Kotaiso's Lament [Mature]

[Kotaiso]

It was the usual stalemate. The long, winding road in the middle of Alterac Valley was filled with bodies, both dead and living. The living ones fought each other while trampling the dead ones with their boots.
But this time was different. Instead of being driven back by the innumerable Horde forces, the Alliance forces were the ones doing the pushing. Back and back the Horde fell until they were pushed so far that they found themselves back at their main base nestled in the southern mountains.
Frostwolf Village...that was the main target. It was always the main target in these useless battles to get rid of the Orc General Drek'Thar and his men. As the Alliance soldiers gazed upon the village for the first time, hope filled their hearts. Even though many of them were still dying left and right they knew they were close to finally slaying the Orc General - something no Alliance task force had ever done before.

As the Alliance forces barged through the village's main gate, Kotaiso and his trusty companion Chicken found themselves bringing up the rear.
"Chicken...how the Hell did we get in the back?! A few hours ago we were right on the frontlines, that we were!"
Chicken tilted his head to the side and blinked up at Kotaiso.
Smiling, Kotaiso said, "Ah, I guess you're right. Who knows what danger lies in that village. No Alliance member has every been there, that they have not. For as much as we know, there could be traps everywhere and we could actually be being pushed out!"
Chicken squawked his agreement and continued slowly moving forward beneath Kotaiso's feet.

As the Alliance group moved forward, their movements were being watched by the Orc reinforcements hidden in the snowy trees to the west.
"Wait...we attack them when we can move in behind them without being seen. We kill each and every one." said the Orc Sergeant.
The Sergeant's soldiers nodded their agreement and laid in wait...the time was coming close to finally slay the Alliance scum. Their High Command must have been filled with idiots if they thought the mighty Orcs of the Frostwolf clan would be this easy to defeat!

Kotaiso sighed. He was getting bored. Bored and cold.
"Well, this could be worse, I suppose...but I wish I was up there with the rest, that I do! But, I should be happy we're finally going to get rid of the Orcish prescence here in Alterac Valley, that I should! We are almost --"
A thousand cries rose into the air from the north, behind the Alliance troops. Kotaiso and the men by him turned their heads to see dozens of Orcs charging right for them. Drawing his sword, Kotaiso's mood changed from one of delight to one of focus, "Finally..."

As the Orcs charged right into the back of the Alliance lines, men and women died on both sides. The Orcs fought intensely, cutting down any Human that got in their way.
"Kill them all, men," screamed the Orc Sergeant, "Drek'Thar will want all of their heads!"

Kotaiso ducked under a swinging axe and brought his sword up to slice into his attacker's belly. A gurgling sound was enough confirmation to Kotaiso that his attacker was dead. He didn't have any time to rest because another Orc charged right at him. But the Orc was slow and sluggish with his attacks from the weight of his battle-hammer. Kotaiso side-stepped the Orc and brought down his Demonslayer, cutting into the Orc's neck. Blood splattered onto his armor and sword. As he looked up, Kotaiso realized he was all alone. His Squad had been killed and he was the only survivor. The rear ranks of the Alliance had been decimated and the brave souls that had entered the village were now being slaughtered.
"This isn't good..."
As Kotaiso began to fall back, he was cut-off by the remaining Orcs that had attacked from behind. He bumped into one and fell back onto the snow. The other Orcs quickly surrounded him.

"Ha, ha, ha...fresh meat! He looks like a worthy opponent...gut him." ordered the Orc Sergeant.
The Orcs moved in towards their prey.

"Feh...you think you Orcs can take me? I feel sorry for you." Kotaiso held out his sword in both hands in a defensive stance. As the first Orc approached, Kotaiso quickly moved forward, catching the Orc off balence and surprised, and drove his sword through his chest. Two Orcs tried to grab Kotaiso but he let go of his sword, still sticking through the first Orc's chest, and rolled backwards between them.
"Chicken! Go!"
The Orcs looked at each other confused, not knowing what this command meant. At that moment, Chicken landed on one of the Orc's shoulders and pecked at his eye. As the Orc screamed, his partner swung his sword at Chicken, but accidentally cut off his partner's arm.
"You're a fool!" yelled Kotaiso.
As the Orc turned to look, at Kotaiso, he was too late to realize that during that time, Kotaiso had grabbed his sword and was swinging it at his face. Eye's widening, the Orc's head sailed through the air and landed at what appeared to be the one in charge of this group's feet.

"Enough fooling around! KILL HIM!" screamed the Orc Sergeant as his soldiers continued to fall to this relentless Human. He had never seen any Human fight with this much ferocity and under these cicumstances. Humans usually begged for mercy when out-numbered. This Human was different...he fought with the ferocity of an Orc. Maybe this was a mistake...

As the last of the Orcs fell, Kotaiso had to sit down on the snow to catch his breath. He had single-handedly just killed eight Orcs. That would take the breath out of anyone. Kotaiso's mood had changed back to being one of delight since he was no longer in any danger.
"Whew...that was a close call, that it was. We need to be more careful next time, that we do!"
Looking around, Kotaiso noticed all of the bodies strewn about all over the area. There was so much blood covering the ground that the snow was barely noticeable.
"A real shame it is...the Orcs managed to best us again."
Getting up, Kotaiso realized he could do nothing further - all his comrades were dead - so he headed back to the Indelibles' resting spot.

* * * * *

"This blizzard is getting worse by the second, that it is...Chicken, I'll carry you in my arms to keep you warm," said Kotaiso as he bent over to pick up his companion. The snow was up to Kotaiso's knees and he was having trouble walking through it, "We'll be back soon, so don't worry. You can have your dinner and I can give this medicine I found on one of those dead Orcs to Miss Velice!"

Earlier that evening Kotaiso had watched over a bed-ridden Velice. She was sick but with what, Kotaiso didn't know. She was coughing up blood and Kotaiso was extremely worried about her. He made Sylaurn promise that if Velice woke up from her slumber or if her condition changed he was to contact Kotaiso through his hearthstone immediately.

On and on he trudged, a shameless Warrior. He had run from the battle and had let his comrades die. His entire Squad was wiped out by one Human...but that Human would pay...he didn't know that Grogar, Brother of Gogar was following the Human and waiting for the right moment to strike...soon...the moment would come soon...

Kotaiso smiled as he heard Velice's voice through his hearthstone.
"Ah, you're finally awake, Miss Velice!" said Kotaiso.
"Yes...where are you?" replied Velice.
"I am almost back. I got you some medicine from one of the Orcs that fell in the battle, that I did!"
"Oh? You were in a battle? Is that why you're not here? Kotaiso, you have a lot of explaining to do!"
The sound of Velice's coughing made Kotaiso frown. He sped up his walking as best he could through the waist-deep snow. The blizzard had only gotten worse.
As he neared the Indelibles' resting spot, Kotaiso stopped. He listened to his surroundings as best he could through the howling of the wind. Chicken seemed to be listening to. After several moments, Kotaiso shrugged it off and continued on. This would be a fatal mistake... As soon as he began walking again, the sound of rushing feet from behind him grew louder and before Kotaiso could react and turn around, he threw Chicken out of his arms as a sword drove itself through his chest. Chicken squawked his irratation and was about to berate Kotaiso when he realized what had just happened...if Kotaiso had not thrown him, then Chicken would also be impaled.

"I've got you, filthy Human!" The Orc Sergeant was filled with glee as he drove his sword further through the Human's chest, "For my dead comrades, your life shall end!"

His eyes widening, Kotaiso stared down at the snow which was turning a dark red. His helmet slid off his head and landed in the bloody pool. Kotaiso gasped for air as the Orc pulled his blade out of his body. Ungh... No...you...won't get...away with this! Kotaiso grabbed the hilt of his sword, spun around, blade in hand, and lopped the Orc's head off before he realized what was happening. Kotaiso's wide eyes stared into the Orc's and he recognized it as the one in charge of the Squad that flanked his. He didn't realize he hadn't killed him with the rest.
"Kotaiso?! Kotaiso, are you okay?!" Velice's repeatedly asked through the Hearthstone.
Walking slowly towards it, Kotaiso fell to his knees.
"I...I...got the bastard...that I...did..." Kotaiso said as he collapsed onto the snow.
Velice's screaming voice and Chicken's frantic squawking was the last thing Kotaiso heard before he blacked out.

* * * * *

Panting and gasping, Velice ran through the snow with Amberdawn right behind her. She had to get to Kotaiso to see if he was all right. He wasn't replying to her so she'd make him reply!
As Velice and Amberdawn came trudged through the snow, they eventually spotted Kotaiso's prone body in the snow. He was covered in it and was half-buried. Chicken came running up to Velice as she neared and squawked at her. Kneeling at Kotaiso's side, Velice cradled him in her arms.
"Kotaiso! Wake up!"
Kotaiso's eyes slowly slid open and he looked at Velice's face, which was now streamed with tears.
"What happened, Kotaiso?! Please tell me!"
Kotaiso opened his mouth to speak but the only thing that came out was blood. It flowed down his chin and neck, eventually staining the blue linen shirt he was wearing under his armor. Amberdawn tried to cast a healing spell but it had no effect on Kotaiso.
"It won't work...the Light won't heal him!" Amberdawn cried frantically.
"Amber! Go back and get Sylaurn! Tell him Kotaiso's hurt!"
Nodding, Amberdawn replied with a, "Yes!" as she ran back to the Indelibles' spot.
"M-Miss V-Velice..." Kotaiso said weakly as his blood poured from the hole in his back.
"Yes, I'm here, Kotaiso!"
"I...don't...want to...ruin...your robes..."
Velice noticed that Kotaiso's blood was, indeed, staining her Mage's robes. But that didn't matter.
"It doesn't matter. Tell me, Kotaiso, what is your favorite memory?" She had to keep his mind off the pain somehow.
Kotaiso didn't answer her. But he was concious. That was good.
A few minutes passed before Amberdawn returned without Sylaurn.
"Amber, where is Sylaurn?!" Asked Velice.
"I don't know...he was out somewhere fighting someone or something! I left a note for him to come immediately!"
Velice cursed in her head and thought frantically. She couldn't cast a teleportation spell in her sickened state. She could barely stand, let alone cast a spell.
"All right...thank you. Amber, head back, I'll get Kotaiso back with a teleportation spell. I can't support three people, though. I hope you understand." She lied.
"Of course! Light grant you speed!" and Amberdawn ran back once more.

A few more minutes of silence passed before Velice spoke, "Hey, Kotaiso...do you remember when we snuck through Orgrimmar?"
Kotaiso smiled weakly, "How...could I...forget...?"
"And we sat on Thrall's throne, too! That was so fun! He wasn't very happy when he found out!" Velice laughed.
Kotaiso closed his eyes tightly as more blood poured from his body. If he wasn't bandaged soon he would die of blood loss.
"C-Chicken...has...your...medicine..."
"You'll be able to give it to me yourself."
Kotaiso managed another smile, "Tell me..."
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me...what you think...of this...I just...made it...up..."
Velice listened to Kotaiso as he struggled for words.
"When...in...the snow...I lie...and fold my...arms and wait...to die..."
Velice frowned and wanted to hit Kotaiso for thinking such thoughts!
"I don't like it at all. When in the snow I lie and make snow Angels!"
"It's...just...how...I feel right...now...is all..."
"Kotaiso, you're not going to die!" Tears flowed heavily from Velice's eyes and down her cheeks, "You're going to be just fine, you hear me?! You're going to see everyone again, including Verilyn!"
"...Verilyn..." Kotaiso smiled at the sound of her name and the thought of her face. The image of her brought warmth to his cold body.
Velice continued to cry as she leaned over and kissed Kotaiso's forehead. Kotaiso looked at Velice and looked to be in so much pain. It broke Velice's heart to see him in this state.
"You...kissed...me..."
"Don't tell Verilyn, okay?"
Kotaiso noticed that Velice was also crying heavily, "D-Don't...cry..."
Velice smiled sadly and wiped the tears from her face. She knew she had to get him to a warm place soon or he'd either freeze to death or die from so much blood loss. Kotaiso closed his eyes once more and his breathing began to slow. Velice began to panic as she thought of how to get him back to the Indelibles' spot. She realized she could make a bed for Kotaiso and drag him along with the blankets she wore over her body.
"Kotaiso, don't move. This might hurt..."
She put Kotaiso's head onto the snow and began to take off the blankets, "Chicken, help me get him on these." She began to roll him onto the blankets and Chicken used his head to help push as much as he could.
Even though this caused him a tremendous amount of pain, Kotaiso didn't make a sound. As Velice wrapped him in the blankets and slowly hauled him back to the Indelibles' spot, Chicken crawled onto his chest and rested his head on it.
"Velice...what...happens when...I close my eyes...for the last time...? Does it...all simply...end in...a blanket of darkness...?"
Velice began to cry again as she used all of her strength to pull Kotaiso along through the snow, "No, it doesn't. And you won't be leaving, so there's no need for those thoughts!"
As Velice dragged Kotaiso through the gates of the Indelibles' spot, she looked back and noticed the blood streak that went as far as she could see in the raging blizzard. At least they were out of that and in a enclosed climate. As she dragged him over to Sylaurn's tree, Sylaurn came running up to the trio.
"Velice! I heard Kotaiso was hurt!" he yelled.
Kotaiso slowly rose his hand from the bundle of blankets so Sylaurn could see where he was.
"H-hey...b-buddy..."
Sylaurn smiled, "Hello, Kotaiso. You're going to be just fine. Just hang in there."
Kotaiso let his arm drop, "S-sorry for...bleeding...on the...grass..."
"I think that's why Kaleigh had it installed..." said a familiar voice that could only belong to Fianlon.
Kotaiso opened his eyes and looked around. He was surrounded by his friends all with a worried expression on their faces.
"What happened to him?" asked William Wallace.
"An Orc stabbed him..." replied Velice.
"Ha, ha! Poor Orc..."
Kotaiso smiled and said, "Thank...you all...you're...all....my...dearest... ...friends..."
As he ended his sentence Kotaiso fell into a very deep, dark slumber. He would not wake for quite some time.

