~Chapter One~

Leaves crumbled silently beneath his feet with each step as he focused on his surroundings. The branches above swayed in the wind, leaves rustling in a hidden melody; the full moon lighted his way, shadows of branches danced upon the ground.

It’s coming, Mordock.

"I know." Mordock muttered quietly under his breath, senses alert.

It’s getting closer.

Ignoring the warning, he continued to stalk through the dark forest, crouched down, arrow notched, ready. His slightly pointed elven ears twitched, alert for any sounds that might be out of place, any hint to where the creature might be hiding.

Behind you!

Spinning on his heel with lightning speed, he fired the arrow. The creature howled in pain, the arrow shooting through its only eye, blood oozing from the torn socket. It fell to the ground with a dull thud, scrambling about, kicking up dust. It’s taloned paws swatted air, trying to protect itself from its attacker with little success. Suddenly, it went still giving way to an eerie silence.

Pulling a dagger from his belt, Mordock cautiously approached the creature. These were very much like wolves after they were killed. Even a dead wolf still had the power to bite.

In the end you always seem to show off your skill, the voice now chuckled in his head.

"Be silent!"

Well now, no need to be rude.

"I’m warning you," he growled.

All right, all right. I know when I’m not wanted, the voice stated, his words tied with sarcasm and a tinge of amusement.

Mordock knelt and studied the creature. A clear acid dripped from its snout, mist rising from the ground where the liquid touched the soil. Its paws and mane were much like a lion, yet it was covered in dark feathers instead of fur. Without warning the creature jerked, its head rose, teeth snapping. Mordock lashed out, blade in hand, slicing the creature’s throat. Again it fell to the ground, blood pouring from the gaping hole.

Standing to his full height, Mordock slowly scanned the shadows, "There’s something else here."

Ah, so you noticed. I would have said something to you, but alas I was only doing as I was told, the voice snickered.

Rolling his eyes, he sheathed the dagger and silently prowled into the shadows of the forest heading in the direction of whatever it was that he was sensing.

You’re getting closer, though I am not sure to what.

He opened his mouth to speak, but snapped it shut at the sound of a splash in the running water not far ahead of him. Ducking thin branches, he quietly peered through the hanging vines, his dark skin blending into the darkness. His jaw went slack, eyes just about bulging out of their sockets and his pupils dilating.

Uh-oh, I sense trouble.

Mordock didn’t even hear the annoying voice in his head, so engrossed with the mystical sight before him. She waded in a pool of running water below a small waterfall. Moonlight glistened off the cool water, reflecting onto her pale skin and giving her ebony hair a bluish tint like the feathers of a raven. The water hugged her curves temptingly, a soft caress. As if sensing his presence, she turned abruptly, her arms frantically covering her nakedness. He flinched, stumbling backwards. She had looked directly at him! But how? Surely she couldn’t see through his camouflage. Diving into the water, she instantly disappeared from sight, leaving ringlets of ripples spreading across the top of the pool, fading away after a couple of feet.

Humph, now you did it. We’re in trouble now. And would you stop ignoring me!

He continued to disregard the voice, his emerald eyes locked on the spot where she’d disappeared, wondering if she had actually seen him. Seconds passed, followed by minutes when suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in the center of his spine, something pressing against it causing it to gently pierce his skin through the dark material of his shirt.

"I should kill you now," a feminine voice hissed into his ear.

Raising his hands, he slowly began to turn, but whatever pressed against his back, pressed even harder. "I’m just going to turn around. I mean no harm."

"Fine, but I want to see your hands. No tricks."

Nodding, he turned slowly. His eyes widened. Her! But how did he not sense her approach?

I told you she was trouble. She blocked her mind so her prey couldn’t sense her. But did you listen? No, you didn’t. You were too busy letting your male hormones take over your body and drooling over her instead of listening to what I had to say.

Mordock’s eyes traveled her body from head to toe. Now dressed, though she must have done it quickly, she hadn’t taken time to dry because her brown leather pants stuck fast to her legs; a short white chemise clinging to her upper torso. Finally, his eyes met hers and he was taken aback. Their color; it was a gray, no, melted silver, framed with dark lashes. She was a goddess!

"I’d think you would have had your fill by now," she said, her frustration evident. She was being gazed upon like something put on the market and all she could see of him wasn’t much more than his outline in the shadows. "Who are you and why were you spying on me?" When he didn’t answer right away, the blade pressed further into his chest, wanting to pierce it, "Tell me!"

As quickly as she’d appeared, the blade was whisked out of her grasp and she was yanked into his arms, her back against his chest, arm twisted behind her. "So the tables have turned. Well, go ahead, kill me," she gritted out.

It was the furthest thing from his mind. The woman bathing in the pool was no goddess, but a real woman in his arms, and may the Gods help him but he couldn’t control his lust while holding her against him. She would fit so perfectly against him if we were holding her differently instead of having her arm twisted behind her back.

"What are you waiting for? Get it over with!"

"M’lady, I can assure you, I do not intend you harm."

"Then why hold a blade to my back? Don’t you dare deny it, I can feel it!"

His chuckle was deep, making the hairs on the back of her neck rise, "Oh, but that is not a blade, though perhaps some may call it a sword, and it will not do you any harm either. Perhaps you could allow me to place it into your sheath?"

Her neck and cheeks took on a rosy hue as realization hit her. It was not a knife pressing against her, but a…she couldn’t even allow herself to think it. "Y-you still haven’t told me why you were spying on me."

"I was not spying on you, my beauty, though I did enjoy it. You can say it was a chance meeting." He smirked, rubbing the pad of his callused thumb across her collar bone, "So my dear, what is your-oof!"

Before he could finish his question the woman rammed her elbow back into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs, causing him to gasp. Turning to face him, she immediately connected her knee into his groin. Grunting, he fell to his knees, his vision blurred, stunned for a moment, allowing her enough time to make her escape and disappearing into the night. He couldn’t breath, yet he did. The pain shot through him like a thousand needles.

Well now, that was interesting.

"Not…another…word," Mordock wheezed as he began to sober, standing up on wobbly legs.

I was only-

"Not another word!"

The voice obeyed.

Mordock inhaled deeply, shutting out the pain and bent, snatching up the dagger he had dropped. Lifting it to view, he turned it slowly between his fingers, studying it. It was a fine piece of work, the polished silver handle covered in designs he’d never seen, sockets holding diamond cut emeralds and a sapphire. The emeralds sat on each side of the handle, close to the top, the sapphire centered at the tip on both sides. It was a masterpiece.

Sheathing the dagger, he groaned and began limping back to the entrance of the forest where he’d began the hunt.