Within the heart of an ancient city, a great cathedral stood, defying time itself in it's condition. Inside it once housed great literature, holy monks and pilgrims from far away. But now it was empty, full of dust and cobwebs, only the rats disturbing the peace.

One other life form graced itself upon the stone work. Stirling Strych sat with his back against a broken statue, legs draped half-way over an alter. His bow and arrows (I'll assume I have these, as I am waiting for the purchase to be recognised) lay next to him, placed uncarefully on the worn stone steps.

His mind was working against him, pushing his soul back, his will to live downwards. Only the dead were comforting him now, he thought. Only the dead cared. A pair of ash-grey hands snapped up and gripped both sides of his head, pulling down on his black hair. These thoughts needed to stop, they needed to be repressed. Throwing back his head, he screamed to the high ceiling "I need some bady to talk to!"


((Hey, I found a site with lots of writing colours in code. Here it is:http://www.immigration-usa.com/html_colors.html I use 990000))

Lilith carefully stepped over jagged rocks until she found flat ground. She stood next to the great Cathedral. Well it was once great, now it was nothing more than rubble. Her silver eyes scanned the mess, searching for another being. Suddenly she heard a man’s voice screaming words. It startled her and she fell backwards. She landed, thankfully, on flat ground. Just a few smaller rocks embedded themselves in her back. She pulled them out and winced. Blood stained her dark gown and she frowned. Passing one hand over her back, she said an incantation. Then she felt no pain and she smiled. The ability to heal was quite a useful one.

She got up and headed towards the voice. Reaching in her bag, she withdrew a small dagger. She hid it within her cloak and kept one hand on it. She knew it would do no good in battle, that’s why she had a lightning sword and a unicorn spear. But it would give her time to figure out the intentions of the being who had shouted. Creeping up behind the darkened figure, she noticed a bow and arrows lying next to him. He seemed to be in a fragile position mentally so she knew to take things slow. If she startled him, he might come at her and he was much bigger.

“Excuse me”, she said very softly. “I heard your cry for help. I hope I am not intruding. My name is Lilith.” She walked around to where he could she her small frame. She still had on the cloak for she didn’t want to reveal the hidden weapon. She extended the unoccupied hand towards him in a sign of trust. She hoped it was the right thing to do.

(Thanks!)

Stirling narrowed his dark red eyes slightly. She didn't look dangerous, but he knew for a fact that looks aren't everything. Slowly, he moved forward, standing as he did. The cool, hard dagger poking into his back gave him some comfort and reassurance to keep going.

"It's okay, you aren't intruding. But I wasn't calling for help." as he said this, he was slowly circling her, not removing his gaze. "My name is Stirling, Stirling Strych. And excuse my manners, because there have been somethings troubling me lately."

Lilith didn’t like the way he was circling her. His eyes were the color of rubies…or blood. She didn’t feel like he would cause her harm unless she tried to attack him. So she stayed perfectly still and allowed him to perform his intimidating tactics. “Well than I suppose I was mistaken. It did startle me however and I thought you might need help. I can tell that you do not, so I suppose I will leave you if that is what you desire.” She really didn’t think he was stable and she really wanted to try to help him. “I would enjoy your company though.” Slowly she pushed the dagger into a pocket sown on the inside of her cloak and pulled her hands from under it so he could see she meant no harm. She used the spell detect alignment to see that he wasn’t evil. So she hoped she could appeal to his good side, rather than to his chaotic side. She really wanted to sit down, but didn’t want to be in a position for him to attack her. So she stood her ground and waited for him to show trust or hatred.

"You realy wanted to help me? Why?" questioned Stirling, who had complete the circle and now sat down cross legged on the floor next to his bow. His position would be slow to get up if trouble happened, but his bow was near him, so it was up to her what would happen.
"Where I came from, anybody who needed help was too weak to be condsiered worth thier time." he paused for a second, mouth slightly agape as he thought over this. "Seems rather stupid in my opinion."

He pondered her last statement. Why would she enjoy MY company he thought. Is she, too, lonely? Stirling did not know what to think. Usualy he had a judgement made about a person soon after meeting them, but she was different from others.

Finaly, he stirred, knowing she was waiting for a reply. "I think that would be good, for you to stay."