* * * * *

"My prognosis is that he will survive...but he is in a coma right now. I do not know when he will wake up." said Amberdawn.
"That's wonderful news that he'll survive!" Velice said excitedly and clapped. He had me so worried! He'll pay for this when he wakes up!
"I've bandaged and closed his wound. I don't think it will heal properly. It will probably leave a scar."
Velice nodded understandibly and went back to her bed. She hoped that she would be rid of this sickness that ailed her by the time Kotaiso awoke.

[Kotaiso]

Several weeks had passed, but it only seemed an instant. The last thing Kotaiso remembered was being surrounded by all of his friends before blacking out...now...now he was in some room in Stormwind's cathedral...at least that's where he thought he was from all the Priests wandering about outside his door.
Rubbing his eyes he looked around the room and saw a sleeping Velice at a nearby table by the bed. Kotaiso went to sit up, but found he couldn't from a horrible pain in his chest. Removing his blankets, he saw that his upper-torso was covered in bandages and stained with the dark, red color of blood. So it wasn't just a dream, after all...it was real... Laying back, Kotaiso tried speaking but all that came out of his mouth was gurgling. He coughed from all the phlegm in his throat. The sound of the coughing woke Velice, who jumped to her feet and rushed over to the bed Kotaiso lay in.
"Kotaiso! Bless the Heavens, you're awake!" She smiled a warm smile at him as she threw her arms around him.
Trying to speak once more, Kotaiso managed a rough "Yes,"
"I was so worried about you! As was everyone else!" She looked to the door where all of the Indelibles were now filing in to check on their fallen comrade.
All Kotaiso could do was smile. As each member of the Indelibles went up to Kotaiso and saying their bit, a familiar figure waited at the end of the line. An Elf. A Night Elf. This particular Night Elf had not been seen for quite some time so it pleased Kotaiso very much to see his old friend.
"Luciann!" Shouted Kotaiso in delight.
Luciann laughed a merry laugh as he walked forward and clasped his Human friend on the shoulder gently. "It is so good to see you, my old friend. I had heard what happened and feared for your health. No one was allowed in the room the entire time you were out. Only Velice was allowed in because she hounded the Priests non-stop to let her see you." He let out a small chuckle.
Kotaiso thought for a moment at Luciann's words, "...the entire time you were out." and had to ask...
"Luciann, how long was I 'out' for?"
"Nearly three weeks."
Kotaiso was silent for a moment, as was everyone else in the room. He was recalling everything he could remember about that night. Then he remembered someone. Someone very close to his heart. He looked past Luciann and all around the room, anxious to see her, but she was nowhere to be seen. Luciann frowned deeply. Turning to everyone in the room, he said, "Will you excuse us for a moment? I must speak with Kotaiso privately."
The Indelibles nodded and after saying their piece to Kotaiso once more, all left the room. It was just Luciann and Kotaiso.
"Where is she, Luciann? What aren't you telling me?"
Luciann sighed, "This is very hard for me to explain, Kotaiso...as you know how I felt about her."
Kotaiso's heart began to pound in his chest. "What are you talking about?"
Taking a moment, Luciann reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. The seal had been broken.
"I was worried...so I read it. I hope you don't mind..." Luciann handed the envelope to Kotaiso, who glanced at Luciann before pulling the letter out of the envelope.

Commander Kotaiso Takahashi of the Indelibles,

It is my sad duty to inform you of your terrible loss. Your Wife, Verilyn, dissapeared on Wednesday of last week. We all knew she would often go off on her own, but this was different. One day while out on patrol, one of our footmen discovered blood along the trail in the Alterac Mountains. Gathering his squad together, they followed the blood trail to the body of your Wife. She was surrounded by Orcs and Humans. She was beyond healing.
From what we gather, the Frostwolf Clan of Orcs were in a bitter engagement with the scattered Human forces still holding ground in the Alterac Mountains when she came upon the skirmish. Being the brave Warrior and soldier of the Alliance she was, she aided her brethren but was cut down by an Orc axe. From our information, we know that you were involved with one of the largest battles to date in the Alterac Mountains, the battle just prior to that of this skirmish. We believe your Wife had found out where you were and went to see you.
We are very sorry for your losses. I know it is one thing to lose a Wife, but to also lose your child is a whole other grievance. On behalf of the Alliance military, you have all of our condolences.

General Marcus Telhamat of the Stormwind Army

After reading this, Kotaiso heart shattered. He had lost the one thing in life that kept him going. He had lost his beacon of light, hope, and sanity. The letter dropped from his fingers and drifted onto the cool floor of the cathedral.
"I am sorry, Kotaiso..."
Kotaiso took a moment before he replied. "She...she was...pregnant...?"
Luciann nodded. "I had spoken with her prior to all of this. I could already tell she was a few months in. I know you had not seen her in a while, so I assumed you didn't know yet. I am sorry I couldn't get to you earlier..."
How could this happen? Was this real? Kotaiso held his head in his hands and began to breathe heavily. He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
"Kotaiso..." Luciann began to grow worried.
Kotaiso let out a yell which was heard all throughout the cathedral. He got out of bed and fell over. His legs had forgotten how to walk properly during the time he was in a coma. After struggling, he managed to get to his feet. He walked akwardly over to the table where he saw Velice and threw it against the wall. He yelled again.
"Kotaiso! Calm down!" Sylaurn had re-entered the room along with some of the Indelibles. "Luciann, what happened?!"
Kotaiso was beyond reach. He continued his rampage until he exhausted himself and fell to the ground unconcious.

Several hours passed and Kotaiso awoke again in the darkness of the cathedral room had he previously found himself in. He knew it was real. He knew everything had changed. His world was broken. He was broken.
He slumped out of bed and sat in the dark corner. He closed his eyes and wished he had died with Verilyn. He wished he was with her. But the more he thought of her, the more pain he felt in his now empty chest. The more he knew he would never get to touch her, hold her, kiss her, see her laugh, or see her smile again.
At this point, Kotaiso slumped into a darkness which did not usually come out in Humans. He was beyond redemption. He hated everyone and everything. He blamed them all for Verilyn and their unborn child's death. Kotaiso had fallen into Shadow. His mind was corrupted with the hate of the living. He was a broken shell of his former self. Hatred fueled him. He could barely be called Human anymore. This...was Kotaiso's Hell.

[Kotaiso]

Alone. That's all he felt these past few months. Alone and cold. There was always the feeling of the cold air whipping about him, even in the warmest of places. Alone, cold, and empty. Ever since he learned of her demise, he was numb to everything except the cold. It was like he was dead himself. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he sure looked it. His skin was as pale as the Moon from wandering in the shadows. He avoided the Sun as much as possible, because all it did was remind him of the time he spent with her those many days ago underneath it. To him, nothing mattered. He hated everyone and everything. They were all annoyances and would be dealt with in time...

"She's the only one that made me sane..." said Kotaiso as he walked through the Moon-light glade, alone, except for Chicken, who followed him everywhere.

Chicken had not gone unchanged by Kotaiso's behavior. Chicken himself had adjusted to the way Kotaiso was, and was now as cold as he was. Instead of clucking and flapping his wings like he used to, he skulked around, barely opening his beak to speak. He would always look at the ground, instead of cocking his head up at the usual strangers that used to pass by...

Kotaiso stopped in the middle of the glade. He looked up at the Moon, shading his eyes as if he stared at something as bright as the Sun. Even the Moon's glow was too painful for him to look at. He leveled his gaze and continued slowly through the glade.
"She isn't real... I can't make her real..." he said.
He would often speak to himself as he rarely had anyone else to speak to. He drew a sense of comfort when he spoke to himself, as if he had himself convinced that he wasn't really alone when he heard the sound of his own voice.
Giving himself a cold smile, he walked underneath the cover of the trees, there he sat against the trunk of one, and looked up into the branches, watching them sway with the night's wind. He fell asleep.

"Kotaiso! Kotaiso, get up! We need help!" yelled the familiar voice. Kotaiso was still deep asleep when Xelas had come running for the aid of Forest Song. It was being besieged by the Horde and the Alliance defenders needed all the help they could get. "Kotaiso!"
Opening his eyes, he looked up at Xelas. He didn't say anything, but tilted his head as it to ask what Xelas wanted.
"Forest Song is under attack! We need as many soldiers of the Alliance as we can muster to hold off the Horde!"
"...defend the Elves?"
"And the Draenei! They are also in need of aid at Forest Song!"
"...let them suffer."
Xelas frowned. He was hurt by Kotaiso's words. How could someone be so cruel? People were dying, and there he was, just sitting there, not giving a care in the world.
"Hmph! A typical Human response!" said a new voice that Kotaiso did not recognize.
He looked around and noticed a female Night Elf standing behind Xelas. She had blue hair and elegant skin. She was quite beautiful. He didn't reply to her comment. Instead he put his head in his hands and tried to go back to sleep.
"Come on, Liyil...it's no use. He's lost to us." Xelas got on his Horse, waiting nearby and waited for Liyil. Liyil gave a nod to Xelas, one more hard, angry look at Kotaiso, then mounted her Saber. Together, they sped off in the direction of Ashenvale Forest and Forest Song outpost.

Continuing to sit by himself, Kotaiso's mind began to swirl. He began to think about the Elf's comment and the way she had looked at him. For some reason, deep down, it bothered him. Why did he care? He couldn't figure it out. He waved his hand dismissively, as if to get rid of the thought, but it stuck there. It hounded him. Hmph! A typical Human response! He grew angry with himself. Getting up, he bashed the tree's trunk with his hand in anger, denting the bark. Already he could hear the battle in the distance. What if she's dead? Or dying? I need to help her!
"What? Why do you care?!" yelled Kotaiso, to no one in particular, other than to himself.
You didn't see it? You didn't feel it? You are blind, young fool.
"Shut up! Just...shut up!" Kotaiso smashed his forehand against his forehead, hoping to get his concience to silence.
He no longer heard the voice in his head speaking to him, but now he was surrounded by guilt. Why hadn't he gone with them? He looked down at Chicken, who was looking back up at him. He sighed and nodded.
"Let's go..."

It took twenty minutes to reach the borders of Ashenvale Forest, and another twenty to get to the eastern borders, near Forest Song. His Horse sped down the path as fast as it could, as Kotaiso looked at all the bodies that already littered the path. He looked for one in particular as he sped by, but could not find it. He gave a small sigh of relief. Why?
He slowed his Horse down to a trot and glanced around the surrounding trees. There! He headed behind one in particular where a certain Elf had made her hiding place. She was caught completely by surprise and leaped off her Saber, diving straight at him with two daggers. Kicking them away with ease, Kotaiso looked down at the Elf. "See? We Humans aren't all that bad." He grinned at her from behind his helmet.
Liyil glared at him and said in a sharp voice, "We shall see..." She went to pick up her daggers as Kotaiso sped off down the hill. She got back on her Saber and followed him.
Further down the road, Kotaiso met with Xelas and Stoglim. They were guarding the road. As Kotaiso approached, Stoglim straightened and gave Kotaiso a crisp salute, which was ignored. Liyil approached from behind him and pulled her Saber to a halt. Smiling, Xelas said, "You have come."
"You fools need protections..."
"Ha! Come, we are gathering down the road at the entrance to Forest Song. Orders are to scour the Warsong Lumber Mill and then move down the road from the direction you just came looking for any Horde...you didn't happen to see any, did you?"
Kotaiso shook his head and sped past them.
"Not one much for conversation, is he?" said Liyil.
All Xelas could do was sigh.

