ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Final Turn

by Ellianora

Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this story are from my own imagination and as such are my property. So please don't use them without asking first:)

Violence: Yes there is violence in this story, and some of it can get graphic, though not excessively so.

Sex: The story does center around two women who care and love each other very much, though there is little more then hugging and kissing going on.

Feedback: YES! YES! I love to hear from folks about these stories good and otherwise. I'd like to take this time to thank everyone who has written me and told me how much they enjoy theses tales. That makes it all worthwhile.

Once again, thanks to Lesley my ever patient on long suffering companion who reads through my tales and tells me when I am going over the edge.

Chapter 6

Venom could scarcely believe her good fortune. First, she had just received word she would be spending the planting season in the service of Quinell Cormier, and now, she had been informed of a visitor at the gatehouse. Venom imagined, Ellie had no doubt decided to her the exciting news in person. Soon the two women would be together once again.

     The last few cycles had been unbearable. It seemed the more Venom relented the more Bertia and her toady Tania, pushed her. Still, Venom managed to endure their abuse with stoic silence, steeled by the reward her patience would bring. Now her persistence was finally about to pay off.

     Venom nearly skipped up the steps in anticipation. The wide smile reverted to a frown as espied the cowardly Archeon noble Yazoun. The man was grinning, obviously pleased with himself. Venom began to get a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

     “I take it from that crestfallen look on your lovely face I am not the visitor you were expecting.” Yazoun remarked in a pleasant manner.

     “What are you doing here?” Venom retorted. “After your encounter with Ellie I didn’t think you would have the nerve to show your face.”

     “Ah yes,” Yazoun leaned back relaxing in his chair. “Your girlfriend did cause me some complications. Fortunately, my new ally was able to alleviate those annoyances for me. He is quite resourceful. He even managed to arrange my visit with you. Wasn’t that nice of them?”

     “And who would employ a worm like you?” Venom scowled.

     “Sherrit Kahn.”

     The mention of the demented dragon mage stunned Venom into silence. She felt her way to the chair and took her seat. This was not possible. Kahn was dead, a rotting corpse by now, buried under a pile of rubble.

 “You’re lying,” Venom replied at last. “Sherrit Kahn is dead. I saw Gasqule kill him my own two eyes.”

     “You mean with this?” Yazoun displayed the ornate sword strapped around his waist. She recognized the weapon as being the famed ‘Sword of Velia’. Venom recalled the warning of the shade Vellious concerning the weapon. He had told them that if the sword was removed Kahn might actually return to life.

”I take it you remember this sword and no doubt where it came from?” Yazoun continued.

     “Kahn is alive then.” Venom glared.

     “In a manner of speaking,” he replied. “He had been dead for quite sometime when we found him. I am afraid he didn’t quite recover fully.”

     “We?”

     “Me and Solonie.”

     “Solonie!” Venom exclaimed. She knew the bard was upset, but she hardly expected him to throw his lot in with the likes of Yazoun and Sherrit Kahn. Perhaps she had misjudged the lad after all.

     “Yes,” Yazoun replied. “He seems quite upset with you all. Really Venom,” he criticized. “I would think you of all people would know better then to leave a potential enemy alive and wounded.”

     “I do,” Venom narrowed her ice blue eyes, causing the man in front of her to flinch. “The only person who I allowed to escape was you and if that guard wasn’t here I’d correct that mistake now.”

     “Is that all that’s holding you back,” Yazoun smirked. He gave a dismissive wave for the guard to depart. The man left without question. He turned back to Venom. “There we are alone now, but you wont make good your threat will you?” He gave her a look of pity. “ Here you are trying so hard to be a good girl.”

     Venom clenched her fist. She could feel her teeth grinding as she attempted to maintain control.

“Still, I am sure if it had been you in the warehouse and not your shelan lover I would have been dead. Not forced to live in fear of my life, jumping at every shadow. There were times I almost wished that breed had slain me.”

     “You could count on it, and don’t call her breed you scum sucking carrion grub.” Venom replied in a deadly tone cold as ice.

     “Such harsh words my dear,” Yazoun snickered. “Actually, the reason I am here because of your beloved Ellianora Bladedancer.”

     “What do you mean?” Venom demanded.

     “We have her.”

     “You’re lying.” Venom shot back.  Her stomach was twisted in knots at the thought of Ellie at the mercy of Yazoun and Kahn.

     “Thought you may need some convincing,” Yazoun said as he pulled out a long braided ponytail of blood spattered honey blonde hair. “That is why I brought this.” Yazoun dangled the hair in front of her.

     Venom leaped from her seat and wrapped her strong fingers around Yazoun’s scrawny throat.

     “Kill me and she dies!” Yazoun gasped.

     Venom dropped back into her chair. She glared at the small man opposite of her. “What do you want?” She demanded. “You wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble unless you had a reason.”

     “Always perceptive and to the point,” Yazoun said with an appreciative grin. “Kahn wants you to get something for him. Something that it seems only you have the skills to obtain.”

     “And what might that be?”

     “The Emerald Heart.”

     Venom nearly fell out of her chair. The Emerald Heart was said to be one of the most powerful of the Gem Kings, second only to the infamous Soul diamond. The idea of such an artifact in the possession of Sherrit Kahn caused the stoic woman to shudder. The very thought of what such a fiend like the demented dragon may be capable of was too terrible to contemplate. Yet, this was Ellie. Her love, she was her heart and soul. She had no doubt if she didn’t comply Ellie would die, and it would not be swift.