OOC: Geez, that was a bugger to colour. I might have to go to work now, so I mightn't be repling for a while. See ya :P

She chose her words carefully. “I wish to help, because it’s in my blood. I am a faerie, as you can see, and I am just naturally helpful. I don’t enjoy watching others in distress. Thank you for allowing me to stay.” She sat down in front of him, keeping her eyes on him at all times. One couldn’t be too careful in the world these days. But she felt he was a genuinely good person. She was glad to have someone to talk to. Traveling was a lonely thing and she enjoyed meeting all different types of people. Stirling was definitely different.

She pulled her cloak around her, not for the comfort of her weapon, but because it was chilly. She tossed her bag off to the side, figuring she wouldn’t need it. It contained cooking utensils, food, weapons, and herbs. She was quite a good cook for back in the day she had been a cook for one of the taverns in one of the towns. She always spiced her food up with herbs, but the herbs were mainly for illness and other remedies. She wondered if he was hungry. Even if he wasn’t, she could brew some herbal tea to warm them both up.

“Would you happen to be hungry? I don’t have meat with me, but we could hunt for it. Right now I have just cheese and bread. Also, I could make us both some tea. I think that would be just perfect.” She could create water but she’d always been bad at starting fires. “Would you mind starting a fire and perhaps gathering some limbs?” She hoped she wasn’t being too forward. She really was just trying to get him to warm up to her.

"Oh, okay. Sure." said Stirling, taken aback slightly. "I'll get some meat, too."

He was not very used to meeting people then immediatly having lunch with them. But he thought over it, and decided that he wasn't very used to meeting people at all.

Sweeping up his bow and arrows, he quickly bounded up over some rubbel and through the remains of a window. It didn't take long for the Half-Drow to find a deer, and several brids as well.

He piled the carcasses together and plucked the arrows out. He would need them again, sometime."Right, now for some wood." he said softly to himself.

A deadened willow provided good branches, and soon after he was carring them atop the animals towards Lilith. Placing the down beside her, his next job was to create a fire.

Piling up some smaller twigs under the branches, a small spark from a stone by his dagger, and the fire was burning. It was one of the things he was quite good at, fire. He had used it many times, for cooking, distractions, and even to get through a forest once.

WHile he was skinning and boning the meat, he continued his idle chat to get to know Lilith better. "So, a faerie, eh? What's that like. I'm Half-Drow myself, so I've never know different." A small smirk crossed his lips "But the again, neither would have you."

She could tell he was surprised at her request. But he did it anyway and she felt immediately comfortable with him. She had always told herself that food was comforting and if you could get someone to join in the act of making it, it made it all the better. Before she knew it, he had brought back deer and birds and firewood. Then he had a fire going. He was obviously very strong. He thankfully did the skinning for her. She hated that part more than anything.

“You are quite a skilled hunter I see.” She noticed different types of birds and wished she had a bigger pot to cook them in. But they could always grill them instead. The deer meat looked perfectly tender. She licked her lips in anticipation. It had been awhile since she’d had a good meal.

She was distracted when he began to talk. “Well, it has its advantages and disadvantages as I’m sure your race does. While faeries are small and seemingly fragile, we make up for that in agility and knowledge of magic. Most of my kind are mages of the different elements. I am an earth mage myself.” She found it was easy to talk to him so she continued. “We also have a natural tendency to get along with people and animals.” She hoped he would tell her more about him as she put her pot on top of the small fire.

"Skilled? Not realy. I learnt a few things from an old thief,a nd a couple of rangers. It's cheeper to live off the land than to buy it, and constant practice makes you good at it." He then gave a shrug, and wiped a few flat slabs of rocks down to lay out the meat.

"Us Half-Drows are sorta better off than our pure relatives." he began, staring to dig a large hole. "We have most of thier strengths, and, if we condition ourselves first, can stand the light real well."

Stirling finished with the hole and now preceded to placing the left over parts into it. Then he filled all the dirt back in again, patting it down flat.
"What I don't like about us is the anarchy." said the Half-Drow, sitting down on the slight mound and watching Lilith prepare food. "We act all ordered, but beneath surface it's all chaos."

