Ranewen stood in the crystal caves, watching the crystals glow as if she were in a trance. She was so concentrated on the crystals that she accidentally fell backwards and a crystal went right through her right arm. She pulled herself off of it with ease and watched the blood seep out of the wound. She wondered why it wasn’t healing. All of a sudden, she felt pain again.

She winced and touched the wound. Slowly, though, the blood seeped back in and the wound closed. Perhaps the crow was trying to tell her what pain was like since she couldn’t feel it anymore. She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her bloodstained shirt and sat in the darkness. She could see, though, as if it were day, for she used Ebon Eyes.

She thought she had seen someone at the corner of her eye. She sat there, as still as she could be, nearly invisible to the naked eye. She didn’t make herself fully invisible, but she made it so that this person – whoever it was – could see her if he or she was studying hard enough. Ranewen thought of it as a test. She smirked and sat, watching the darkness, waiting to see if she had heard somebody. Perhaps her mind was playing tricks on her. Or maybe her friend, the darkness, wanted to play tag. The Shadowdancer watched silently, watching. Waiting.

Selena shuffled through the darkness, her hands trying to find her way out. She felt awful. Her head hurt and it felt as though she was bleeding because she could feel her heart throbbing in her shoulder. She rubbed it, but then it hurt even more. Maybe she had fallen down or something. But how? Where? When? She couldn’t even remember it. Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember anything. She felt very fragile and vulnerable in the lonely dark. She had all kinds of question racing through her mind. Some of them scared her.

How the hell did I get here? What am I doing here? How could I get back? Am I alone? Why do I feel so tired?

She suddenly realised something she hadn't realised before because she had been so tired.

'Oh, God! How could I forget? I am a fire diviner! I can summon fire!' She frowned, shaking her head. 'Now, why didn't I think of that before?'

Quickly she gestured into the darkness, sending red, shiny flames out from her hand.

'Yes, there...that's better,' she said, smiling, more happy with her situation now. Now at least she could see. Soon it wouldn't be a riddle anymore where she was. But suddenly she something....something, a living thing, a creature sitting in the shadows. She swallowed and walked on, deciding not be scared off by some animal. But when she came closer she saw that she had been mistaken there. This creature was no animal at all. It was a human being. A person! And someone she knew too. She stood there for a while, her mouth wide open, surprised.

'What...what are you doing here?'

Ranewen watched her friend wander in the darkness. It seemed as though she had nudged a crystal. Perhaps it was too cold for her to feel the pain at the beginning. That was what she saw anyways. When the girl lit the flames, she winced. Luckily, that was when she fully recognized Selena. She sighed in relief and stayed quiet.

That was, until she was discovered.

She stood up, a smile upon her face. “Selena! I didn’t think it was you from in the dark. I thought you were someone else. Well, a stranger that was walking in on my quiet time.’ She smiled and extended her hand in greeting.

“What am I doing here? You ask. Well, I answer: I have come for some peace and quiet. That’s all. And to marvel at the pretty crystals that I can see in the dark, unlike most people can. So, how’s life going for you?” Ranewen asked, a smile tugging at both ends of her lips, curling them up into a smile. She was glad that it was someone she knew. But when she looked back at the entrance, she swore she saw someone else about to walk in. It was probably a mind game with the shadows – her friends.

Selena smiled back at Ranewen and shook her hand.

'Thanks for asking, and I am fine. Just fine. Life's been just like it used to be. A bit more hectic maybe, being a Knight of Imythess and all. And I've encountered many daemons again since you last saw me. And few of them were good-looking, I can tell you that' she replied, grinning.

She looked at her friend. Suddenly Ran's arm caught her attention. There was a wound that was still healing to be seen. 'Though I can see you have been hurt.' She looked around. 'Same with me. But the only thing is, I can't remember how it happened at all.' She smiled, nervously. 'I can't even remember getting here...'

Could it have been one of those crystals? Maybe I hit one of them or something. And then I fell over and hit the floor. That would also explain my killer headache...

Ranewen had almost laughed out loud at what Selena said about the daemons. "To me, daemons are quite handsome creatures. Breath-taking, if you will. Only some. Not all, but definately a lot. May I ask what their names were?" she asked as she let her arm drop to her side. "Your hands are cold. You must have been here for a while. The caverns are freezeing..." Ranewen stated and looked around. She found a fire place and summoned a fire elemental to get the fire going.

"You're probably too cold and numb... You hit a crystal with your arm and I believe you tripped and fell. That's what I saw moving in the doorway. It has been a few long minutes since I saw you fall. Perhaps you were knocked out." Ranewen shrugged her shoulders as she sat down by the fire.

Ranewen made a motion with her hand for Selena to join her by the fire. "Come get warm. You might feel better." She smiled and had the fire elemental sit in between them to warm both of them up. "Remember that guy I was talking about? Seele? I liked his eyes. That's why I asked about him." She smiled once again and nodded her head.

Seele walked through the caverns, engaged in a fierce battle. not one that anyone but him could see, but fierce nonetheless.

Let me out Seele...
No, I don't think so.
Why not? You want what only I can give you!
I do not wish to earn back... that name.
Blighter? Oh, but it fits us so well.
You, maybe.
You gave birth to me Seele. I just did what you wanted.
Can an elf not make mistakes?
Someone with your power? No.
That is behind us forever now.
It never will be. The screams, the pain, the writhign ground, the dying plants. You caused it all Seele! You, not me! I just sat in your mind and laughed and laughed-

"Shut up!!!" The last part Seele screamed aloud, falling to his knees. He grabbed his head, trying once again to force out the shadow demon he had created. It was useless. He sat there, scrunched in the dark, golden eyes dark. Suddenly, he went rigid, eyes rolling back. For a moment he was still, mouth open in a sil;ent scream, then stood up slowly. His face twisted into a wicked smile.

"Oh, for shame Seele. In your weakness... you let me out..." He picked up his scythe and twirled it expertly, golden eyes full of a mad glee. "Finally, I can have some blood..." he let out a long, insane laugh that echoed throughout the tunnels, then walked through them, scythe held at the ready.

Ranewen had heard the laughter and she whirled around, looking into the darkness. She could have sworn she had seen someone. Perhaps the shadows still wanted to play tag. "Selena... Go hide. Please." She nodded towards a darkened area in the cavern. "Run if you can. I'm begging you. I can't die right now. So run." Her voice was in a whisper.

She tok out one fighting knife and her Sword of Chaos. She looked around, wondering in which cavern Seele was. She didn't know who it was, though. She sent the fire elemental away and she stomped out the fire to make it totally dark. "Who's there?" she demanded loudly, looking around.

((Sorry it's so... lacking... lol))

Seele cackled with glee. He had found someone! He recognized the voice, somewhere in his mind.

Oh god... it's that girl from the tavern
It is, isn't it? This will be fun...
Give me back control!
Why? So you can imprison me again? Feel how it is to be stuck, helpless, in your own body Seele!
This is not your body! You are an imposter!
But they do not know that... only you, an annoying echo in my mind...

The possessed Seele grinned and tapped the sickle blade against the ground. It echoed distantly through the cave. "Me? I am a shadow... unseen and unstoppable." He tapped the blade against the ground again, his golden eyes bright with glee. "Let me show you..." Silently, he slowly moved closer to Ranewan, scythe held low, ignoring the frusterated, silent sobs of an elf impriosned in his own mind.

She looked around and stepped back, tripping over the fire place and landing behind it with a grunt. She got up as quickly as she could and looked around again. He was coming nearer, but even with Ebon Eyes, she could only see shadows. She hated head-on battles, but if it was was her she was going to be saving, she would do it if she needed to.

"Show me. See what happens when you step to a battle with me," she mused, trying to provoke whoever it was to show himself. She could only tell that it was a male by the voice. She still didn't know who it was. She looked into the darkness of the caverns as if it were day, but still, she could not see where this source of noise was coming from. He is in another cavern, she told herself, evne though she knew it wasn't true.

