeance especially in light of his weakend state. Taldarion and also reported that he had met with success in his information gathering. He indicated that he had found some useful knowledge on the Shadowed Sun which he summarized in a parsimonious fashion. It seemed as if this doom guard had been resurrected by its followers somewhere along the way and in the course of being exposed to such potent magic it had gained greater power as a result. Tharion seemed to assimilate the information rapidly and began formulating his own theories and conclusions putting forth his thoughts for discussion. He concluded that in order for Sraath to make his way to this world his must be summoned by someone with the requisite abilities. The group debated if it was more prudent to summon the being at a time of their own choosing or wait for the inevitable battle. Before the discussion could reach its inevitable conclusion it was interrupted in a drastic turn of events. Each individual stood stiff and straight as if hearing a voice in their minds. The voice in Vixeenas head was confident and mocking, it assured her it would come to them at a time of its choosing and perhaps she could serve its purposes. Vix conversed with the entity, which was an exercise in futility..she assured it she would not betray her comrades and it mocked her certainty with its amused but chilling voice. Vixeena felt icy needles jabbing her brain as she collapsed and sat in a heap. Dealing with the thing left her feeling drained and powerless. Elishtar noticed her condition and cradled her tenderly like a child in an appreciated but surprising display of warmth from the striking demon hunter. Everyone spoke seemingly at once..each one of them had heard the doom guards voice ringing in their heads and it was clear that it spoke differently to each one of them. That night Vix returned to her cottage thinking on the events that had transpired her head still throbbing from the encounter. In the quietness of her reflection she finally acknowledged that her fears were no longer just for herself as they had been during her lone wolf existence..she now feared for her new friends and her warder Velik. The thought of Velik being tortured and hunted by these creatures worried at her like a dog gnaws at a bone..she feared for his safety far more than she feared for her own mortality
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