Stirling shook his head from side to side slowly, looking distantly into the distance. Then he snapped back to reality and continued. "Earth mage. Sounds nice, like something to be proud of. I dabble a bit in the arts, same as I do with sword play. But my strengths lay in archery and thievery." Quickly he shot a side-ways glance at his companion. "But don't worry, I won't rob you."

She liked listening to him. She was learning alot. She hadn't known anything about Half-Drows. She got out her butter and smeared it across the pan. "I really hadn't know about all that." She watched it heat up and tossed a chunk of meat on it. "Why do you steal? There are plenty of jobs out there." She roated the meat and wondered if she should hide her things before she slept. "Well I guess to each their own." She would never live a life of dishonesty, but she supposed some were just raised differently or something. She finished cooking the meat and set the pan to the side. "Do you want anymore than this? I still have bread and cheese." She got out her little tin cup and used Create Water to fill her glass. Then she took a long swig from it. She passed the cup to Stirling thinking he probably didn't have one.

"Why do I steal? Good question..." he said, waving off the cup away politely. He wasn't very thirsty. Then the Half-Drow thanked her, took a piece of meat and leaned backwards.

"Part of the reason is I like the darkness, and that's always good in burglery. Another part is because I was taken in for a few years by a thief, and he treated me kindly enough."

He took a large bite out of his meat, releshing in the flavour. "Mmm, good." he said around the mouthful. Then Stirling swallowed, pausing for a second to word his next sentance.

"But I suppose the main reason would have to be: Would you honestly trust me on first sight? Would you trust me to guard your flock for the night, to watch your wares? Most people wouldn't trust anything with Drow in them."

He voiced this last bit with a hint of sadness in his tone, reflected off the way he looked at his feet, trying to avoid eye contact. Then he raised his head, looking out to the western horizon.

"The hour grows late. Do you wish to carry on to another location or bunk down here?"

In the high rafters of the church, the shadows stirred. From the darkness emerged two glowing, golden eyes that immediatelt slid to watch the two inside of the ruined building. The tall figure straightened, darkness gathering itself around his body like a cloak, making him disappear into the darkness. The elf silently jumped from one rotting suport beam to the next, his quiet foot steps and jumps completely silent. Upon reaching the highest point of the cathedral, he grabbed the rotting rope that was attachedto the large, cracked, and rusty bell on top of the cathedral. He jumped off of the rafter, letting his weight ring the bell. The loud tone echoed throughout the ancient city, reverbrating throughout the church. Still invisible in the shadows, he silently landed on the floor and watched the two intently to see how they would react.

((sorry for the bad post, time is short...))

Immediatly Stirling grabbed up his bow. An arrow was notched and the string pulled taught as he leveled it. The shortbow was aimed out into the falling darkness, searching for a target. The Half-Drow's hands shook slightly as he maintained the pull on the string.

Slowly he lowered it and released the pressure. There was not point in aiming at something he couldn't see. Moving over to thier large sotck of wood, he took at least half of it and placed it ont he fire. Flames lept up and licked the edges of the new willow-wood. He then went to the other side of the fire, where the a chunk of dilapidated stone wall remained.

Seating himself down with his back pressed to it, he geustured for Lilith to the same as he renotched the arrow.

"We have company, and we need to be careful."

OOC: It's okay, that's fine.

Lilith watched the emotions change on Stirling's face. He seemed sad about being a part of his race or maybe it was the way they were treated. She was about to comfort him when the loud noise cut her speech short. She inhaled a quick breath and watched Stirling reach for his bow and arrows. She withdrew her dagger and hoped he hadn't seen it. She didn't want him to think she didn't trust him. She followed Stirling's movements and tried to peak around. She didn't see anyone but tightened her grip on her dagger anyways. She wished she had thought to grab her spear or sword but the dagger would have to work. She figured Stirling would take care of the intruder before she would have the chance. She waited silently for someone to strike.

Stirling rubbed his face and gave a sigh of frustration. He hated not being able to see his foe. Then suddenly something occured to him, stirring deep from his memory. Of course! I'm half-drow, I could still see through the darkness if I try...

Tensing up and opening his eyes wider, he tried to get his vision to extend out of the circle of firelight. Slowly, the cloak of darkness surrounding the cathedral lifted, the Half-Drow's eyes glowing bright red as it did.

Then he saw it. A patch of pure darkness, standing between two old statues, worn with age. This darkness was not natural, made by powerful magic, recognised from his old training.