     Both you and your current master are crazier then I thought,” Venom replied. “No one knows where Heart is. It was only by pure chance we located the Sapphire.”

     “I am sure that bookworm priest of yours can find it,” Yazoun sneered. “If not, I would imagine Orisa would know if you can convince her to tell you that is. Though I hear you both are quite close.”

     Yazoun leaned closer to Venom. “Sherrit Kahn believes you can break out of here,” he whispered. “He thinks nothing will hold you with your precious breed girlfriend in jeopardy. Personally, I feel any attempt you make to escape will fail abysmally. I am certain the Tribunal wont let you out. The Camorian Merchant council has seen to that with their hefty donations.”

     Venom sat in stunned silence.  All of her hopes had been dashed. She wanted nothing more then to throttle this sneering mongrel. Yet, to do so would seal the fate of her companion.

     “Now, now Venom,” Yazoun said in mock sympathy. “If you do find a way out of here and are cooperative you can have your little girlfriend back.” He leaned down to look into her ice blue eyes.” If not, then I will have the pleasure of plunging a dagger into her heart personally. Kahn promised me that pleasure for my service. Of course, only after I have had little ‘fun’ first. She may be expecting but she is still quite attractive,” Yazoun smirked.

     Venom raised her head. She leveled her gaze upon his smug face; her eyes were like icy daggers ripping into his soul. “I will kill you,” Venom vowed.

The self-satisfied smirk on his face disappeared.

     Yazoun regain his composure as he rose back to his feet. He chose not to respond and slunk out the door, leaving the stalwart woman alone with the bloody clump of hair still in her grasp.

     She stood up from her chair and walked out the door as if in a dream, clutching the braid tightly to her breasts. It was true Sherrit Kahn was alive. He had managed to capture Ellie. She knew his purpose was to humiliate her, bend the proud warrior to his will.

 Still did Venom have any choice? She had no doubt that if she rebelled Kahn would make good his threat.

     Reaching the barracks, Venom walked inside and took a seat on one of the worn benches. What was she going to do? She had been trying so hard to be a model prisoner, enduring the insults of that fat slug Bertia and her accomplice Tania.

It was all for Ellie, the chance to be with her again. Now in a matter of minutes all her hopes had been dashed to the ground, shattered like a fine piece of glass.

     “Decided to take it upon yourself to stop working and goof off,” Venom heard the gruff voice of the senior guard through the haze in her mind. She glanced up with vacant eyes to see the large woman glaring down at her.

     Venom looked down at the scrap of hair in her hands, caressing the blond tresses lovingly as tears trickled from her eyes. What torture were those fiends inflicting upon her? Venom quivered when she imagined what her companion must be going through.

“Pay attention when I am talking,” Bertia ordered. Venom did not reply.

Letting out a frustrated grunt she yanked the braid of

hair from Venom’s grasp. “What is this?” Bertia remarked, holding the braid up to her beady eyes for examination. “Looks like some dead mangy animal.” She looked down at Venom with an evil leer. “Did your pet rat die?”

     Venom stared up the woman. “Give that back.” Venom growled.

     In response Bertia wiped her face with the hair of her companion. She next blew her bulbous nose into it, then tossed braid carelessly aside. The cruel laughter of the guards and few of the prisoners echoed in Venom’s rage numbed mind.

Bertia looked down upon Venom with unhidden disgust. “Now get to work, or else the next rag I use to wipe my face with will be your own.” 

     Venom exploded from the seat with a loud howl like an enraged Camorian jungle cat.  All the cycles of pent up rage bubbled to surface as she slammed her powerful fist into the jaw or the smirking guard.

 Blood and teeth sprayed from her mouth. There a sharp snap as her jaw was shattered by the impact.

     Before the guards could react, Venom snatched up the bench and swatted them aside like a swarm of insects, slamming them into the wall. She felt as if she was in a dream, or perhaps a nightmare. She dimly heard the guards crying for help as she raced for the door of the shack.

     None of that mattered. Venom had to escape. She couldn’t allow Ellie to die. Not now. She had put up with this indignation for her sake. Now there was no purpose to remain passive. It was time for action.

     The prisoners scrambled out of her way as she crashed through the door like a wild rampaging bull, stunning the soldiers rushing in an attempt to prevent the escape.

     Her fists mercilessly pummeled a few of the guards that were still standing. Through the red haze of her vision she saw the wall encircling the compound.

     The warrior ripped a pike from one mans hand, making a dash for freedom. The guards drew their sword, but she knocked them aside with the pike, continuing towards her objective in fierce determination.

     Suddenly, a white bolt fired from one of the mage’s in the guard towers struck her in the chest, hurling her backwards. She landed face down the muck.

     Venom stood up on trembling legs as she renewed her efforts. Determined to succeed. Another bolt ripped across her head, dropping her to her knees.

     Venom began to crawl on her hands and knees towards the barricade. She felt a heavy boot slammed into her back. The guards had caught with her. Another slammed the butt of his spear in her head.

     Blood covered her eyes as she continued to crawl on her stomach through the mire. Another blow to the head along with another blast from the tower halted her progress.

To Be Continued . . .

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