After clearing the Lumber Camp and much of the road, the Alliance forces only found two Horde members, which they quickly and easily disposed of. Soon the order came to attack the Horde town of Splintertree Post. The town was cleared easily as the Alliance raised their flag over the entrance. Kotaiso found a corner to sit in and removed his helmet. His armor was soaked in the blood of the townsfolk. The rest of the Indelibles that had aided the Alliance forces came and sat by him, much to his annoyance.
"I don't like this senseless killing...this town didn't deserve to perish. Many were just trying to make a living here..." said Xelas, with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Staring at Xelas, Kotaiso spoke, "You may not like it, but it has to be done. By killing these townsfolk you saved the lives of Alliance soldiers in this area and have setup a safe route for Alliance convoys..." and with a drop of his voice, Kotaiso spoke to himself, "...unfortunately."
An akward silence followed. No one dared speak, except Liyil, when she announced that she had pressing business to attend to in Ironforge. After she left, Kotaiso felt no reason to be there any longer. He took his leave without mentioning it to any of the other Indelibles or Alliance soldiers. He made his way back to where he was earlier last night. The Sun was beginning to rise and Kotaiso wanted to get into the darkness before it did so.

* * * * *

"Hard to say what caught my attention..." Kotaiso was still trying to figure out why he had gone after them, why he had aided them. He just couldn't figure it out. What was wrong with him? As he tried to figure it out, he fell asleep.

All I need to make her real...is one more reason...all her torment and her pain leaped through and covered me...I'd do anything to have her to myself...just to have her for myself... Now I don't know what to do...since she's gone... She is everything to me...the unaquitted dream...the song that no one sings...the unnatainable... She's now a myth that I have to believe in... I let this build up inside of me and the pain tears my body apart...it is unbearable... Her name gets caught in my throat, I choke, torn into pieces I won't die...no... I don't want to be this...but I can't help it... I just want it to end...
She danced in the flowers of the glade, the Sun shining down upon her silk dress and her cream-colored skin. She was smiling, and he was falling...falling... He woke up, screaming.

[Kotaiso]

He realized he was still alone. The night moved on, but he couldn't. He was trapped...a prisoner of himself. He remembered the dream...he saw Verilyn. He would often dream of her, but it always ended the same. Just as he got close enough to touch her, she would get farther and farther away and he would fall into the blackness of his mind.
"Stop..."
He wanted it to all just stop. He couldn't stop it himself. He was poisoned.
"Stop!"
The thought crept closer to his heart, he would never escape this pain, he would always be a prisoner of this anguish.
"JUST STOP!" Yelled Kotaiso at the top of his lungs, straining his vocal cords to the point where they almost burst.
He fell backwards, gasping. He looked up into the canopy of the trees he had fallen asleep under. Closing his eyes, he saw her face once more. He opened them.
"She isn't real...I can't make her real..." He knew she was gone and it tore him apart. "I never wanted anybody more than I wanted you..." He was completely alone in the world. No one was there for him. No one cared. No one listened to him anymore.
Getting up, he noticed Chicken was still asleep. He walked quietly by him to not wake him. He walked farther into the woods, finding a log to sit on. He held his head in his hands.
"All that I want...are the things I had before... All that I need...I never needed more... All of my questions, or answers to my sins... All of my endings are waiting to begin..." A tear fell from his eye and dripped off of his plate gauntlets. "I know the way...but I falter... I can't behind afraid of my patience... There's a sacred place she keeps safe for me..." More tears fell from his eyes and into his hands. He removed his left gauntlet and rolled his sleeve up to his elbow. He gazed at the scars that littered his left wrist. There were fourteen for his fallen friends who died so long ago...then there was one from a Troll who had ambushed him back when he was still inexperienced. Then there were ten for Verilyn... Ten deep gashes in his arm for the pain he felt from losing her... Five for his unborn child... Thirty scars in all. They covered his wrist so much that the flesh underneath was no longer visible.
"All of my endings...are waiting to begin..." He reached back and drew his dagger, the one he had threated so many Indelibles with. The one he had killed so many Orcs with.
Bringing the dagger forward, he placed it over his wrist. He stared at his wrist, at what he was about to do. He was numb to the physical pain this would cause any other person... He swiped the dagger quickly across the flesh, spraying his own blood across the ground and the blade of the dagger. The blood oozed out and ran down his arm and into his palm. He squeezed his hand to see if he still had control over it. He did.
As he watched the blood flow from his wrist, he thought of the encounter with all of the Indelibles earlier that night. How he had attacked Norier and stabbed him in the chest... He glowered. He hated them all. He would be their master...
"Pathetic...accept it. Your opinions, my justification. Happy, servant, malice, utter weakness. No toleration, invade, enraged, don't condesend. Don't even dissagree. Desire, dissapoint, you've all suffered then... NOW SUFFER UNDER ME!" Kotaiso grew angry at all the things he had said and how the Indelibles had rebelled...why didn't they just accept it?
"Obsession? Take another look! Remember, with every chance you took! Decide, you leave with me, decide, you will never be free!" He stood up and walked back towards where he had fallen asleep.
Slumping down against the tree, he thought of each and every one of their faces. Blood dripped from his hand to the grass and leaves underneath him.
"The only thing I'll ever really love about you...will be hurting you." He smiled darkly.
"You are nothing more, you are something less." He thought of how he attacked Norier when the others weren't looking, "My fingers on your skin, let my savage in...you deserve it!" He slammed his right hand on the ground, cracking the soil.
As he sat there, he became light-headed, as he always did shortly after cutting himself. The loss of blood would make him pass out, but he would be fine by morning.
Standing up, he fought off the weariness. Not this time! He wouldn't let his body get the better of him! No!
"Fucking...fluids... You...won't...better... ...me... ... ...this... ... ... ...time..." He fell face-first onto the ground and passed into darkness once more.

He dreamt of her again...and once more he felt the same agonizing pain. No one could help him.

[Kotaiso]

"Here I am! Are you happy now?!" screamed Velice to the shadows.
She had followed Kotaiso to try and find out what was going on with him lately.
"Show yourself to me, you damn shadow!"
Kotaiso revealed himself from the shadows of some nearby trees. He had hid there until Velice had come...alone. He wanted no one else nearby.

* * * * *

Hours earlier everything was normal. Kotaiso was skulking around in the shadows, ignoring everyone and everything other than himself. He didn't care for them. Not anymore. That is...except one...
"You mine!" declared Chonnam, Harrietta's Imp companion.
"Yes, well...I don't think so, but if it makes you happy!" said Velice, who patted Chonnam on the head.
He smilled and snuggled himself into her chest, making himself comfortable. There they sat for a while, Chonnam dozing off into a sleep while Velice read her latest book.
When Chonnam awoke, everyone was quiet. He clawed at Velice robe, nearly cutting it.
"Stop that, Chonnam! This was an expensive robe!"
Chonnam leaped up on Velice's shoulder and licked her. "Chonnam want kiss!"
"Yech! Get off!" Velice grabbed Chonnam and threw him across the room.
"Mine!" Chonnam yelled as he charged straight at Velice again.
Kotaiso had had enough. He stepped out of the shadows and stood between Chonnam and Velice, glaring down at the little Imp. Chonnam stopped dead in his tracks and looked up at the heavily armored man that blocked him from his precious. He growled and darted through Kotaiso's legs straight at Velice once more.
"Damn thing!" Kotaiso turned on his heels and dived at Chonnam, narrowly missing him as he landed hard on the floor.
Getting up, Kotaiso again charged at Chonnam, this time managing to get a hold of him.
"Agh! Let go, stupid, ugly Human!"
Kotaiso flinged him across the room, making him hit a wall, hard. Chonnam rubbed his head, a little dazed. "You pay, stupid, ugly Human!" He jumped up and ran for Velice again, this time getting on her shoulders.
Kotaiso threw a chair out of his path and leapt at Chonnam.
"Ah! Kotaiso!" screamed Velice as she was crushed underneath the weight of Kotaiso himself and all of his plate armor.
Kotaiso grabbed Chonnam by the throught and slowly began to squeeze the life out of him. Velice banged her fists against Kotaiso's chest without any effect, she couldn't breathe and would soon pass out.
Kotaiso got up and held Chonnam off the ground, "Scum..." he squeezed harder, Chonnam would almost be dead.
"Kotaiso!" yelled Erender who knelt next to Velice's body on the ground.
Kotaiso glanced over to Erender and noticed Velice, breathing raggedly on the ground. He instantly dropped Chonnam and went over to her.
"Velice! What happened?! Are you all right?!" asked Kotaiso frantically.
She could barely speak, she was in so much pain from what Kotaiso had done when he landed on top of her. It felt as if one of her ribs was broken and she yelped in pain. "M-m-my corset...take it off..."
Kotaiso reached behind him and pulled out the dagger he trusted so much and carefully turned Velice on to her side. "Don't move." He dug the blade underneath her corset and ripped upwards with it, easily cutting the fabric. He pulled it off and laid Velice on her back gently, looking at her with deep concern.
She could breathe a little easier now and the pain had lessened, but her ribs still hurt immensely...
"T-Thorimar...can't you use your Light...?" asked Velice with a hoarse voice.
"Aye..." said Thorimar the Dwarf who watched from the sidelines at all that was taking place.
He hopped off his chair and began to summon the Holy Light to grant him the ability to heal Velice's wounds. He cast his hands up to the sky as the Light surrounded Velice's body and healed her of her pain.
Kotaiso got up, a little jealous that he himself could not help Velice, and receded into the shadows, dissapearing into the nearest room he could find.
"Thank you, Thorimar..." said Velice as she rose to her feet with the aid of Erender.
She walked over to him, knelt down, and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. Thorimar couldn't help but blush underneath his beard and he sat back down on his chair and took a deep swig of his ale. Velice inspected herself, making sure she was okay, then thanked Erender and Thorimar once more. "I think I will be going to my room for the evening..." and with that, she walked into her room and closed the door behind her.

Kotaiso watched silently from the shadows as Velice came into the room he was in. What is she doing here? he thought as he tried to remain as silent as he possibly could. Velice leaned against her door and sighed. Everything had gone chaotic so quickly. She couldn't blame Kotaiso, though, his heart was in the right place.
She went over to her dresser and began to take her robe off. Kotaiso's eyes widened and looked around for a way to escape, but couldn't find one. He swallowed hard and realized the only way out would be to make himself known to Velice.
Stepping from the shadows, he nervously asked, "What are you doing...?"

A piercing scream was heard throughout the guild hall. Everyone covered their ears and wondered what the Hell was going on.
"That came from Velice's room!" yelled Thorimar, who grabbed his warhammer and sprang towards the door. He knocked on it, "Velice! What's the problem?!"

"KOTAISO GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" screamed Velice as loudly as she possibly could.
Kotaiso fell back into the shadows, hearing Thorimar's voice on the other side of the door. He didn't want another confrontation...
As soon as Kotaiso fell back into the shadows, Thorimar managed to break the door down and ran into Velice's room looking around. He saw that Velice held her clothes up to her chest and huddled herself in a corner, rips all along the clothes she clinged to. That bastard! I know what he was doing! That fuckin' filth o' a man!
"Get out o' the fuckin' shadows, Kotaiso! You've got some explainin' ta do!" yelled Thorimar into the shadows of Velice's room.
All the other Indelibles present rushed into Velice's room, seeing what Thorimar saw. Kotaiso had snuck into Velice's room and had attempted to rape her.

Kotaiso needed to get out of here, and fast. He wanted to think of a plan but knew there was no time for one. He just decided to give it all and run for it. He dashed by Thorimar and barrelled through the rest of the Indelibles who chose to stand in front of the door. Picking himself up, he started to run again, but was caught by Thorimar, who held onto him firmly by the wrist.
"You're not goin' anywhere! You've go' some explainin' ta do!" Thorimar tightened his grip on Kotaiso's wrist.
"Let...go..." Kotaiso gave Thorimar a soul-piercing glare that would have frightened lesser men, but Thorimar the Dwarf only held on tighter.
"I dunnae think so!"
Kotaiso grinned darkly and clenched the first of the arm Thorimar was holding. A blade shot out of Kotaiso's armor, hidden beneath a slit barely noticable to the trained eye, and sliced into Thorimar's hand. Thorimar yowled in pain and surprise and let go of Kotaiso to tend to his wound. Kotaiso ran. Ran right out of the guild hall and into the forest that sat nearby.
"That lad's got something wrong with him..." muttered Thorimar.

* * * * *

Kotaiso had finished remembering all the events that had only transpired just moments ago. He gazed at Velice with cold, emotionless eyes.
"Who are you?! I don't even know you anymore!" cried Velice, who was forcing back tears.
"I am what I've become... It's the only way I know how to survive anymore..."
"What are you talking about?! You are our friend! We're all worried about you! We want the real you back!"
"This is who I am... I am a target...they all want me dead and I all I can do is act accordingly to that and protect myself..."
"You're talking nonsense...do you even hear yourself?!"
Kotaiso didn't answer. Her words spoke the truth. This wasn't him. What was he doing?
He shook his head and tossed his sword to the ground, it landed near Velice's feet. He dropped to his knees, his hair covering his face.
"I...I don't..." he took a moment to think about what he would say next, how he would try to fix this.
"Do you remember that time...that time we spent together in Duskwood?"
Velice nodded her head slowly.
"And do you remember this...?" Kotaiso reached into one of his back pouches and pulled out a whithered red rose. He held it in his hands and showed it to Velice.
"No...I don't..." said Velice, who tried her hardest to remember.
Kotaiso smiled softly, the first for a long time. "We found this...in the graveyard near Darkshire...we found it there, blossoming, in a place bereft of any life..." He placed the rose back into his pouch.
"What does this have to do with anything?" asked Velice, remembering the rose now.
"Nothing...I just wanted to show you...that I still remember our time together...and that I'm still Human beneath this shell of mine..."
Her eyes softened at him. "What do you wish me to do, Kotaiso? Everyone else has tried to help you but you've thrown them all away like garbage!"
"You haven't..."
"I haven't what?"
"Tried to help me yet..."
Velice took a moment, studying him. He was right. She had made no effort in helping his suffering. Not once.
"What would you have me do...?"
Kotaiso glanced to the sword by Velice feet. "Pick it up..."
Velice studied Kotaiso once more, then knelt down and lifted the handle of his sword. She had to use her other hand just to keep it up. This thing was heavy! How did he carry it around with such ease?
"Now come here..."
Velice went over to Kotaiso, dragging his sword behind her. She got right in front of him and peered down at him, wondering what he had in mind.
"What I want you to do is make a choice... You have the means to cure me... Either by your willpower alone or with the aid of my sword...make a choice of which path you will choose..."
Velice's eyes widened. Was she hearing this correctly? She glanced at the blade in her hands, then back at Kotaiso. She didn't have any other choice...this is how it was supposed to be...
She lifted the blade as high as she could and held it to Kotaiso's neck. She stared at him, and he stared right back. At that moment, she dropped the sword and grabbed Kotaiso's head in her hands, looking at him sincerely. His dark eyes with pits around them looked directly back. She didn't think. She brought her face to his and kissed him passionately. She let herself slump down into his body as she continued to hold the kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and moved her head down to his chest, she began to weap.
His eyes softening, Kotaiso wrapped his arms around Velice and held her as close as he could to his body. They were ever in eternal peace like this.

Several moments passed when Velice finally pushed away from Kotaiso. She got up and strode to her steed, and looked back at Kotaiso. "I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that... I need to go check on Rakzuel..." and with that, she sped off into the night.

He watched her go, until he could no longer see her. He sat there, staring off into the distance for a while, before he finally managed to speak, "Don't be sorry...for you have finally set me free."

[Kotaiso]

Kotaiso entered the dimly-lit guild hall of the Indelibles. He looked around, but didn't see anyone. He found this quite odd, as there was always at least someone in the hall. Then it hit him like a point-blank shot straight in the face. He was being watched.
He instinctively reached for his dagger waiting on his back, but he was shocked to find it was no longer there. What the Hell? As he turned to look behind him, that's when it all went dark. The last thing he remembered was seeing the familiar color of metal.

* * * * *

His head was swimming...he could hear a faint voice, but for all he knew it could just be his head playing tricks on him.
Wake...you...of...'um! He couldn't make out the rest, but it was getting clearer. Wake up... ...scum!
WAKE UP BEFORE I MAKE YOU WAKE UP!
He opened his eyes. He could taste blood, and he coughed a little bit of it up, spraying it over his knees and the floor.
"Aye...tha's better, laddy. Finally ye come to yer senses, 'ave yah?" said a familiar voice.
Shaking his head, Kotaiso finally realized the situation he was in. He was tied to a chair firmly and the Dwarf Thorimar stood in front of him, hammer in his hands. This was going to be an interrogation...fun.
Raising his head, Kotaiso looked at Thorimar with dark eyes, black pits surrounding them like an endless sea of evil. He grinned.
"Aye...I dinnae expect yah ta say much, tha' much I di' know."
Thorimar punched Kotaiso hard in the face, his plated gauntlet making a deep gash in his cheek. All Kotaiso did was turn his head back to its normal position and smile a disturbing smile at Thorimar.
"I'll be askin' ye some questions...I want you to answer them, and no funny business!" declared Thorimar, shaking off his hand. "You'll find tha' you no longer have those arm-thingies ye cut my 'and with 'fore...and all of your weapons are in my possession...fer now." He gave Kotaiso another hard punch, making the fresh gash on Kotaiso's cheek gush more blood.
Again, Kotaiso did nothing but smile darkly.
Thorimar was getting a little annoyed and a little bit disturbed.
"What were ye doin' in Velice's room the other night?" asked Thorimar.
Kotaiso just grinned. He would play this foolish Dwarf, make him think the worst. Why did he have to know the truth? Have your fun now, Dwarf...for when I get free...all of your nightmares will come to fruition...I will spare you a death, but instead...have you live a most agonizing life...
"Not goin' to answer me, eh? Well, 'ave it yer way..." Thorimar upper-cutted Kotaiso hard, sending blood mixed with saliva up into the air.
Kotaiso held his head up for a moment, enjoying the pain he had just recieved, before bringing his gaze back to Thorimar's, grinning.
"Why are ye so damn evil, Kotaiso?! Answer me!" Thorimar's temper was giving way.
Again, Kotaiso didn't answer. This time, he laughed...first softly, but then it turned into a maniacle laughter, as if he had lost his mind.
"Fine, if ye aren't goin' to participate, then I'm goin' to leave you bound and I will not let anyone release you...believe me."
Kotaiso stopped laughing and lost the smug grin on his face. He was playing a defeated person for Thorimar's enjoyment.
"Ah, I knew tha' would get to yah...now let me think..." Thorimar stroked his beard and paced the room, thinking.
After a couple of minutes, Thorimar grinned and returned to Kotaiso.
"Kotaiso...your Wife was a slut. Your child a bastard... They deserved everything they got."
Kotaiso was enraged. He flew off the handle How dare he?! He let out a terrifying growl that made Thorimar flinch. Mustering as much strength as he could, he lifted himself and the chair off the ground and dived at Thorimar, crashing into him hard, sending both to the ground.
"Ye Son of a bitch!" yelled Thorimar, who got to his feet and grabbed his warhammer.
He moved over to where Kotaiso was, struggling to get free of the ropes that bound him to the chair, and grabbed his hair, lifting him back up to a normal sitting position. Kotaiso stared at him, blood running down his cheek and from his mouth. He was panting, but not from exhaustion, but from pure unnadulterated hatred and anger for this Dwarf.
"I've 'ad enough o' ye fer now!" Yelled Thorimar, who pulled his hammer back and struck Kotaiso right across the face, knocking him out cold instantly.
Kotaiso fell back into the blackness that enveloped his mind.

* * * * *

Hello...
Who are you?
I'm...you...
Me?
Yes...you. I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to...
What...why?
Hello...don't cry...
I don't understand...
Playground school bell rings again... Rain clouds come to play again... Has no one told you she's not breathing?
If I smile and don't believe...soon I know I'll wake from this nightmare... Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken...
Hello...I'm the lie living for you so you can hide...don't cry.
Suddenly...I know I'm not sleeping...this is not a nightmare...
Hello...I'm still here.
Good-bye...
Kotaiso opened his eyes again.

He looked around the room. He saw Xelas and a little Gnome who he did not know. He tried to stand up but was sadly brought back down to Earth as he remembered he was still tied to the chair.
"Having fun, Kotaiso?" Asked Xelas, somewhat mockingly.
Kotaiso grumbled to himself. He needed to get out of here...get away.
"What are you doing in that chair anyways? And what happened to your face?"
"My...face?"
Xelas nodded, bringing over a mirror for him to look in. When he looked in, Kotaiso saw that his face was heavily bruised in many places. The cut on his cheek had long stopped bleeding, but left a mark none the less.
That bastard...
"Release me. Now." Kotaiso demanded of Xelas.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Thorimar told me to keep you as you are."
"Fine. I will release myself."
He squeezed his left hand. A blade jutted forward out of a tiny slit in the left bracer he wore. It cut the roped Thorimar had tied him with easily. The fool of a Dwarf only knew of the one blade...on his right bracer.
With his left arm free, he easily ripped the rest of the ropes off and got himself free. He stood up, his joints as stiff as a dead person's. How long had he been bound, anyway?
"Stop right there, Kotaiso... I won't hesitate to stop you with force, if neccessary..." said Xelas as he stood steadfast in Kotaiso's path.
Kotaiso began to march past Xelas, but realized his steady march began to slow...he realized he could no longer move as well as he could...and he was going numb. His entire body was going numb. All of a sudden he stopped moving entirely.
"I told you..." said Xelas, sighing.
Before Kotaiso had awoke, Xelas had a slight hint that Kotaiso might try and escape. So he had placed a frost trap in front of Kotaiso's chair, just in case. Apprently it worked out.
God damn it! I will not be stopped! screamed Kotaiso's mind. He would fight this trap until he won, no matter the cost.
Xelas began to go back to his chair when he heard a snap. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked back Kotaiso who has still frozen solid. Another snap, and this time a crack accompanied it.
"Damn it..." Xelas muttered under his breath and turned to the Gnome who had been hiding behind a chair nearby. "Ready a spell, Torqi! Polymorph him once he breaks free!"
The Gnome named Torqi nodded, mustering up as much courage as she could, she moved out into the open and began to mutter the words that would cast the spell.
Kotaiso screamed as he shattered the ice that surrounding his body. He had never felt this amount of physical pain before. He gasped and fell to one knee, taking a breath. He was exhausted...but he would not give up. He brought himself back to his feet, his head swimming, he ran towards the door.
"Torqi! Now!" yelled Xelas.
Torqi's hand erupted with magic that short forth towards Kotaiso. It hit him dead on. He erupted into a ball of light. Xelas and Torqi both shielded their eyes from the light before looking back to see what had become of Kotaiso.
When they saw, they both erupted into laughter. Torqi's spell had gone awry and instead of turning Kotaiso into a Sheep, he had become a Gnome...
"What the Hell?" Kotaiso asked aloud as he inspected himself. His voice was unnaturally squeeky. He turned to look back at Xelas and Torqi, glaring at them. "You bastards!" he yelled in a squeeky voice.
They just laughed harder. Kotaiso had had enough. He wobbled a bit, not sure of how to handle himself with such small legs and began making his way to the doors of the guild hall. Xelas stopped laughing just in time to realize Kotaiso wasn't given up so easily. He ran after Kotaiso, reaching him in just three wide strides. Diving at him, Xelas grabbed Kotaiso's tiny leg, tripping him.
"Let go!" yelled Kotaiso.
Xelas did his best to hold back a laugh as he held tightly onto Kotaiso. Clawing at the ground, Kotaiso began to kick at Xelas's face. He kicked so much and so hard that Xelas was forced to let go. This was the opening Kotaiso needed! He pushed his little self up off the ground and sprang towards the doors. He had escaped.
"Blast!" Xelas banged his hand on the ground.

* * * * *

The spell wouldn't last forever and Kotaiso would soon return to the guild hall. When he did, everyone would pay for what they had done. Everyone...

[Kotaiso]

Kotaiso had fallen back into the darkness of his mind...farther than he had ever been before.
He walked aimlessly through the forest, running his fingers along the gnarled bark of the tree trunks. He had lost his way a few hundred trees back, but he didn't care.
All of a sudden the trees ended and he came to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing was a lake with a waterfall. The scene was serene and put a soothing calm on Kotaiso's soul.
He looked out over the Moonlit waters of the lake and placed his sword on the ground.
Walking over to the water, Kotaiso knelt down at its edge, peering into it. The water so pristine, clean, and clear. He saw his reflection in the water. As he stared at himself he noticed the black pits surrounding his eyes. He tried to look away, but the more he struggled to do so, the more they threatened to swallow him...he couldn't even resist himself anymore.
With tremendous effort, Kotaiso splashed the water, destroying his reflection. He stood up and went back over to where he had put his sword down. He lied himself down on the ground and looked up at the sky. The stars were more beautiful than normal that night.
A shooting star sped across the night's sky. Kotaiso smiled to himself. He hadn't seen a shooting star since he was Verilyn all those many months ago. At the thought of her, he removed the smile from his face and closed his eyes. He would go to sleep and forget about it.