Drawing back his shortbow, he carefully lined up a shot. Stirling was catious to have his dagger nearby in case he missed and the creature attacked. "There you are." he muttered to himself, the addressed Lilith, "Get ready for a fight, faerie, 'cause one might come to you." He let the arrow fly.

The figure giggled madly, the cloak of darkness rolling off of his frame like he was shedding a real, material cloak. His hand moved too fast to see as he twirled on one foot, long pale fingers snagging the arow out of midair. "Now now, that's not very nice..." The figure clenched it's hand. The thin fingers tightened on the wooden shaft of the arrow, easily cracking the worked wood. The two halves of the arrow fell to the ground, clattering quietly. "After all, you were the ones who disturbed my sanctuary... if anyone should be punished, it should be you..." From deep in the shadows that hid the figure's face golden eyes suddenly gleamed with an intese malice. "But you are not even worth the effort, dark elf..."

The figure stepped out of the deep shadows, letting the moonlight reveal him for the first time. Tall and thin, he was wrapped tightly in a tattered cloak of purest black velvet that effectively hid his body. Neither his clothes nor any weapons were visible under the tatters, which seemed to drw the shadows to themselves to more effeciently hide his body. Above the cloak was a pale face, thin and angular, with a small grin on his face. However, all attention was immediately drawn to his eyes, that shifted like molten gold. The pupils were barely visible, but for those who got the chance to examine them they would notice the black dots were actually in the shape of hour glasses. Pale blue hair brushed his shoulders, under a wide brimmed hat that ended in a point (similar to a witches hat).

Moving like the shadows themselves, quick and silent, he glided over to Lilith and bowed deep, taking her hand gently. "Lilith, it has been too long since we last met..." His voice was low and melodious, soothing in a strange way. Glancing up, madness shone in his expression. "But now, I must deal with an annoyance..."

SUddenly he leapt up, waving one hand lazily towards Stirling. Globe of Darkness Suddenly the shadows around the half-drow pulsed as if alive, before suddenly wrapping around him, a magical globe that no vision unaided by magic could penetrate. "You attack me... now you pay the price..." He walked silently towards the globe, a crazed smile still on his face. "Beware the darkness..."

Lilith was shocked to see it was her old friend, Seele. Something horrible had happened to him. His aura was completely black and that frightened her. There would be no way to pull him back onto the good side. Knowing this and watching him attack Stirling, she knew she'd have to kill him or chase him away. Being the size she was, she knew both things seemed impossible. Her weapons were still in her bag and all she held was her little dagger. She cursed under her breath and threw herself into action. "Seele, for old time's sake, please don't hurt him!" She figured pleading was a waste of time but she didn't think she had it in her to hurt him. She slowly edged towards her bag, hoping she could reach it without him noticing. But what would she do when she arrived there? She couldn't stab him in cold blood. There was only one thing to do and she prayed it would work. Silently she thought the words to the spell of Stun and forced it at Seele. It would hopefully give her enough time to despell his magic on Stirling so they could figure out what to do. She wasn't going to let Stirling hurt him either. She was caught in between the two.

As the darkness engulfed him, Stirling thought he heard the words "Beware the Darkness" being uttered. He gave a snort at this.

"Beware the darkness? I was bred from within it." he tried to say, but the void consumed the sound.

It was impossible to see, so he let his eyes dim back to deep red. Then he sat down, contemplating his situation inside this ball of darkness. Well, looks as if I am stuck here for a while...Maybe the girl will release me...But, wait, didn't he say that they had met...Perhaps she is in legue with that villen, perhaps this was all an ambush...Blasted girl! And to think I was begining to trust her. Wait until I get my hands around her throat...

And the Half-Drow gave out more of these evil thoughts, as he sat there fondling his dagger which he had managed to find in the middle of complete nothingness.

Seele stumbled and almsot fell as the stun spell blasted into his back.He felt the customary numbness spread from that point, rendering his limbs all but useless for a time. "Lilith..." His voice cracked and broke as he kneeled, trying to fight off her spell. His own Globe of Darkness shivered, then started to crack as he lost control over his own magic. In the cathedral the shadows writhed, feeling the pain of the one whop controlled them. The Globe dissipated completely as an unwordly shriek came from the shadows themselves. Seele managed to turn, his eyes suddenly sad as they met the faerie's. "You too..."