Seele stopped and smiled. She still couldn't see him, it appeared. He twirled the sycthe, making a low moaning sound. "I see only you, stepping to the abyss." He grinned and chanted out the words to an enervation spell, the scythe blade now crackling with negative energy. "Let me show you." He pointed the scythe at her, crying out the last word to the spell. A crackling bolt of negative energy sprang towards her side, hissing.

When she finally saw him, it was a little too late. The enervation spell caught her side and she collapsed to the ground on her knees. She felt the pain, like she had when she had hit the crystals. She yelped in pain and held her side as the slow healng process began. Even as the blood seeped back in and it healed, she still felt the pain. When she looked up again, she saw his Golden eyes and she remembered him "You," she hissed, not knowing that it wasn't exactly the man she had seen at the Bloodseal Tavern. "You," she repeated just as angrily.

"Me." he grinned and stepped forward, no longer trying to hide in the shadows. "I remember you too? Sure you don't want a big hug and kiss as welcome?" He twirled the scythe around beside him easily, eyes bright with glee. "Such a shame I found you first. now I kill you. Pretty little thing too." He smiled at her, not even lookign like he was going to attack.

Oh gods, please don't...

Seele spang forward, swinging the scythe down at the girl's head. "Now let me show you death!"

"You cannot kill what you did not create," she said as she let herself collapse down onto one knee and bent the other one. She brought both of her weapons up and blocked the attack, which sent her sprawling backwards and against a crystal. It went right through her arm and she cussed under her breath. "You weren't liek this. There's something wrong with you. What happened?" she asked through clenched teeth as she pulled herself from the crystal lodged in her left arm. Blood streamed down her arm and soon enough, it seeped back into the wound and it closed up, yet the pain was still there. Just like before.

He grinned and lifted the steel blade to his face, looking in it. "Oh, I just got a mekover. Look much better now." He stepped forward, scythe blade traveling around him in a whirl. "I did nothing except set myself free from what controlled me. And... reversed the situation." The possessed Seele laughed shortly. "Best thing that ever happened to me. And worse that could of ever happened to you." He spun forward, right foot snapping out for a quick kick, bringing around the scythe in a follow-move.

Quickly, Ranewen made her way over to another shadow to try and hide herself. He hadn't known Selena was here. With a glance back, she let herself be visible in the shadows as she ran into a different cavern, waiting for him to follow. She let herself disappear into the shadows there, becoming almost invisible to the eye unless he studied the shadows carefully. "Over here..." she said quietly as she waited.

Seele walked into the new cavern amd stood in the middle. "Come out, come out, wherever you are..." he grinned and examined the shadows, eyes slipping over Ranewan's position. Somewhere in his mind, Seele was working furiously to free himself, making sure he would always miss Ranewan when he looked near her.

"I can play a waiting game too." The man stood still in the center of the cavern, scythe extended in front of him, eyes closed. His cloak billowed around him.

She smirked. He hadn't seen her. "Look closely... And you'll find yourself in the most dangerous of positions." She then lunged out of the shadows, her knife, her Chaos Blad pressed against herself so that she could use it as a shield. "Like this!" she said as she neared him, in mid-air. His eyes were closed. Exactly what was he doing. Purposely, she knocked herself off balance, but when she landed, her foot caught the scythe (not the blade ,the handle-like part) and sent her sprawling onto the floor. Luckily, she landed in the shadows and let herself become slightly invisible again.

Selena hated the state she was in. She hated it intensely. Now she was forced to sit back and watch how Seele attacker her friend. She frowned, cursing. Her hands turned into fists as she heard the daemon talk, mockingly.

Who does he think he is?

Selena tossed her hair about, trying not to look at the two fighting. But she couldn't help it. Normally she would have been in the middle of the battle, so, she was still planning on her next move. She sighed loudly, still irritated by her weak state.

What is it with me and timing? she asked herself. Sometimes it's really like I have no luck at all. Ever! And...now I can't even fight. I can't even help out... I'm just stuck here, watching, waiting, waiting, watching! She kicked against a small stone, pushing it around with her right foot.

Then do something about it, Selena... a voice suddenly called out to her from out the mysterious, deep shadows of her mind. She gasped, her eyes big.