Kotaiso layed there for several moments. The sweet embrace of sleep was nearly upon him. He rolled over to his side to get more comfortable on the soft grass.
As sleep was about to over-take him, the sound of soft, musical laughter entered his mind. He shot up, grabbing his sword in the process, and steadied himself. He held himself in a defensive stance, carefully watching his surroundings.
After several minutes of silence, Kotaiso eased and slowly lowered his sword and himself back to normal. What was that...? Was it real or my mind just playing tricks on me?
He cautiously layed back down, satisfied that it was nothing more than his mind playing with him.
As he closed his eyes, this time the sound of crying entered his ears. Soft, mournful crying. It came from nearby.
Opening his eyes slowly, Kotaiso listened. The sound of the crying got louder.
Sitting up, Kotaiso looked around. He spotted a slim, feminine figure sitting with her back to him on a rock near the water's edge.
Kotaiso got up slowly, leaving his sword. He walked towards the woman cautiously. As he neared, her crying stopped.
"Excuse me...miss..." said Kotaiso softly.
The woman turned her head slightly in his direction, long, silky black hair covering her face.
"Are you all right?" asked Kotaiso, not knowing why he would care.
The woman stood up and turned towards him, her movements elegant and graceful. As she did so, Kotaiso froze in place. His eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat or two.
She walked towards him slowly. Her features were elegant and beautiful. Her skin was as pale as the Moon and a curve in her lower-torso revealed the early stages of a pregnancy. She was surrounded by a strange white aura.
"Hello, Kotaiso..." she said in a soft voice.
"Verilyn..."
Verilyn smiled up at him. Kotaiso didn't know what to do. Was this real or had he been thrown into another nightmare? No...this was real. She was standing there in front of him...so close that he could reach out and touch her.
He grabbed her and pulled her into him gently, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back, throwing her arms around his waist. Together they stayed like that for many minutes.

After a while, Kotaiso pulled back slightly to look at Verilyn's face. It seemed...different somehow.
"Verilyn...how...?" Before Kotaiso could finish, Verilyn put a finger to his lips.
"It doesn't matter how...just so long as we're together."
He hugged her again, savoring the moment. "I've missed you so much..."
"I've missed you, too, Kotaiso..."
He looked at her again, smiling. She smiled back at him, bringing him a warmth in his heart he had not felt for a very long time.
He wanted so much to believe that this was real, but the question he wanted to ask always nagged at the back of his head. How is this possible? I thought she was dead...
"Verilyn...please, tell me... How is this possible that you're standing right here in my arms? I thought you were dead..."
Verilyn gave Kotaiso a sad look and pulled away from him. She turned her back to him.
"...because I am dead." Kotaiso hope had been shattered once again. "My body may be gone, but my spirit has always been here... It's wandered this world in search of you...to see you again."
"Not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about you, Verilyn..."
"The same is with me, Kotaiso... Before I died, my last thoughts were of you...of how I wanted you to save me like you always did..."
It shattered what remained of Kotaiso's heart to see her this way.
Verilyn turned around to look at him again. "But we don't have to be apart anymore..."
Kotaiso studied her, not quite understanding. He took a hesitant step back. "What do you mean...?"
"Come with me..."
"Where...?"
She smiled at him, a smile that made all his troubles go away. "To a place where we can spend eternity together, no longer living in fear of pain and death..." She looked at the lake that stood beside them, the waterfall roaring a short distance away. "...to Heaven."
Verilyn wanted Kotaiso to die so they could be together. She had come to bring him to Heaven with her.
"Verilyn..."
"Don't you want to be with me anymore?" Verilyn could sense the doubt growing in his voice.
"Of course I do! It's what I want more than anything else!"
"Then come with me...we can live together in happiness...with our child..." Verilyn placed a hand over her womb, rubbing it softly.
"I...I can't, Verilyn..."
She frowned at him. "You don't love me anymore?"
"Don't talk like that! It's nonsense! You know I love you! I always have loved you and I always will love you! I...I just can't die for you..." Kotaiso knew what he had to do, no matter how hard it would be.
Verilyn hesitated, but then nodded at him. "I understand... I won't force you to come with me."
"I'm sorry, Verilyn... But... I'm so tired of being here...supressed by all my childish fears..."
"Kotaiso..."
"And if you have to leave...I wish that you would just leave... Because your prescence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone..." Tears began to flow heavily from his eyes. "These wounds won't seem to heal...this pain is just too real... There's just too much of you that time cannot erase..." He looked at her, trying to find the courage. "When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears... When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears...and I held your hand through all of these years, but you will still have all of me..."
She smiled faintly, wishing she could cry in her etherreal form. "You will always have me, too, Kotaiso... Always and forever..."
"You used to captivate me by your resonating mind...but now I'm bound by the life you left behind... Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams... Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me..."
She placed a hand on his cheek, smiling at him. He placed his hand on top of hers.
"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone...but though you're still with me, I've been alone... I'm alone."
She reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. He hugged her and held the kiss.
Wake up!
As the kiss held longer and longer, it became more passionate. Kotaiso moved his hands to Verilyn's cheeks and Verilyn began to slide her hand down Kotaiso's chest.
Wake up!
Kotaiso opened his eyes and pulled away from Verilyn. He was out of breath. He looked at her, pain evident in his eyes. She returned the look, but smiled.
"I will always love you, Kotaiso..."
"And I will always love you, Verilyn..."
Verilyn took a step back from him. "You set my spirit free...thank you. I will wait an eternity for you up in Heaven."
He nodded. "I know you will... I love you, Verilyn... Good-bye." He fought back more tears.
"I love you, too, Kotaiso... ...good-bye..."
And with that, she was gone. Kotaiso fell to his knees and stared at where Verilyn had stood just a moment before. Was this real? Rising to his feet, Kotaiso slowly walked over to where he had originally seen Verilyn. He sat where she had sat, tracing her former prescence with his fingers. His breathed heavily and his eyes turned red. He gave into his emotions and wept.

* * * * *

Kotaiso opened his eyes, the Sun shining brightly into them. He raised a hand to cover his eyes. He sat up, sighing. He remembered everything that had happened last night. Every feeling, every sensation, every tear... He picked himself up and went to grab his sword.
Hefting it over his shoulder, he walked back the way he had come last night through the forest, hoping he would find the Indelibles' guild hall.

* * * * *

Kotaiso lay prone on the ground, peering at the entrance to the Indelibles' guild hall through some bushes. He saw five of them, including Thorimar. Four of them were lined up in military-fashion with Thorimar pacing about in front of them, back and forth.
A search party.
Grinning to himself, Kotaiso mocked the foolishness of Thorimar. Slowly and quietly, Kotaiso crawled on his belly to their right flank, out of sight.
Standing himself up, Kotaiso found the back door to the kitchen of the guild hall. Opening it slowly and quietly, he slid inside.
As he entered, he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head in the direction and saw Velice preparing a meal.
He walked up behind her quietly. "Velice..."
Velice nearly jumped out of her skin. She wildily flung the frying pan and it came crashing down on the floor somewhere behind Kotaiso.
She turned around, slightly regaining her composure. "Kotaiso...don't do that...you know how easily frightened I am..."
"I'm sorry..."
"It's all right...just don't do it again..."
He peered over her shoulder and looked at what she was making.
"Pancakes..."
"Yes! Do you want some? I have plenty!"
"No...but I want something else..."
Velice studied him carefully, backing up slightly. "What...?"
"I want to talk to you about what you did the other night."
She turned red. She wasn't sure she should be talking about this with him here, when any of the Indelibles could come walking through the kitchen door and over-hearing them.
"Why did you kiss me?" asked Kotaiso.
"...I've loved you for a very long time..."
"You have?"
Velice nodded, her face turning a darker shade of red.
Kotaiso took a moment before forcing the words out of his mouth. "I've loved you, too... Since day one... I just haven't been brave enough to say so until now..."
Velice looked at Kotaiso. Was he just saying that to get something from her or did he really mean it? Somehow, she knew he meant it.
"Do you remember when we were together in the Arathi Highlands and I told you, 'Someone out there loves you for who you are, not what you're not. They're closer than you may think'. Do you remember?" Kotaiso asked of her.
Velice nodded slowly, "I remember..."
"I was referring to myself..."
"But what about Verilyn?"
"That...is a situation I will deal with on my own..." There was no need to tell anyone anything that had happened between himself and Verilyn the night prior...that was his secret.
She turned back to her cooking, flipping the pancakes. "Then I'm afraid you're just going to use me to get over her."
Kotaiso's eyes narrowed as he grabbed Velice gently by the shoulders and turned her to face him.
"Look at who you're talking to Velice... I would never use anyone to better myself for any reason..."
A sad look came over Velice's face. Of course he was right...that wasn't who Kotaiso was. She cursed herself in her head. "You're right...I don't know what I was thinking... I'm sorry, Kotaiso..."
He hugged her. "There is no need to be sorry."
Velice hugged Kotaiso back and enjoyed being so close to him. Pulling back slightly, Kotaiso looked into Velice's eyes. She looked back into his as their lips met. Kotaiso held the kiss with Velice for as long he could, feeling a calming sensation coming over him...something no one other than Verilyn had been able to give him.
He knew what he had to do and he was happy with his decision. He would love Velice and she would love him.

[Kotaiso]

Several weeks had passed. Kotaiso had become less violent, less aggressive, and more sociable. The Indelibles finally felt the weight of his tyrannical and psychotic episodes lifting. Everything was going back to normal...until today.

Kotaiso sat in his favorite spot in the Indelibles' guild hall. It was against the stone wall, nearest to the fire place. He enjoyed the heat the fireplace gave off, the heat of the flames melting over his skin like a warm blanket.
The flames of the fire, which never ceased raging, licked at the logs of wood Kotaiso had supplied for it when the ones prior had threatened to be incinerated.
Sitting with his eyes closed and Chicken in his lap, Kotaiso didn't pay much attention to anyone save himself or Velice lately. Although, he would occassionally partake in one of the conversations that would occur in the guild hall, something the new members of the Indelibles felt uncomfortable with, as they had never known Kotaiso to take any interest in anything other than violence.

Sitting on Kotaiso's left was the woman he lived for now. Velice. Velice Raddens. Oh, how he loved her and how she loved him...
Glancing over at Kotaiso, she smiled softly. He looked so peaceful sitting there.
Returning to her work, she concentrated on her latest project: a nice, warm sweater for Kotaiso for the coming season of Winter.

Several minutes passed when the guild hall's doors opened wide. In strode Turudes, soaked to the core from the storm raging outside. Closing the doors behind him, Turudes sighed. "Damn rain!"
Kotaiso opened his eyes and stared at Turudes who was now striding over to where they were all gathered; Velice, Kotaiso, Chicken, Thorimar, Stoglim, Xelas, and Liyil (who hid in the shadows nearby, thinking she could not be seen by normal means). They all sat around the fireplace in sporadic fashion.
Turudes stood in the middle of them, eyeing the fireplace like a Wolf would a Rabbit for its dinner. Sitting down, he moved himself as close to the fire as he could, holding his hands up to the flames to warm them. "This'll get me dry!"
Kotaiso eyed Turudes with disgust, he was close enough to smell the alcohol coming off his breath...the pathetic drunk.


Velice looked at everyone gathered around the fireplace, realizing the silence. This would not do at all! She would entertain them, bring some singing and laughter into the guild hall! It was her duty!
Jumping to her feet, sending her yarn ball, thread, and needle into Kotaiso's lap, she pronounced aloud, "I will entertain you all!" and with that, she sprang off to her room.
Coming back a couple of minutes later, Velice held a clarinet in her one hand.
Sitting down in the middle of all the Indelibles gathered, she began to blush. Why are they all staring at me?! She turned to Kotaiso, who gave her a helpful smile and a curt nod. Her chest swelled with confidence as she began to blow into her clarinet.
Almost all the Indelibles immediately covered their ears.
"Good Gods!" explaimed Liyil as she fell to the ground, clutching her head, "End this torment!"

Kotaiso blinked. There was nothing wrong with Velice's playing! She played beautifully! These people were so rude. He looked at each member of the Indelibles, who were now trying to get away from Velice and her playing. They all moaned and groaned from the horrible screaching that emitted itself from Velice's clarinet...all but one. One of them wasn't holding his hands over his ears or moaning or groaning at all. No...instead, this person was laughing. Turudes was laughing at Velice.
He turned his gaze to Velice, who was so embarrassed she looked as if she might cry, then back to Turudes, who nearly fell into the fireplace from laughing so hard.
He'll pay for making Miss Velice feel so! Kotaiso got up and grabbed Turudes by the throat, lifting him off of the ground. His hand threatened to snap Turudes's neck in two he was squeezing so hard.
"Kotaiso!" yelled Velice.
Turudes grabbed for his dagger. Feeling the hilt, he pulled it up to try and stab Kotaiso, but Kotaiso had noticed his hand moving. Knocking away Turudes's dagger with his free hand, Kotaiso glared at him with the utmost hate.
"Kotaiso! Please, let him go!" yelled Velice frantically.
Turudes coughed harshly and gasped for the little amount of air he could.
"Hmph!" Kotaiso released his grip and dropped Turudes to the ground.
Grabbing at his throat, Turudes let out a hacking cough, the air coming into his lungs too swiftly. He layed on his back, his chest rising and dropping heavily.
Kotaiso turned and walked out of the guild hall as Velice called after him.

"Well, Velice...you sure did what you promised! You entertained us!" clapped Liyil.
Velice frowned at Liyil, how could someone find entertainment in another's pain? She looked at Turudes who was slowly picking himself up off the ground. She had to find Kotaiso... I know he was only trying to protect me from being hurt... She turned and followed Kotaiso out of the guild hall.

