The mage stared down at the two forms bound by magic straps to wooden slabs. Yes, he thought to himself, these would do just fine.

Lifting the hem of his black robes, he circled around the slabs, concentrating his power. The room around them was part of a basement to an abandoned cathedral. He had the room sealed off to any scrying, his power being great enough to keep any uninviteds out. His work was precious to him, and he couldn't risk any interruptions.

Soon, when his power was at it's peak, he began his work; what he's been planning for years, decades even.

Hours later, with exhaustion wracking his body, he set the fruit of his labor within a crudely constructed crib. Laughing to himself, a few coughs wracking his body, his head shook.

"This'll be the end of those highblood bastards. No more will I take their pitieous looks just because I don't have their ears or their lifespan." He let out another cough as he cackled to the best of his ability, it coming out in a raspy way. Wiping spittle and blood from his lips, he truged off to rest.

After a fitful night's worth of sleep, the mage made his way towards the other main room in the basement; which currently held his other two prisoners. Opening the door, he chuckled faintly as he stood in the frame and watched them. As the other two prisoners were, these two were magically bound to wooden slabs and held in a trance-like state. With the energy he could muster left over from yesterday's workings, he sent out a beacon to one of the Sisters within the Everhate House in the world deep below; the Underdark. Leaving the room after taking care of a last bit of business, he hurriedly left from the basement and cathedral all together.

*****

It didn't take long for the party to find where the signal came from. How the fools must've messed up and send a signal like this was beyond them, but they'd not argue. They came upon what appeared to be an abandoned cathedral. There were obvious signs of living within. After a careful search, they found what they searched for; a drow male and elven female sleeping within the basement storeroom of the building. In an adjoining room was a child, wrapped up in a cloak against the chill of an oncoming winter.

Each of the adults was easily slung over a shoulder of a warrior, and another carefully lifted the child. Carrying them upstairs and outside, they made their way to a large globe of darkness. Stepping within, day became night. A drowess waited within, wrapped in robes of dark gray, the hood pulled tight over her face so that only a few tufts of stark white hair showed through.

Carrying the male and female closer, they were uncerimoniously dropped before the older drowess. At this, the male groaned and stired faintly, maroon eyes peering slowly open. At seeing the warriors and the drowess, he quickly tried to gather himself and his wits.

Placing her foot on his chest, the drowess spoke in a lilting voice, "Z'ress, m'child... it is a pity to find you like this. Oh what a blemish you have been to our house. I regret now sparing you on that day so long ago as I did. I should've let you be made into the drider. At least then you'd have been of use." Clucking as she shook her head, the lady watched him with cold, blood-red eyes.

"Please, spare my children and mate. They've done nothing wrong. Take me in their place, and inflict any torture you want. Just don't hurt them!" he wailed out, clasping at the lady's foot and clawing in desperation. At this she rose her eyebrow, head turning what was obviously only one child.

No mercy came for any as she ordered the party back to the Underdark. Soon Z'ress and his wife were bound and made to walk, and the child carried by the drowess.

Peeking into the cloak, she saw a healthy baby boy with skin to match even the darkest drow's. And yet, his eyes were like that of shinning platinum. Muttering, she shook her head and rewrapped the baby, not wanting to see what she thought of as an abomination.

*****

Years, perhaps decades, later, Z'ress was being tortured, knowing he'd soon be watching his son Xsax'vser be tortured in this House of Everhate. He couldn't count the years since that day of being caught, them running together in emotional and physical pain. Each day was nearly the same; first he'd be tortured while his son watched, and then vice versa. Long ago his mate had died, unable to bear it.

Now it was his turn, this day, to meet the varios torturings of the drowess. His son was taken off the table and put in his place, while he was taken over to be 'worked' upon.

Little did anyone know, there was someone else watching. The mage from before had his own corner within the room, heavily guarded by his magic. He kept himself invisible from all, enjoying to watch. Waiting for the right moment, he stayed silent and undetectable.

"Xsax'vser, you runt of a halfbreed...," the drowess muttered, working on the boy already. He'd not give her the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain, he never did. And occasionally, he'd ask for more. Just to goad her, and show her. She worked hard on him this day, taking him nearly within an inch of his life, and meant to take it beyond.

Knowing this'd ruin his plans, the mage acted quickly. Setting magic around the drowess, he made it appear to come from the weakened Z'ress. It knocked the lady into the far wall, knocking the air frm her lungs and leaving her dazed. Not knowing what was going on, Z'ress lept at the table and quickly retrieved his son.

The mage smirked to himself and gave Z'ress now the strength of ten men through his magic, and lead the father and son out without them knowing. He helped them from the house, and fast away. There was already a ruckus of warriors being called to chase after the fugitive, the drowess having regained her wits.

Z'ress huddled his child to his chest and ran, ran with all his might. Coming upon an exit from the Underdark to the above world, the mage's strength to Z'ress ran out, letting him collapse to the floor. He motioned for his child to make way, as he'd only slow him down.

"Go, my son, and flee now. Head due south and you'll come to a town where people'll tend to you and raise you. Go! NOW!" He screamed at the still child. And go Xsax'vser did. He ran and ran, never looking back even as he heard the death-scream of his father beneath a warrior's blade. The mage bourn him now speed, and followed along. He caused a few distractions for the following party.

Xsax'vser made it out, and the mage summoned a lesser demon against the oncoming drow warriors. Not knowing what was going on now, Xsax'vser ran even harder, pushing his lithe legs to the limit and beyond.

With unknowing guidance from the mage, he soon made it to the village he was bade to go to, and collapsed outside it, unable to go farther. His platinum eyes looked to the village, and he finally let out a weak, nearly nonexistant plee for help.

With luck, a traveller was near by. He had saw the young drow collapse and rushed to his side. Seeing the multitude of wounds, he knew a healer would be needed. He shouted back to a guard at the city walls to send for a healer, and for help. Within minutes, Xsax'vser was being tended to.

Again from a distance, the mage watched. His body was wracked with coughs, and his eyes flooded with tears. He had spent too much energy, and knew his time was short. Blood flew with each cough, mixed in with spittle. He waited, and bided his time, fighting for each moment of life.

Once Xsax'vser was tended to and shown to a bed, he was left alone to rest up. The mage appeared before him, and spoke in a raspy voice.

"You, Xsax'vser of the Everhate House, will do my biddings. Born of elven and drow blood, you are more than a simple halfling..." the rest of the words were cut off by another round of coughing, and he set about to finish his work. Releasing the knowledge he implanted so long ago, the power of magic and the skill of a master swordsman flooded into the young drow's mind. Leaving now, the mage transported himself to the abandoned cathedral. He collapsed into a rotten pew, it collapsing beneath his weight, and died.

*****

While Xsax'vser slept, he unconsciously took more knowledge from the mage than what the mage had intended. He watched, as he slept, from the mage's point of view. He worked magic, and watched as two babies slowly were bound into one body. One baby was elven, and the other drow. He awoke screaming, and within moments a healer was by his side to calm him, dismissing his words as a fevered dream of the wounds.

Xsax'vser soon forgot that dream, and went on as a normal child. Though if one looked closely, they see Death within his eyes.

::December 22, 2002 10:09 AM

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