Taris nodded in thought. “Fast won’t be a problem. Just stay close behind me, Envy, and tell me where you think they’d hold her. I’ll clear the way. You and whoever comes with us, I want you to get her and get out. I’ll draw them off.” He became quiet for a moment, and Envy straightened at the sudden stillness. “Envy… I’m not sure I want to know for certain, what they’re doing to her… My mind is supplying bad enough images, and it is becoming difficult to contain myself.”

“Envy, Aera means everything to me. Everything. My powers, well, to be plain, my skills with the shadows likely far outstrip yours and likely those of any of your race. There is one thing I can do that no other of my kind has ever been able to achieve, and live. I’ve let Shadow become a part of me, before. The results weren’t pretty, but it was effective.”

The dark elf pondered this for a moment, “Could you do it again, Taris?”

He breathed quietly for a while, trying to calm himself, all the while his daggers were humming softly. Images flashed in his mind, of back then. Back when Layne was killed. He remembered the shadows entering him, the total control of the void he wielded for the short time. He remembered also, the nearly irresistible feeling of pleasure that it gave him. That it nearly consumed his being, nearly devoured his mind and soul. But there was little choice, this time. The Shadow Elf knew of no other way to ensure her safety. The Lady of Shadows granted him her favor back then, without him asking for it. This time, he would.

He would master the Shadow for Aera.

Taris lay back down on the bed, wanting the healing sleep brought with it. The assassin looked over towards the blur that was Envy, “I’m going to warn you, Envy. When we do this, it will not be nice, and I may not seem like myself.” He sighed, “I will call my Mistress to me, and she will change me. It will be… shocking, in the least. I need to know that you will keep focused on the mission. But yes, I can do it again, Envy.”