* * * * *

Kotaiso sat against a tree that was within the boundaries of the Indelibles' guild hall. He didn't notice that Velice now sat next to him, her head on his shoulder.
"Kotaiso..."
Blinking, Kotaiso finally realized she was there. He looked at her, then looked away.
"Velice...I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, I know you were just trying to protect me."
"But I --" Velice put a finger to his lips, silencing him.
They sat there like that for several moments.

What was that? The red stain on the palm of Kotaiso's left hand... Instinctively Velice grabbed for his hand. Kotaiso didn't try to resist, instead he allowed her to see.
Rolling up his sleeve, Velice uncovered what Kotaiso had kept hidden for many months. Scars...dozens of scars lined his wrist. She looked at him, her eyes wide. All Kotaiso could do was look away.
She looked back down at his wrist and studied it... Too many scars to count. She had thought the fresh one over his right eye was bad...this...this was just mind blowing.
After careful inspection, Velice realized one of them was still scabbing. "This one's fresh..."she said aloud.
Kotaiso looked down at his wrist, nodding. "Yes it is...several hours fresh."
"Why?"
Kotaiso looked away again, and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "Because of you..."
Velice looked at him, her heart on the brink of shattering. What had she done to make him do this to himself?
"What did I do...?" she asked, scared to hear the answer.
"It's what you didn't do..."
"What didn't I do, then?"
Kotaiso looked her straight in the eyes. "You've never told me you love me."
Velice's heart nearly skipped a beat. He was right. She had never openly uttered those three magical words.
She threw her arms around him, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry, Kotaiso..."
Kotaiso didn't say anything, he had already said enough. Velice touched his cheek, bringing his gaze back to hers. They locked eyes. Tell him...
"Kotaiso..."
"Yes?"
"Kotaiso... I love you."
Kotaiso smiled at her and hugged her. He didn't need to say thank you, his actions said it for him.
Velice pulled back from Kotaiso to look at him, "But promise me one thing..."
"Anything."
"Don't...don't hurt yourself over me again...promise?"
Kotaiso's eyes narrowed as they studied Velice, but he nodded. "I promise."
As she hugged him again, they both closed their eyes and let the rain continue to fall around them.
Even though the weather was awful, their world was perfect.

[Kotaiso]

All was quiet in the Indelibles guild hall, even though it was filled with various Indelibles doing this or that.
They all sat around doing their own individual project.
Rakzuel, making a surprise appearance in the guild hall, instead of normally spending his time in his Warlock's tower in the middle of the forest, was sitting at a table inspecting his various soul gems.
Tulle sat by the fire, studying the flames and jotting down various details about them in his notebook.
Erender sat in Kotaiso's former spot against the stone wall, on the floor, next to the fireplace.
The rest of the Indelibles gathered were either reading books, napping, or just enjoying the silence...a silence which would soon be broken.

Velice came hoping out of the guild hall's kitchen. She pranced about the guild hall happily, humming to herself and twirling about in circles.
Glancing up from inspecting a deeply purple soul gem, Rakzuel noticed something odd about Velice's appearance. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew something was amiss.
As Velice came over to him, she flung her arms around him happily. "Isn't it a wonderful night, Rakzuel?"
Rakzuel grunted and was about to go back to inspecting his soul gems when he caught a glance of light reflected off of something gold on one of Velice's fingers as she pulled away.
"What is that?" Rakzuel asked as he pointed at the ring on Velice's finger.
Smiling, Velice modelled her hand for Rakzuel, showing off the engagement ring Kotaiso had given her the night before. "Kotaiso gave it to me!"
Narrowing his eyes, Rakzuel stood up. "Did he now?"
Velice realized she had made a mistake. She stepped back and moved her hand out of sight.
Rakzuel grabbed his pack and began to put all his soul gems back into it.
"Where are you going?" asked Velice.
"Nowhere special. Just to find and kill Kotaiso."
Velice's eyes grew wide as she blurted out, "What?!"
"Must I repeat myself, Velice? I am going to kill Kotaiso."
Velice's heart pounded the inside of her chest. He's not lying, either...
"Whatever for?!" She had to stall and somehow change Rakzuel's mind.
"Don't be stupid, you little slut."
Velice felt like Rakzuel had just pierced her heart with a jagged arrow.
"I will kill your lover and you'll be lucky if I don't come back for you! Now get out of my way!" Without realizing it, Velice had moved in front of the guild hall's main entrance, barring Rakzuel's path.
She wouldn't let this happen. Not here, not now, not ever.
"No."
Rakzuel fummed. He backhanded Velice hard across the cheek, sending her to her knees.
Rubbing her cheek, Velice moved out of Rakzuel's way slowly, unwillingly. She grabbed onto Rakzuel's leg, looking up at him with tears swelling in her eyes. "Please! Don't do this!"
Rakzuel looked down at Velice with a hateful glare, kicking her off. He opened the doors and went outside to where his mount awaited.
Velice let her tears flow freely from her eyes as the rest of the Indelibles watched in silence at what was happening. They all knew better than to mess with Rakzuel when he was upset.
Rakzuel mounted his Felsteed as the rain outside drenched his robes. He spurred his mount into motion and sped off into the distance in search of Kotaiso.
Velice watched as he went, feeling helpless. I need to do something... Picking herself up, Velice pondered what she could do.
She remembered where Kotaiso had said he'd gone! She had that advantage over Rakzuel! She could get to Kotaiso before Rakzuel would and warn him!
She raced to grab her rain coat and then ran out into the rain and off into the night.

* * * * *

Velice ran through Darnassus, hoping she would find Kotaiso. He said he was with Thorimar, maybe the Dwarf would help, too!
As she rounded a corner, she slammed into something hard. Falling back, she rubbed her head. "Ow..."
"Velice, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?" Kotaiso knelt down next to her, putting a hand on her cheek.
She felt his touch and her worry vanished. Looking into his eyes, she knew she had accomplished what she needed to. "Yes...I am. What did I hit?"
Kotaiso smiled at her. "Me."
She glowered at him playfully. "You're a wall, Kotaiso!"
Kotaiso helped her up to her feet and noticed she was drenched from head to toe. "You're all wet...come, let's get you all dried up and warm!"
"Kotaiso! I need to tell you something --"
"It can wait. Come, let's get you out of the rain."
Kotaiso and Velice ran to find shelter from the pouring rain. They found it under a gazebo.
"There! The rain won't reach us here!" declared Kotaiso and let go of Velice's hand. "Now, what is it you needed to tell me?" He turned to face Velice.
"Kotaiso...Rakzuel...he wants to kill you!"
Kotaiso's face remained neutral. "Yes, I know."
"...you do?"
"He wants to kill everyone."
Velice frowned at Kotaiso. "He found out you proposed to me...and now he's hunting for you."
Kotaiso's face became grim. "What did he say?"
Velice explained all that had happened. Kotaiso became angry after hearing Rakzuel had hit and kicked Velice. He pulled Velice into his arms and hugged her.
"I promise I won't let anything happen to you...or me."
Velice hugged him tightly bac. "Swear it?"
"I swear it."
Velice smiled. She knew he wouldn't lie. Kotaiso had never lied to her.
"How very sweet..." interjected a new voice.
Velice's blood froze and her heart skipped a beat. Rakzuel...he found us!
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I had no other choice..."
Kotaiso stared straight forward at Rakzuel as he seemed to appear out of thin air. Velice pulled free of Kotaiso's grasp and turned to face her Brother.
"I have to thank you, Velice, for leading me to Kotaiso."
"What?!"
"Heh..." Rakzuel paced the area in front of them. "A thought occurred to me as I rode off into the forest near the guild hall... I would have no idea where Kotaiso would be located. You, on the other hand, would. So, I turned around and made it back to the guild hall just as you were leaving. Warlock's luck."
Velice kicked herself mentally. How could she be so foolish?
Kotaiso stepped in front of Velice, protecting her. Rakzuel caught note of this and let out a dark laugh. "Oh, please. The hero come to save the day? I don't think so."
With a nod, Rakzuel's Fel Guard, Flaaghun, charged Kotaiso, grabbing him by the neck, nearly crushing it. Kotaiso was lifted six inches off the ground and was suspended in the air by the Fel Guard's strength.
Velice screamed in terror as she grabbed onto Flaaghun's arms and tried to get him to release Kotaiso.
Rakzuel stepped next to Kotaiso, who was suspended in mid-air. "Hmm...something is missing." Rakzuel pondered the situation for a moment before snapping his fingers. "Ah, yes! Of course!" Rakzuel muttered a spell in a demonic tongue and pointed at Kotaiso.
"At first it will feel like nothing...but soon I will enjoy watching you squirm!"
Kotaiso felt a burning sensation all over his body which got hotter with every passing moment. It soon came to the point where it felt that a thousand branding irons were being seared onto Kotaiso's flesh at the same time, leaving no patch of skin untouched.
He would've screamed if he could. The pain was nothing he had ever felt before. His eyes rolled into the back of his head as he coughed, spitting blood all over Flaaghun's gigantic hand. He closed his eyes tightly as he felt his world slipping away. Velice's screams becoming more and more distant.
Grinning, Rakzuel raised his arms to the sky. "This is the day your world ends!"
Awaken!
Kotaiso forced his eyes open and grabbed for his sword which hung from his back. He grabbed the hilt, ripping it free of its sheath and brought it down violently.
Rakzuel blinked as the blade from Kotaiso's sword passed through his wrist, severing his hand. He let out a howl of pain and yelled.
"Fuck! You fucking idiot! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" yelled Rakzuel as blood flowed from his wrist.
Composing himself, Rakzuel muttered another spell in a demonic tongue, but this time pointed at his wound. Flames spread across his left wrist, cautorizing the wound. Rakzuel yelled from the intense pain it wrought him.
"Flaaghun!" Rakzuel gasped. "Release him! We need to go...now!"
Flaaghun released Kotaiso, who fell to the ground unconcious. Velice held Kotaiso's head in her hands as she watched Rakzuel summon a portal and step through it. It was over...for now.
Stroking Kotaiso's hair and wiping the blood off his face, Velice cried once more.


* * * * *

Kotaiso sat next to a window in the Indelibles guild hall. He intently watched Rakzuel's tower which lay in the distance. He wondered what evil was going on up there in the dimly lit windows.
Velice brought him a warm cup of hot chocolate, still steaming. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Kotaiso took the cup and nodded. "Yes...I'll be fine."
Velice hugged his arm and looked out the window with him, but instead of staring at Rakzuel's tower like he, she looked to the Moon. It smiled down at her.

[Kotaiso]

It had been several days since Kotaiso had seen Velice. He had not slept a single minute. His worry for her constantly kept him awake and alert.
But now she was there, sitting next to him. This was her good-bye.
It broke her heart to do this but it was for the best. Rakzuel and Kotaiso would kill themselves over her...it just wasn't fair.

Velice packed up her things and opened the door to her room. She took one look back at Kotaiso, who was fingering his dagger, twirling it in his fingers.
Her eyes saddened as she forced the words out. "...good-bye, Kotaiso."
She forced back tears as she left the guild hall and the Indelibles.

Kotaiso took several moments to move. He didn't take his stare off his dagger; his face reflected off the blade. He could feel it already. The darkness, the anger, the pain, the lonliness...creaping up on him like an old friend.
He stood up and made his way into the guild hall, gripping the dagger tightly in his right-hand. He walked past everyone; not even giving them a look.
He stepped into the shadows and was embraced with what felt like the arms of an old lover. Here he would stay.

* * * * *

Days passed. Still he was alone. He hadn't even felt this lonliness when Verilyn had died.
He wandered the shadows of the forest, making him visible to no one but himself.

Bang!
Explosions in my head that just won't quit. A train has crashed into the wall around my heart and left the old me dead; obliterated.
Stop!
My breathing in the night when you're not there...
Kotaiso screamed.
The silence ringing through my ears and all I want to do is hear your voice...but you're not there.
Drawn together, painter's brush stroke, slight of hand we, we won't go up in smoke. Fates colliding, love undying...
Like the rising tide, beating hearts grow but never die. To simplify, I'll stand by your side, close my eyes; hope we'll never die...
Go!
Take away the pain of being me... Soothe my soul, carress my heart and end my fear, all my bad memories; eradicated.
Ring!
Like screams heard against the silent night. My love is louder than these words. They're stronger than the rest, unstoppable...unstoppable.
Kotaiso breathed heavily. He screamed again, this time louder...straigning his vocal chords to the point of exhaustion.
DIE!
DIE!
Yeah...
He fell to the ground and passed out...his world turning black.

* * * * *

So unaffectionate, so insecure... You claim to know a thing or two about heartache and what it's like to have your insides torn out...and I believe you.
I see it everytime your pallbearer's palor is obscured by the darkness dancing across your face and when the blackness veils your eyes in pain.
I know what it's like when memories make you wince and love letters read like obituaries...and photo albums are the books of the dead. I need no reminders, no more reminders.
I'll forget the past and lay it to rest...
If I had my way, I'd cut the calluses off your breaking heart if I could get past the sternum... Cautorize those wounds with every kiss I could give to you.
I'm holding your heart in my hands, the reason it still beats...
Am I being too cryptic? Am I being too obscure? Love kills, romance is dead...and I don't even trust myself, but I love you.
You can pull my wings apart and pin me under glass until the end of days if it can help you...
Discover that we share the same pain. I just hope you write your thesis before your subject is dead...
No life after death.