Without finishing this crytptic phrase his cloak rippled, then burst open, revealing his body for the first time. Chains of pure darkness were wrapped tightly around his body, several strands unlinking themselves from the main mass in order to whip through the air as if alive. On the ends of these cgains were welded twisted, razor-sharp blades that thrust upwards through the darkness. They sunk deep into the rotten rafters of the building, yanking Seele upward until he was suspended in midair, a handful of chains hanging him from the ceiling like a puppet. The chains around his body moved silently, in almost constant motion around his limbs. "His blood would not of been worthy for my blade... it would of been an honor for him to die by my hand..." The effects of stun had worn off by this point, and Seele clenched his fists. "But Lilith... even you, fear the darkness..." His eyes, still with a trace of sadness, also showed a deep fury. "Even you, my old friend, fear me..." Suddenly a long scythe with a twisted blade appeared in his left hand. "To fear the darkness is to fall into it..." Like a silent wraith he dropped, the chains instantly whirling back inside the tattered cloak. Slowloy and silently, he began to walk towards the fairie. "Forgive me for what must be done..."

She had little time left to throw off the magic on Stirling and hope that he would be able to save her. She was no match for Seele and she knew it. She cast Disspell Magic on the globe of darkness that engulfed Stirling. “Seele, I wouldn’t have let him hurt you. I don’t know what has happened to you, but somewhere deep down you still think of me as a friend. I know it must be true!” She backed away from him in careful, small steps. She would have cast Entangle by now but they were standing over solid rock and the vines could not cut through it.

The thought of rocks gave her an idea to at least stall Seele until something could be done. She still hoped he would come back to her, as he had once been, but knew that was nearly impossible. With telekinesis, she lifted a large rock that weighed about thirty pounds. It was difficult to maintain the mind strength needed to control such a heavy object. With the rest of her energy, she flung it at Seele with her mind. The energy made her crumple to the ground and she knew it was her last chance to save herself. She never thought her life would be taken at the hands of someone she once called a friend.

Stirling gave a great screech as the darkness lifted, his prison dissapating. His eyes had returned to the glowing red they were before, but now with the hatred of betrayal behind them.

Before him, he saw Lilith and the other one, the one who had imprisoned him. He would get to him in a moment, but for now Lilith was his target.

Rushing forward, he saw her falling backwards. But she never hit the ground. The Half-Drow had lept at her and tackled her, the faerie's feet leaving the ground. The ttwo of them landed lower than they started, amounst an area where grass had managed to penetrate the stone. Stirling drew his dagger slowly and moved towards Lilith. "Little plan backfired, eh?"

Seele snarled, spnning almost too fast to see. The scythe became a solid line of liquid silver, slicing through the rock. The two halves spun off in opposite directions, striking the stone floor of the church. He completed the turn to see Stirling attack the weakened Lilith. "Insolence!!!"

Seele leapt forward, his claok erupting as the chains wrapped around his body sped towards Stirling. The thick links wrapped around his limbs, snapping to full tension, making it impossible for the Half Drow to move his arms or legs. Seele landed easily besides him, spinning the scythe over his head. A cold fury was evident in the golden eyes. "Bred from the darkness? I think not..." The spining haft knocked the dagger out of Stirling's hand, sending it flying across the cathedral. With a casual flick of his hand, Seele made the chains throw him after the dagger. "You do not deserve to claim such a thing..."

Seele bent down next to Lilith, the scythe blade at her throat. "Lilith, old friend..." His voice was too quiet for the Half-Drow to hear. "We have much to discuss..." He raised a hand as if to puch the hair out of her face, then let it fall. The blade drew a thin scratch across the pale flesh of her throat before he stood. "It is not yet your turn to die..."

With that he turned towards Stirling, the sadness in his eyes evaporating. "Dark Elf, you will not make the mistake of attacking me or my friends again..." Darkness crackled around his fingers as he pointed at Stirling. Enervation The bolt of crackling negative energy shot towards Stirling as Seele slowly walked towards him.

