He smiled malignantly as he pulled the shuriken from his forearm. From her place across the room, Katja stood with the Dagger of Mystics held easily in her hand. He growls softly as he looks at her, "That," says he, "was a serious mistake, my dear."

She glares back at him, defiantly, "It was your mistake to intrude here."

He looks at his arm, then at her, rubbing his clawed cheek, "You will pay for that, milady."

She bares her feline fangs, growling at him, "I'd like to see you try and collect."

He takes up his cloak in one hand, swirling it about himself, "Another time perhaps."

With that, he departs, casting a significant glance at the cat-woman. Talbastian crawls back over the bar, looking at Miss Katja worriedly, "I didn't like him," Tally whispers, in case the Evil One might hear, "Not one bit. He's a bad man."

Katja's vivid green eyes follow the stranger as he leaves, "Aye, Tally. Indeed."

~*~

As Nightblood exited the Green Dragon Inn, his eyes glanced across the Message Board near the door. His luminous yellow eyes perused the messages, and found a few with the unmistakable demonic taint. He smiled, these were kindred spirits. He looked back over his shoulder at the catwoman. She was so strong, so sure of herself. Her Power was unbelievable. He had to have it. She would make a prime target as a demonstration of the Power of demonkind. He would prove himself to these demonlords. He spied two names that he'd only heard whispered.

"Lord Deimos, Lord Darkstar," he mused, "These men may prove useful to me."

He waved a negligent hand towards the board, his own Power coming to him as easily as drawing a breath. As he released the Power, a note appeared on the board.

Demonlords, it read, I believe the time has come to show these mortals the true Power of our kind. It is time to plant the seeds of reckoning. Tonight, I will take the steps to begin converting these mortals into more respectable beings. Even now, my minions seek out one of these Inn-folk so that I might begin. She will make a fine addition to my demon legions. She holds much potential. I have seen her. I have met her. Yes. The Lady Katja Armitanis will make a fine addition. She will be the first to succumb to the might of Lord Nightblood...the rest will come in time.

With a smile, he finished reading his handiwork. It would do for now. He again turned his eyes to the catwoman at the bar. Such Power. A desire for that Power welled within him. There was something more to this girl. The sooner he possessed whatever it was, the more content he would be. He clenched a fist, summoning one of his demi-demon minions. The shadow-creature materialized, first as a thin tendril of inky black smoke, then forming into a misshapen creature akin to a gargoyle.

"Keep an eye on her," Nightblood commmands, "Call me at the first sign of weakness. Then, she will be mine."

The demon takes his leave of the Inn, leaving his creature to watch the Lady Katja until such a time as he is able to come and collect her.

Go to the Visitor's Center

© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield