Merna I strolled around the ballroom, and as promised everyone had shown up minus a few heads. The one that I had hoped to see was not there. Sadragon had informed me that Pierre had been sent on an assignment. I felt a ping of pain in my chest. Holding back the tears, “I am so very happy for you two!” Sadragon glared at me with so much animosity, “do you love him?” “I just miss my big brother!” I whipped the single tear that had escaped. “He deserved you, you know that. I have watched that man for years. Always hollow and empty. Seeing him here I know he belongs. And I am going to miss him a great deal!” “If you would be less of a shrew, you would find your place as well!” He snapped at me. Forcing a smile on my face praying no more tears would fall, “I do not belong here … I do not belong anywhere! No one wants me!” Sadragon brought his body up to mine, “that is because you are a bitch!” He hissed in my ear. Taking my fingertips I placed them on his arms, allowing the electricity to come to my fingertips, I zapped Sadragon. He jumped back in surprise, “I guess Pierre did not tell you how much of a freak I am. No one wants to be around a monster!” I turned around without allowing Sadragon to say another word. Composing myself once again, I continued with the task that was given to me. By the time I finished speaking to each guest, my throat was killing me. In all of my years, I do not think I have done this much communicating. Pleasant enough the event had been there was only one individual that I found to be questionable. Everyone else I knew would support Chaos in the pending war with his family. Those that supported Chaos, knew the importance of him staying in power. Their livelihood depended on it. By the end of the night the one that I thought was questionable, listened to the chatter that was going around. Soon he found himself supporting Chaos. I smiled with success, we had managed to secure well-known families to support Chaos. Each had made a deal with me, giving Chaos fifteen thousand gold to thirty thousand in gold to fund the war. In return, the individuals would receive a share of the plunder once Chaos had defeated his siblings. This value would be anything from serfs, minerals and resources to possibly double what they had donated in gold. I glanced over my shoulder as I spotted Chaos still in heavy conversation with an elderly elf male. I do believe his name was Syljor of Flapholoce. I took this opportunity to slip out of the hall and wander around. My mind was stuck on Pierre and what Sadragon had said to me. Though the dress did not have straps to hold the dress up, it was tightly fitted. Attached to the sides were long flowing sleeves that covered my arms to my wrist. Fiddling around with the hem of the sleeves I continued to walk. I had no idea where I was. This place was a location that I had not seen before. I had come to a dead end when I got lost in my mind. I could feel the energy beckoning me to let it be released. It had been so long since I found myself alone where I could be free. Letting the power slip out of my hands! I willed the small particles of dust to float in the air. In my mind I pictured the dust floating around me. With my mind I created sparks of fire, forming a ball I allowed it to swiftly move around in a circle, up, down this way and that. Whatever my little heart desired. Gathering the moisture from the air, I formed small droplets of water. Sound. I found myself controlling the elements swaying them to the beat of my drum. I was the conductor and the elements were the instruments, playing a song that only I could hear. Like an artist and a canvas, I produced a masterpiece that I was proud of. Lost in my thoughts and workings I did not hear Ashur sneaking up behind me. I jumped when I heard his voice. ‘So you are one of us!’ Ashur’s voice echoed in my mind. My tone was melancholy, ‘I would never place myself in the same category as you … I am a hybrid … freak … a monster!’ I snorted, ‘Mother needed to hide me … what better place to hide then under the noise of her enemies.’ I started to sarcastically laugh. I watched as Ashur strolled over to me. ‘Does father know?’ ‘Are you referring to what you walked in on?’ I paused waiting to see if he would confirm, ‘To a degree yes, but even I do not know exactly what I can do!’ He furrowed his brow, ‘What does that mean?’ ‘It means that only my mother knows and she does not come forth with information that easily.‘ I paused, ‘I keep on asking mother why me, what am I, where do I belong? None of my questions would she answer, she would only say, I will understand when I get older and come home.’ I could feel my frustration growing, balling up my hands I could feel the energy swirling around my hands. Ashur placed his hand on me, bringing me closer. Sparks of energy erupted once our skin touched. Both of us glared at where his hands were. What this meant I do not know. At this point frustration, building energy in my hands and this spark between us was the only thing I was feeling.I exhaled loudly, finding contempt. Ashur gave me an odd glare, ‘What was that about?’ ‘For once it is nice not to be able to hear your deep thoughts or see what your future holds. Sometimes … sometimes it is a bitch to know when someone is going to die. Know that they are cheating on someone. You know shit like that. When it comes to you, there is only a void of darkness.’ Ashur didn’t say anything to me. Soon I found something I did not think I would ever find, soleless! For a short time I had nothingness in my mind, and I welcomed it! The energy that was balled up in my fist dissipated. A small conversation turned into something that I did not intend to happen. It felt right and I was beyond sexually frustrated. I needed a distraction and he happened to stroll onto me when I needed it the most. It was only sex, nothing illegal. To consensual adults that had no one tying us down to a singular relationship. What I had not anticipated was the after-effects! To my utter shame, Ashur was the perfect distraction that was needed. At the same time, he saw more of me than I cared to share. I am sure that by the time I see the Master again, he will have a full idea of what demons I hid in my closet. Demons I have been more than willing to bury under rocks never to be unearthed. And there are also the demons that I do not even know about. Yet the true nature of anyone will emerge sooner or later. Especially when the circumstances are right. From what I can tell everyone has several sides to their personality and nature, much like onions, you have to peel back each layer to see what is there. I just haven't dared to peel the layers too scared to find out how much of a monster I am. We glared at each other! The storm had been brewing for a very long time now, it just so happened to be Ashur to be there to see everything unfold. Roughly he grasped me behind the back of my neck, connecting our lips in a dangerous violent eruption of energy. Raw … untamed … sexual tension between the both of us. I was having issues walking after the event with Ashur. He was the perfect amount of evil and pain. I had spent this whole time in Chaos’s domain trying to survive and stay ahead of everything that I hadn’t even had the chance to think about what it was that I needed.