Lilith never had the time to explain herself to Stirling who obviously thought she was somehow part of the plan to attack him. It seemed as if Seele were defending her but as he drew his sword across her throat, she knew he wasn't doing it for her. She wished she could get out of the whole thing before one of them died. Whoever was left alive would surely kill her. The whole thing was just a mistake and she wished she could just stop time. She wasn't that powerful though and she was much too weak to perform any other magic. "Stop it!! Stirling, I'm not with Seele! He's an old friend that has obviously gone to the evil side. Seele, stop what you are doing! There is no reason for you to fight him. You have both managed to confuse yourself into believing there is an enemy here. Fighting will solve nothing! Put down your weapons!" The last part she screamed at them. She was so frustrated that she could do nothing but sit there helplessly. Surely they wouldn't kill an unarmed, weak woman.

The chains took the Half-Drow by suprise. He just wasn't ready for something like that. And before he knew it he was hurled over to the other side of the cathedral, smashing through a roting pew and stopping at the foot of an angel statue.

He gave a groan and opened his eyes. His entire body was throbbing paintfull. But Stirling knew he mustn't give up. Nearby he could see his falled dagger, glistening in the moonlight. He reached for it, but was knecked back into the statue by a powerful magic blow to the chest.

It was the most excruciating pain he had ever felt. His entire soul felt as if it was being crushed. Stirling threw back his head and let out a noise that was a cross between a scream and a screech.

Finaly the attack subsided, but the pain remained. The Half-Drow felt weak, drained... And not to mention a large gash in his stomach was pumping out blood. He raised a shaking hand over the wound and muttered a few inaudible words. A black strand of something left his hand and snaked itsaelf over the bleeding, which then stopped.

Grappling for the dagger, he made an almightly effort to stand. Then, clutching on one of the angel's arms, he called out, defiant of death. "That's the best you got!"

Seele smiled evilly. "No, it's not. That was the barest minimum of power I used right there..." He started walking forward again, darkness radiating from him so strongly his borders blurred as if he were a mirage. "I have the power to make your life bleed out slowy... to flay the skin from your bones... to turn you into a pile of dust..." He cackled. "And that would only be the beginning, my dear Half-Drow!"

However, through the madness that enshrouded Seele's mind some of Lilith's words got through. His steps slowed slightly, until he stopped atogether, staring at Stirling. He could snuff out his life's flame with the barest use of his magic, one simple swing of the scythe. His pet alone could crush the man. But, still...

He grimaced as Seele's madness fought with his sanity, the battle barely evident on his face. Only someone who knew the elf well would notice the conflicting emotions raging throughout his mind. Kill thepathetic fool... he deserves death for challening you... But maybe Lilith is correct... she has never betrayed me before... She attacked you, did she not? Only to keep me from adding more blood to my hands... More? That's a laugh. There is enough blood on your hands to take a bath in, to drown a city, to fill the oceans until they flooded and became red with it's color! Because of you... When will you see it, you fool? I AM you... I am a scholar, an elven warrior- Who slaughtered his nation and spread his dark influence to a new land. You ARE the darkness Seele...

Seele shook his head, falling back. The scythe disappeared under the cloak, the negative energy faded away, sanity returned to his eyes. "No, Half-Drow, you do not deserve death by my hand. Go and kill yourself some other way..." Stumbling slight, the elf turned and began to walk back to Lilith before he realized that she too had attacked him.

I have nowhere to go... Except to come to me... to the darkness... Seele rubbed his forehead with one hand, stumbling backlwards slightly.

The Half-Drow was puzzled by this. Had the elf not wanted to slay him a moment before? He had expected a conflict between himself and the newcomer, a great battle. But this was not so. Perhaps for the best.

Stirling, acheing and exhausted, slipped back down the statue, his bow resting beside him and the dagger in his lap. He was contemplating the strange behaviour of hte elf, what he was doing. But all this slipped away as the Half-Drow passed out of the concious realm.

Lilith knew what was happening to Seele. She knew he was still there, somewhere. "Come to me Seele. Ignore the voices of darkness. Come sit beside me." Her voice was soft and coaxing. She glanced at Stirling who seemed to have passed out. She was really worried about him but she dare not move for she might startle Seele and he'd never be able to come all the way through. Motionless she used the last of her strength to whisper the words of Bless. It would fill Seele with hope, but only his good side. "Come to me", she whispered. It was her last hope of survival. She had to reel out his good side. She would never stand a battle the way she was. She severely needed sleep, but dare not sleep until she knew each of them would be okay. Even if they both thought she had turned on them, she wouldn't rest until they were at peace.