No! No, you mustn’t! I..I..I know how you are! I know what you will do! And that won't be good! You won't show mercy! You won't take him prisoner! You'll take his life! And in a cruel way too! You'll make him suffer like he never has before! Not in a thousand lifetimes! You can't do that! That wouldn't be right! That isn't right! And you know it!

I know nothing of the sort. I am not the weak one like you are...

It is not ME that is weak, Keabard! It is YOU! YOU! And only YOU! Selena's head felt like it was boiling. She quickly put her hands to her forehead and started rubbing it. 'No...,' she silently whispered... 'No...'

You see? You ARE weak! You can't even let me out to take your sweet revenge on one of your enemies! If that isn't weak I don't know what is.

What are you talking about? I don't even know the guy! I've only seen him once or twice and then he seemed like a normal type of person. Why would I do anything to him without knowing the least thing about him? Who knows, maybe he is possessed. Just like me...

Keabard didn't speak at all. She merely kept repeating the same words.
Excuses, excuses. Weak, weak, weak... Excuses, excuses because you are weak, weak, weak... Her voice now sounded more like an angel's silent whisper. Though now she even sounded more intimidating than usual.

Selena shook her head.
No, you are wrong. I am not weak. You are wrong. And I know you are, so, I am not even listening to you. You don't exist. You are NOT there.

Yes, you are. And you know I am right. Otherwise you wouldn’t go through so much trouble denying it. She laughed wickedly. But I am not used to anything different from you, my little princess, so, your coward behavior doesn't surprise me in the least...

Selena couldn't take it anymore. She had now definitely reached her boiling point.YOU have given into The Dark, not me. YOU can't face yourself or look at your own reflection! Because you are ashamed of yourself. YOU are, not I. YOU are lost in your own despair and selfishness. And it is you have taken lives just because you have lost control over your own!

Keabard screamed on the top of her lungs. Why, you insolent, little witch! You know nothing about me! Nothing!

And You know NOTHING about ME! So, leave me alone! Then I'll leave you alone!

You aren't stronger than me, you know, Selena? So, don't think that. Because you really, really aren't!

Oh? I am not, am I? Well, we'll see about that, vampire! Selena dared her.

Hey, it's your call, milady...

Keabard started pulling and pushing inside of her. Selena fought her. Though Keabard wouldn't give in, she wouldn't have any of it. She would never let her win. She would never let her take over! Her Shadow Side noticed that and only started being more aggressive. Selena had never experienced her inner vampire like this. She had been there was quite a while now, but she had never been...this....powerful, this strong. She fell to the ground, heavily shaking. She admitted she was very afraid now. But not afraid of Keabard. No, afraid of what she might do to her. And not only her.

Suddenly her headache became stronger. Now it felt like her head was about to explode. She heard Ranewen and Seele fighting in the background. But then...all went silent...all went...black.

Selena lay there, perfectly and completely still, for about ten more seconds. Then she came up. Slowly and carefully. She still had her eyes closed. She was concentrating. On forgetting. On getting better, healing. Though her pain was now gone. But come to think of it, in her eyes, it all was gone now. Everything. She stood upright, her dark, red hair down, covering her face... Then she opened her eyes. In a quick flash. As she peered through the curtain of hair hanging in front of her face, she had done it. She had completed the transformation. From Selena to Keabard. And, as you could tell from her dark, empty, poison coloured eyes, she wasn't too happy now. Slowly she began to walk...heading for Seele. Her next opponent. Her next victim...

Seele felt Ranewan's foot on the scythe; he whipped it up and aound, striking the floor where she had been moments ago. He frowned. "Dang. Missed." suddenly his eyes snapped open as he felt a new shadow power flow through the cave. He whirled, ignoring Ranewan for now, pulling the scythe blade out of the rock. The presence was strange; it seemed to come from all around. "Another joins this game, eh? It doesn't matter to me! All of you will die!"