Kotaiso awoke from the nightmare to enter another.

[Kotaiso]

Kotaiso awoke with a start. Another nightmare. He realized he was breathing heavily. Everytime he would find sleep, he was haunted by nightmares...and everytime they got worse.
He put a hand to his forehead and felt sweat running down his clammy, pale skin.
Letting out a sigh, he got up and looked around in the darkness of the forest. What time was it? It was either late at night or very early in the morning because it was still dark and the stars still hung in the sky. The Moon smiled down at Kotaiso as he stared up at the sky.
He looked down at Chicken who was still fast asleep. Kotaiso sat next to Chicken and began to think. He could never get back to sleep after one of his nightmares.

* * * * *

"He must be around here somewhere..." Lebryn said to himself absently.

* * * * *

Lebryn was a young soldier from Lordaeron. He had fought at Capital City when Arthas led the Undead there. He had watched his family and friends all die. A similar tale to many people who had survived the Lordaeron genocide.
Upon coming to Stormwind, Lebryn told his story to the military officials and was promoted for his valiant efforts and bravery. He was given his own branch of the military to command.
But that branch would fall apart just like many other branches of the Alliance military after the Horde had led not one, but two attacks on all of the Alliance's main cities.

Lebryn also held a secret from everyone he met. In Lordaeron, after witnessing all of the tragic events he had; he had turned away from the Light. He had been a Paladin, but didn't believe that if the Light were real it would let something that terrible happen...so he shunned it. He took up the way of a Warrior instead. But only he knew. It was his secret.

Upon his branch collapsing, Lebryn became a mercenary for a short while. He would garner work from various people and do missions for them; earning him a nice amount of wealth. During this time he decided he'd join the Indelibles. They did not follow any military chain of command (something Lebryn decided to get away from). They were just a loose assortment of people from all races and backgrounds; each with their own stories and hardships. He thought he could find solitude with them.

Shortly after joining, he was approached by a cloaked woman who did not reveal her name. She had asked Lebryn to deliver several letters to a member of the Indelibles named Kotaiso. She even payed up front.
Lebryn agreed, seeing this as the easiest of any mission he'd ever been on and set off into questioning all of his new-found companions as to Kotaiso's where abouts.
So far he had come up with nothing. No one seemed to know where he was...until an Elf named Erender proved to be most helpful. Erender seemed to know exactly where Kotaiso was...but for some strange reason; warned Lebryn of trying to go after him. He said it wasn't wise to do so.
But Lebryn had a job to do.

* * * * *

Lebryn advanced through the forest under the cover of darkness. He did his best to be silent; leaving all of his mail armor behind at the Indelibles' guild halll; including his weapon.
He advanced quickly, but quietly. He didn't want to attract any unwanted attention.
Clutching the letters from the unknown woman in his hand, Lebryn came upon a small clearing. He saw a little Chicken lying on the ground; he only assumed that it was sleeping. He studied the area but didn't see anything other than the Chicken. What is a Chicken doing in the middle of a forest?
Stepping forward, Lebryn sensed movement behind him. As he turned to look; he saw a towering figure stand before him. His eyes widened as the hand of the figure clasped itself around his neck and tighten around it with surprising strength.
The figure growled and took out a dagger. The Moonlight reflected off the blade and Lebryn saw it lunge forward into his stomach. He would have let out a scream but the figure's hand shut his throat.

Kotaiso grinned at this person's pain. He enjoyed squeezing the life out of his body and shedding his blood.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kotaiso noticed the Human drop several letters. His eyes narrowed as he glanced his name on one of them.
Releasing the man, Kotaiso tossed him across the opening and into a tree; cracking the bark. He knelt down and inspected the letters. They were addressed to him...and they were from Velice!

Lebryn let out a gasp as the air began to return to his lungs. He also let out a cough as his chest swelled too quickly from inhaling. His back nearly broke from the impact with the tree and he did his best to raise himself. He got to his knees and noticed the demon (he could only assume a demon would wear that kind of molten, black, decrepid armor and would possess that kind of power...also the fact that the Shadow consumed his mind and soul) was reading the letters. He sat against the tree and felt his stomach which was pouring blood. He closed his eyes and slowed his breathing to slow the flow of his blood. He needed to conserve his energy.
When he opened his eyes; Lebryn noticed the demon looking his way. He could see the eyes (surrounded by black, evil pits) glaring at him.

Kotaiso glared a hole through the man. What was he doing with his letters from Velice?! He would pay...he would pay for disturbing Kotaiso and for keeping these letters from him...letters from his beloved.
Kotaiso stood up and marched over to the man who sat against the tree. It was surprising that he hadn't tried to run. He grabbed the man by the scruff of the neck and held him up in the air against the tree.
"Why did you have my letters?!" Kotaiso screamed in the man's face.
"I...I was...hired to find you and...give them to you..."
"By who?!"
"I don't know..."
Kotaiso snarled and punched the man in the face with his free hand; knocking a few of his teeth loose and sending blood flying from his mouth.
"Who are you?" Kotaiso demanded.
"My...name..." Lebryn spit some blood pooling in his mouth out. "...is Lebryn."
Kotaiso threw Lebryn to the ground. He growled at his prone body.
"These letters were dated months ago...why now do you get them to me?!"
"...you're...very hard...to find..."
Kotaiso was overcome with anger with this man named Lebryn. He would pay...dearly.
Kotaiso began to kick Lebryn several times in the stomach and in the back of the head.
Blood began to pour from the back of Lebryn's head and out of his mouth. He knew he was in trouble and began to crawl away; hoping for nothing but escape.
Kotaiso saw this and grinned at Lebryn's foolishness.
"You think you can escape?!"
Kotaiso grabbed Lebryn's foot and twisted the ankle violently; forcing the bone to break and protrude through the skin. Lebryn let out a disturbing scream...but Kotaiso only grinned.
Kotaiso kicked Lebryn again in the stomach, sending him onto his back. Blood poured freely from his mouth down his neck and chest.
Kotaiso got on top of Lebryn and began to punch his face with such ferosity that he heard Lebryn's cheek bones crack and watched as his face began to bruise and bleed.
Lebryn's world went dark as he passed into unconciousness.
Kotaiso got up and licked Lebryn's blood off his hands. He grabbed his cloak and wrapped it around Lebryn's neck like a noose. He dragged Lebryn along the ground like that, cutting off air as he went.

* * * * *

Kotaiso dragged Lebryn's lifeless body into the Indelibles' guild hall. No one was awake from what he could see; but even that wouldn't make a difference. He would continue his task.
He dragged Lebryn into the shadows of the main hall. He removed the cloak around Lebryn's neck and checked his pulse. Faint, but still there.
"Persistant fucker..." Kotaiso grabbed his dagger and moved down to the puncture wound he had made earlier when he first stabbed Lebryn.
He drove his blade into that wound and began to rip into the skin. He cut a large line in Lebryn's stomach.

Lebryn woke up from the pain. His vision was incredibly blurry and he found he could barely speak.
"H-h-help! S-s-s-someone!" Lebryn forced the words out of his mouth, but they were little more than a whisper.
Kotaiso looked up at the man. His talking would be a problem...one easy way to fix that.
Kotaiso moved up and grabbed Lebryn's hair; forcing him to look in his eyes.
"Big mistake." said Kotaiso.
Kotaiso place his dagger against the skin of Lebryn's neck; across his Adam's apple and dug it in. He then pulled the blade back, cutting open Lebryn's neck and his carotid artorie; sending blood squirting all over Kotaiso.
The blood squirted up and down like a fountain until eventually it stopped and Lebryn's life was sucked away. His eyes wide; he stared lifelessly at Kotaiso.
Grinning, Kotaiso moved back down and continued cutting open Lebryn's stomach.

Kotaiso dropped the dagger to the floor and began to dig through the open cavity he had created. He pulled Lebryn's intestine out and wrapped them around his still-bleeding neck.
Cutting off the other end of the intestine, he dragged Lebryn in similar fashion from earlier out into the middle of the main hall.
Kotaiso looked up to the rafters and grinned. He stood up on a chair and lifted Lebryn's lifeless body.
He hung Lebryn from the neck by his own intestine hanging from the rafters of the guild hall.
He would leave his body there for whoever was lucky enough to first come across it...although they'd have a hard time recognizing who it was because of the blood and disfiguration all over Lebryn's body.
Kotaiso stepped back and examined his work... He grinned and was pleased.
Turning around; he entered the shadows of the guild hall and waited for the excitement to begin.

[Kotaiso]

So much had happened since the death of Lebryn. Kotaiso had brutally attacked and killed Tey, while that pathetic waste of skin Amkor skinned her right afterwards. Kotaiso didn't approve of Amkor's actions. A dead body, even if a hated enemy (in this case, Tey was not so), should be left alone and respected.

During Tey's murder, she had placed a necklace she recieved from her Husband just before he died around Kotaiso's neck. Looking up at him and placing her hands on his cheeks, she struggled to speak. "N-n-never...f-f-forget..." Kotaiso nearly choked and wanted to take back what he had done to Tey. But it was done. She died there shortly after.

What she meant from "never forget" was their conversations about Kotaiso's deceased Wife, Verilyn. Tey had gone through a similar experience, if not worse by having her Husband killed and then turned into one of the abominations called the Forsaken. As much as Tey wanted to live, she was happy she could die and be closer to her Husband than ever before. The reason she placed the necklace around Kotaiso's neck and said those words was for him to keep living and never forget Verilyn, no matter how much it pained him.


* * * * *

The next to die was a Night Elf Rogue named Jingotsu. Apparently he was an assassin sent by an unnamed Dwarf to kill Kotaiso and bring back his head.

Coming home one night, Kotaiso had found the front door wide open. Walking in casually, he caught the assassin off-guard who thought Kotaiso would at least be a little cautious.
Doing his best to hide in the Shadows that Kotaiso was so familiar with, the assassin held his breath.
Kotaiso stopped in the middle of the living room and closed his eyes; reaching out and sensing the Elf in the corner to his left. "You're here to kill me." It wasn't a question, rather a statement of understanding.
The Elf's eyes widened. How did he know I was in the room?! How did he know that the door being left open wasn't only the work of a simple thief?! thought Jingotsu. "Y-yes. You have been causing a lot of problems for my c-client. It ends t-tonight." Jingotsu swallowed. He didn't like the look of Kotaiso. He seemed ominous and malignant in the Shadows...almost like he belonged there.

Turning towards the corner the Elf hid in, Kotaiso smiled darkly. "If so, then please...kill me and end this life. For I do not wish to live it anymore than your client wants me to." Kotaiso spread his arms and stood there, waiting.
Again, this caught Jingotsu off-guard. He swallowed and blinked. A mistake! he thought as he leapt out of the corner, jumped off the adjacent wall and right at Kotaiso, his dagger aimed at his throat.
Jingotsu's eyes widened in anticipation but then blinked several times as he seemed to sail through the air where Kotaiso had just stood.
Landing with a thud on the floor, Jingotsu quickly recovered and moved himself to a defensive stance, expecting an attack from any direction.

After remaining in his stance and glancing around, he asked himself where Kotaiso had gone. Surely a Warrior of his size would have made at least some noise if he had hidden himself. But before Jingotsu could give it any more thought, he felt a tricking down his neck. It felt as if he was sweating profusely, but he never sweat! He slowly and carefully moved his hand to his neck. He couldn't see what it was in the dark, but he soon felt it as his entire throat seemed to explode. Blood sprayed everywhere and squirted dangerously from his carotid artorie. Dropping his dagger, his hands grasped for his neck to hold the wound shut, but the quick loss of blood left his arms flailing with no effect. He slumped back up against the wall and tried to speak, but only more blood squirted out.

Kotaiso grabbed him by the throat, temporarily sealing the wound and applying pressure to it. "Maybe your contact should have hired a more experienced Rogue to kill me. You not only failed him and yourself...but also me. That is unforgivable." Kotaiso dragged him across the floor and lit one of the candles so he could see Jingotsu properly.
Removing his hand from Jingotsu's throat, who resumed bleeding out all over himself and the floor, Kotaiso stared at the wound. "So beautiful...and gorgeous... You're absolutely gorgeous bleeding out..." he mumbled to himself. Jingotsu stopped breathing and began to flinch. Kotaiso watched with delight as the Elf's body flinched.

Afterwards, Kotaiso had reached his hands inside the Elf's throat and torn it out. He cut loose the Adam's Apple and ripped out the vocal chords and bound Jingotsu's hands with them. He stuffed the Adam's Apple into his mouth. Like a stuffed Pig... Kotaiso thought as he dragged the body outside in the cool of night.
He found a lamp post and tossed Jingotsu's body atop of it, impaling him through the chest as gravity pulled the corpse back down to Azeroth. "Good-night, would-be assassin." Kotaiso said as he went back to his home and to bed.