Seele's look at Lilith was crazed, the eyes wide and upils so small they were almost nonexistant. "Come back... yo you?!?!?!? Betrayer!!!" He stated to laugh but choked halfway through the action, spitting out a wad of blood and phlegm. "She's a friend..." " She is no friend! She dies! Now Seele, or she will betray us again!"

Seele didn't notice that this conversation was actually said out loud, or if he did he didn't take any notice. The chains rattled loudly, the shadows swirled as if alive, before he managed a few stumbled steps towards Lilith before falling to his knees. "I won..." His smile was dazed, the expression exhausted. The shadows and chains both stilled as he fell forward, his forhead hitting the stone at Lilith's side, his golden eyes wide open.

A pair of deep red eyes became visable as ash-grey lids were drawn back. The Half-Drow had slipped gently back into conciousness, feeling again the none to gentle throbbing pain.

He raised his hand above the large gash on his chest, ebbing out a little blood. A few more words of incantation were muttered and the black wisp returned. This time it nearly totatly healed him, leaving only a shallow but long cut. Unfortuently it had taken most of his strength.

Stirling's head bumped back against the stone of the angel, raising closed eyes to the ceiling. He would rest for a moment, regain his strength. Then the Half-Drow would act.

Lilith didn't have time to save Seele from hitting his head. She stroked his hair and sung little lullabies. She didn't take the time to notice Stirling. Seele was her prime target at the moment. She knew if he slipped back into the darkness, she may never pull him out again. Surely the other Seele would kill them both. She didn't have the strength to check Seele's forehead to see if it was bleeding. She was trying to keep herself from falling into unconsciousness. Her eye lids were half-way open as she kept singing, trying to stay awake. "It's going to be okay Seele...everything will be okay..." Her eye lids dropped closed and she slid into darkness.

Seele' hand founf Lilith's and tightened around it, the knuckles white, skin appearing almost bloodless. "Will it, dear...?" As her head dropped backward his other arm shot out, catching her body protectively. He lowered her body to the ground, golden eyes staring at her face carefully, as if she were about to break at any second. A small gash stretched across his forehead, bleeding slowly, the blood like a mask on his pale face. But the bright red began to recede and disappear, the ugly line of the injury becoming small until it faded from view.

"No Lilith, nothing will ever be okay again..."

He stroked her forehead tenderly, before laying her down on the cold stone floor of the Cathedral. A single chain fell from his body, tearing a bit of the tattered cloak off of his frame. Wrapping itself in the soft velvet, it squeezed under the fairie's head , curling around her to make a small pillow. Seele smiled at her closed eyes, a sad smile that looked out of place on his crazed face. "I wish it could be..."

He stood silently, his footsteps as quiet as the shadows in the darkness of the ruined building. Upon coming to a pillar along the sides of the cathedral he thrust his hands at the worn marble, thin digits easily finding the cracks in its smooth surface. He crawled up the pillar like an insect, his body close to the stone, until he reached one of the many rotting wooden rafters in the deeper darkness above. There he sat, knees drawn to his thin chest, golden eyes watching over Lilith. The chains silently wrapped around the rafters to help support him as he kept up his silent vigil.

During his light doze, he thought he had heard lullabies, stirring up some memorie buried deep within his mind. It was a nice voice singing them, calm, soft and beutiful.

The Half-Drow had let himself relax, letting the music sweep over him. But then he heard the name Seele mentioned, and relised it was Lilith singing to the elf, so he broke off his dream with a bump.

Stirling only had a little energy now, barely enough to keep concentrated on something. But he was extreamly curious now, not being able to sit still any longer.

Slowly he pushed himself up, grabbing his bow as he went. It was quickly unstrung, and he used it as a walking stick as he hobbled over to where Lilith had last rested, where he had tackled her.

His weapons were sheathed, leaving him totaly defenceless. Having them out would do no good in his condition. Crouching down next to the faerie, he brushed afew strands of her hair out of her eyes. She seemed at peace, slumbering nicely.

Stirling settled himself down on a broken column and waited for her to awake.