Eyes wide he muttered to himself, a black symbol on his cheek radiating with a dark aura. MAxIMUM ENERVATION! He spun around, fingers extended, casting enervation spells in every direction. Stone crumbled as negative energy bolts flew randomly, Seele using a Claok of Darkness spell to seep into the shadows during the chaos.

She sighed in relief, for the blade of tyhe scythe struck the ground just between her two shins. She then ducked under the enervation spell he cast and then she lost sight of him. She stood up and stepped out from the shadows, which caused her to be seen. Then, she caught the sight of Selena to her right. But it wasn't her. It was someone else. She discarded the thought and looked around in the cavern that she seemed to be a lone in, wondering where Seele went.

((You can kidnap her if you want. :D Me no care. It would be hilarious: two evil people that hate eachother, yet he kidnapped her. lmao))

((I think you're talking to me, so if not tell me and I'll change this...))

Seele grinned and moved around the cave silently, until he was behind Ranewan. He got right behind her and whispered in her ear. "Hello, precious..." He lashed out, one arm encirling her waist and trapping her arms to her sides. The other held the curved blade against her throat. He pulled her back against him, his cloak wrapping around her as well, He hissed triumphantly in her ear. "What have we here? A trapped princess..." He looked at the shadows in the caves and yelled out, "Whoever's there, stop! Or her blood stains the ground."

Ranewen squirmed in his hold, trying to get herself free In the process, she cut her neck on the blade. The pain sliced through her body and she cringed. The blood slowly seeped back in and the wound closed, but the pain would not leave still. She continued to try and get out, but he seemed so much stronger than she was. Finally, she gave in and stood still, her nack pulled back as far as she could manage it to go, trying to get the blade away from her neck.

Seele grinned. "Give in to the dark... it is the only way..."

I will not permit this.
You cannot stop me.
We'll see about that...

Seele's hand spasmed; he dropped the sickle. He grimaced as the weapon fell away. He still had his fighting knives, but woudl save those for later. Instead he used both hands to hold Ranewan to him tighter. He could feel the true Seele slowly attacking his defenses, making his hold slacken slightly. He laughed and squeezed her tight enough she had to feel pain.

"Stop it or I squeeze her until she pops..." He raised one hand and traced it down her cheek, a crazed smile on his face. "You know I can. Such a shame too, to kill such a pretty specimen as a lesson to you..." He felt the true Seele hesitate for a second, then stop fighting.

Ranewen groaned in pain as he tightened around her waist. The pain from cutting herself on his scythe was still there. Soon enough, her knees buckled and she forced herself to keep standing. If she dropped forward, he could suffocate her and she would have never known. He must be... possessed... she thought and then stood up as best as she could, groaning again since his grip hadn't loosened. "Errdegahr, ori'gato ukta alu! Xor Dorn elgg tuth del dos!" she shouted in the Drow tongue in hopes of somehow driving him away by threatening both of them. Of ocurse, she wouldn't kill either of them, it was the first threat that came to her, as if she were panicking.

((Translation: Demon, let her go! Or I'll kill you both!))

((I'll post soon. I'm going now. Please don't post too much while I'm gone. I wanna fight too! *puts up Puss...in BOOTS eyes* :D ::excited::))

((ok, this will be my one postr until you reply...))

Seele looked at Selena. He had just saw her in the shadows, and felt something closer to fear than he ever had before. For a demon, it was not a pleasant experience. He felt Ranewan's knees buckle and he leaned back in a crevice in the cave; not only did this support both of them against the rock, but shielded him from the evil vampire coming towards him with her body as well. "Stay back demon spawn! Move closer, and this girl will not be the only one to die!" He loosened his hold on Ranewan a bit; it wouldn't do him any good if she passed out.

Ironic, you calling someone else demon spawn...

The possessed Seele's grimaced angirly. "shut up! This is my body now! Mine alone!"

((Same here, Selena!))

Ranewen struggled again to try and get free as Seele's grip loosened around her waist. She heard him say something about his body, and it being his a lone. She began chanting sometihng in the Drow song, perhaps something of a song. One that she was taught about trying to help a possessed person. She didn't know if it would work or not, but right now she was deperate. She wouldn't let herself die here. Not in the hands of a demon.