* * * * *

Since the two other murders, Kotaiso had relatively settled down and began to study more of the art of Shadow. He had already grown a cult following and would soon found the first-ever Church of Shadow. He would apply the laws and rules of the Shadow and preach them to everyone who would hear. He did not force his beliefs upon those who did not wish to hear, unlike the so-called Holy Light.

But during this time, something happened that Kotaiso didn't expect or ask for. He found himself drawn towards another...the last being Velice.
Last he heard, she was never coming back. She had gone off to live her own life...and even though it saddened her to never fulfill all her promises to Kotaiso, she said it was for the best. Kotaiso hated her for it. He wanted to make her feel how she made him feel. Make her go through the torment of having his first-love killed and the second run away and break every promise she ever made. He hated her.
Sarania. Kotaiso was quickly falling for her, even though he hid it from everyone; including himself. He did not have the time to fall for anyone and be betrayed again. It was now the time to put his plans into action.

More and more would Kotaiso seclude himself from everyone else, except for when he was asked to meet with Erender, his right-hand, on official business. He kept away from Sarania in order to qwell the feelings that dwelt for her within him. But unfortunately for Kotaiso, another series of unfortunate circumstances persuaded him to become closer and closer to Sarania.

* * * * *

From what Kotaiso learned, Amkor...the one follower of Kotaiso's beliefs and ways that Kotaiso himself did not trust and approve of, had drawn the final straw. He had taken advantage of Sarania; cornered her and brutally assaulted her.
Kotaiso saw the bruises and cuts on Sarania's face and had asked what happened. Sarania reluctantly told him and Kotaiso swelled with anger. He grabbed his sword and went out in search of the despicable Draenei.

But while Kotaiso was out searching for Amkor, Rakzuel had also learned of Sarania's circumstance.

* * * * *

Kotaiso and Rakzuel had just recently created an alliance between themselves, knowing that opposing they were beatable...but together, no one would stand in their way. Rakzuel had also been in love with Sarania, and likewise for quite some time. Their history traced back several years and Kotaiso didn't quite know all of the details. He had known that Rakzuel had proposed to Sarania shortly after these events in order to keep Sarania safe, though.

* * * * *

When Rakzuel had found out, he had tracked down Amkor quicker than Kotaiso had and broken both his legs and left him in the corner table under the stairs in the Pig and Whistle.
That is when Kotaiso came upon him accompanied by Sarania.

Sarania insisted on sitting next to Amkor and mocking him, saying things like, "This time...I will not be the one begging for mercy..."
Kotaiso stood nearby, out of Amkor's line of sight, and watched just in case he tried anything or said anything unbecoming of a...proper gentleman.

Amkor dropped a cigarette he was trying light and cursed to himself. Kotaiso stood next to Amkor and grabbed one of the maimed hands left, courtesy of Rakzuel violently. "Here...let me help you!" Kotaiso said as he drove Amkor's deformed hand into his cigarette pouch. Amkor let out a frightening yell from the pain and nearly collapsed onto the table in front of him.
"T-t-thanks..." he said as he slowly and carefully drew his hand out of the pouch, clutching a cigarette in between two of his deformed fingers.

Sarania and Amkor continued to exchange pleasantries, if one could call them that. Amkor eventually got frustrated and began to call Sarania such names as "slut", "whore", and "bitch". To each one of these, Kotaiso bashed the back of Amkor's head violently with the blunt edge of his sword; sending him into the table and making the plates fall to the floor with a crash.

Eventually Amkor turned the direction of the conversation to Kotaiso, claiming they are the same. "After all...we follow the same beliefs..." he said.
Kotaiso grinned to himself and ran his cheek along the tip of his sword; making a deep gash and letting his blood drip all over the floor and down the blade itself. He wiped his fingers in the blood and smeared it on Amkor's face, which burned upon contact.
Amkor screamed out as it burned down to the bone.
Sarania wiped her own fingers in the blood and smeared it upon her own face and stared at Amkor. "If you are the same...why does his blood not burn me...?" she said with an evil smirk.
She placed her hands on Amkor's cheeks and with a blink of her eye, her hands engulfed in flames and continued to burn Amkor's face; this time to an even worse severety.

Once Sarania was finished, she snapped her fingers and Kotaiso's cheek seemed to sew itself and the wound completely dissapeared, not even leaving a scar. Kotaiso frowned at that.
But then Amkor, after taking several ragged breaths, turned his head in Kotaiso's direction and did his best to grin. "I...wonder...if...V-V-Velice...would...would've...liked a...taste of old... ...Amkor."
Kotaiso eyes raged with an unrelenting fury. "Now I have no control over what happens to you, Amkor..." Sarania said with a slight frown on her face.

Kotaiso moved behind Amkor, pulled out his dagger and drove it into the back of Amkor's neck down to the handle. Amkor's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his whole body began to flail and it fell over on top of the table. Kotaiso pulled his body back into a sitting position and drove the handle into his neck, making the blade protrude from his throat. "I didn't say you could rest..." Kotaiso said as he twisted the dagger in the wound, severing all the veins, artories, muscles, and tendons.
Ripping the dagger out of Amkor's neck, he licked the blood off the blade and found it wonderously tasty.
Amkor's body fell off the chair and onto the floor; seeping blood into the wood. Even the Light wouldn't take you, you disgusting creature... Kotaiso thought to himself as he stared at Amkor's mangled corpse. Sarania and he departed shortly thereafter.

* * * * *

Death be not proud... Though some have called thee mighty and dreadful...thou art not so.
Kotaiso was Death. And soon...he would come for himself.

[Kotaiso]

Will this ever end? Will they always fight over me so? Sarania thought to herself as she watched as Kotaiso and Rakzuel were having another one of their disagreements about something trivial.

Trying to pass it off, Sarania continued reading her book. It was quite interesting, she thought; as she wouldn't be reading it if it weren't.

"No, I'm not!" Kotaiso shouted loudly.

Sarania sighed and tried to block the shouts out. She would have been able to if it weren't for the shouting match turning into a physical fight.

Dropping her book to the floor in a haste and rushing to the scene, she shouted, "Boys! Stop it!" Of course, both of them were too stubborn to hear her pleas.

Kotaiso wrapped his arms around Rakzuel's lower body and lifted him off the ground and ran forward; causing Rakzuel's body to smash into a nearby wall. He coughed as some of the wind was knocked out of him. Kotaiso lowered him and pulled an arm back and planned to follow through with a punch, but blinked as his arm didn't come. He glanced back and saw Flaaghuun holding his fist. Kotaiso cursed under his breath as Flaaghuun ripped him off of his Master and across the room.

Kotaiso landed on a wooden table and broke it in several places. "Urgh..." Kotaiso forced himself up on his elbows and had just enough time to widen his eyes and rolls out of the way of Flaaghuun's Fel Axe swinging at his neck.

"Rakzuel! Call him off! Stop this, please!" Sarania called as he gripped Rakzuel's forearm. Rakzuel glared at her. "Stay out of this!" He freed his arm, the same one Kotaiso had cut off months prior.

Kotaiso grabbed his sword from off his back. "All right, you want to play lethal?! Let's dance, then, shall we?!" He gripped the handle tightly with both of his hands and parried a blow by Flaaghuun's massive axe.
Kotaiso nearly fell over from the brunt of it. Jeez...that was a strong blow...

Seeing as Flaaghuun had exposed himself after being parried, Kotaiso lunged forward with his body and rammed the hilt of his sword into Flaaghuun's gut. Flaaghuun grimaced and backhanded Kotaiso sending him face-first to the floor and blood trickling from his nose. "Fuck!" Kotaiso said as he rose again. "How is this even fair?!"

Rakzuel grinned, amusement clearly dancing across his face. "Fine, Kotaiso; you want fair? I'll give you fair..."

Kotaiso turned side-ways to shoot his gaze from both Rakzuel to Flaaghuun, never leaving himself one hundred percent exposed to either. He noticed Rakzuel had raised his hands a black aura was surrounding them. He also noticed that Rakzuel's eyes were closed and his lips moved, as if muttering. He's preparing a spell...act before he can finish it! Kotaiso's mind screamed.
Dropping his guard towards Flaaghuun, Kotaiso charged towards Rakzuel with his sword in a similar fashion to the way he had killed many other opponents before; by impaling them.

Kotaiso's eyes lit up as he saw Rakzuel's own widen as he saw the impending danger grow ever closer. Rakzuel screamed, "No!!!" and his eyes widened an incredible distance.

Kotaiso had rammed his sword through the midsection of the body; breaking through the ribcage and severing the spinal cord and spine through the back of the torso. Blood flowed freely down the blade and dripped onto the floor and began to make a puddle.

The only thing amiss was the silence of everyone in the room and the sheer look of terror on Rakzuel's...and Kotaiso's face.

Sarania lay lifeless on Kotaiso's blade. He arms hung low and limp and her black hair covered her face and mixed with the blood seeping onto the blade.

Rakzuel's wide eyes quickly turned to ones that were ablaze with a mix of emotions. He rushed passed Sarania's lifeless body and punched Kotaiso right in the jaw. Kotaiso took the blow and let go of the hilt, dropping the sword and, as a result, Sarania's body. Rakzuel mounted Kotaiso and began punching him in the face several times, only to have Zarodehn pull him off.

Other Indelibles rushed to Sarania's aid. Kotaiso still had not blinked or taken his eyes off of what he'd done. He sat up after Rakzuel's assault and stared, awe-struck.

Rakzuel began to scream and yell at him but Kotaiso couldn't make the words out. All he heard was silence and all he saw was Sarania's body.

Zarodehn knelt down next to Kotaiso and shook his shoulder, "Kotaiso! Snap out of it!" he yelled.

Kotaiso blinked and shook his head. "I...I didn't... No... I didn't..." He was still in shock.

"You killed her, you Son of a bitch!" Rakzuel screamed and pushed passed Zarodehn, lifted Kotaiso to his feet and wrapped his hands around his neck.

Finally, it all began to hit Kotaiso. Tears welled up in his eyes and he knew fully what he had done. "No... No, I didn't mean to! Please...please, don't tell me this is reality..."

Rakzuel began to squeeze and Kotaiso didn't even fight. He closed his eyes as if wanting to escape it. Releasing his grip, Rakzuel shook Kotaiso. "Look at me! You killed her! She's gone! You piece of shit!" He threw Kotaiso away from him and Kotaiso fell to his knees.

All of a sudden all of the Indelibles but Zarodehn were pointing the finger at Kotaiso and screaming various things at him. They all blamed him. Kotaiso felt no purpose anymore. He didn't care what they had to say...that is, until Rakzuel said, "You never loved her..."

Kotaiso grabbed the hilt of his dagger and unsheathed it; standing up. He looked at Rakzuel and at everyone else. "You don't know how much I love her... You'll never know!" Anger began to rise in Kotaiso.

Other Indelibles began to rally behind Rakzuel and state that that Kotaiso never loved Sarania. It finally got to him. He had had enough of this. He'd show them just how much he did love her.

"Fine! You want to see how much I love her?! HERE YOU GO!" He screamed and put his dagger to his throat and slit the blade across; digging into his flesh and severing his carotid and jugguler artery. He blinked and tried to swallow but couldn't. He felt the blood spray out like a hose. It covered the walls in jagged lines and sprayed some of the Indelibles. He began to feel dizzy and fell to his knees. He couldn't regain his balance so he fell onto his face. Before his life was completely drained, he noticed his head was right next to Sarania's. He looked into her lifeless eyes and soon his pupils dilated and smeared and they both looked at each other, in lifeless silence. The blood from Kotaiso arteries flowing continuously and making a large puddle underneath him and her. Eventually the puddle stopped growing. There was no more of Kotaiso's blood to be spilled.


* * * * *

"Take them to seperate rooms and preserve their bodies..." Sylaurn said and shook his head with a solemn frown on his face. "Sarania will be resurrected as soon as possible and as for Kotaiso... He will remain as he is. Until I deem it differently." He nodded, feeling that this was the right decision to make. Xelas nodded his agreement as did several other Indelibles...except Rakzuel.

"I don't think Kotaiso should be given that kind of treatment. I believe he should be treated just like Sarania...it wasn't his fault she jumped in front of me." Rakzuel argued.

"I've made my decision, Rakzuel..." Sylaurn countered.


* * * * *

They grasped each other's hands and sat together in this gray, forsaken land of the Dead. They rest their heads against one another's and looked into each other's lifeless eyes. They were both dead, but they had remained together in solace.

"I'm sorry, Sarania...I didn't mean for this to --" Before Kotaiso could continue, Sarania put a ghostly finger to Kotaiso's lips.

"There's no need. I don't blame you and I still love you. We can remain here for eternity...I won't complain; for I'll be by your side."

All Kotaiso could do was smile and close his dead eyes.

THE END?