Tamrissa nods briefly to Fei, still quite frazzled and pink in the face from letting her temper build. She huffs out a sigh and looks toward 'Bob' and Thisias. Her eyes narrow.

"Bob?" she questions, stepping towards the newcomer, eyeing the hat pulled down over his face and the duster hiding his form. "Remove the hat, Bob, let me see you."

She reaches up and grabs the hat before the man has time to do it himself. Brown hair flops out in a frizzed jungle of curls that hang to just the tops of his ears. A scarred face stares back at her, the cheek looking like it was torn up and then left to heal in a mass of scrambled flesh. He lowers his crystalline blue eyes in shame as she stares in shock at his unattractive face.

"Oh," she hands the hat back, frowning at the hurt in his expression. "Forgive me."

In an effort to comfort him and show that she wasn't in shock at his appearance but at who he was, she touches the mangled side of his face with her fingertips and smiles.

"It is good to meet you. It is also good to know Thisias will have help on this mission," she lookes at Thisias. "It may be best for you to leave now, so you have a chance of being back in time for the execution...to plead your case."

Gods be willing, you will be late and it will be finished when you do return, she remarks to herself.

She turns and begins walking down the steps.

"Remember my warnings, Gulver," she speaks in a purposely mother-like tone. "Farewell."

Her strides grow quicker, trying to get away from the group. She tries to sort her thoughts as she half-walks, half-runs from the entrance of the palace. Once again, memories sweep over her...memories of Fei.
She takes a sharp turn and puts her back up against a wall covered in vines and moss. Her eyes go to the ground and she concentrates on breathing, trying to push those thoughts back...
She had been that close to giving herself over to him when they had been up in her chamber, that close to completely trusting him, that close to selling her soul for his kiss. The idea scared her. He was getting to her, the mere sight of him. She was becoming more and more wrapped up in everything he was. The taste of his blood was becoming a craving. He would not control her like this!
Her jaw juts forward in determination, fingernails digging into the moss on the gray brick of the ruins.
She would fight the beast that claimed him. No more satisfying of its bloodthirsty urges. No more inviting him to her. No more giving him the chance to make her feel like she owes him any more than she has already given him! Let him find someone else to give him blood and touch!

And, besides, there were other things to worry about now other than his constant pleading for her to give him attention. Gulver was out of the Umbra, Thisias was growing dangerously close to Zera, Zera needed to be executed, the others needed to be watched carefully no matter if they were honorable or not, and she needed to rest herself...alone.

Her hand goes out in front of her and she calls the Kurusunami, determined to make herself tired enough to sleep for a few hours. She breathes as the hilt flies into her palm and closes her eyes for a brief moment. When she opens them again, her aura flows out steadily and the Kuru spins in her hands. She kicks off the heeled boots and removes the jeweled belt so she can untuck the loose shirt. Her eyes lift to look at an invisible enemy, the Kuru rising in front of her to point at thin air...

A cloaked figure appears before her, all that can be seen of his face is a grin. He flips the hood of the cloak back and unsheathes his own sword. Naraka. Again. Tamrissa widens her eyes and steps back. The illusion strides towards her and she raises the sword, panic setting in. She meets his sword as he brings it down to strike her.

"You're dead," she hisses as they stay with their swords locked together.

Am I?

He sneers and pushes her back, driving her back with violent strokes of the sword. She meets every one, eyes set on his face. As she goes to change the direction of the duel, his sword slices across her arm. Her breath sticks in her throat as blood appears on her shirt. He laughs.

Am I?

She lets out a sudden yell and attacks full force, this time driving him back. Her mind races.

It is illusion...it has to be...

Dust flares up as Naraka drives Tamrissa into an open area. She lets out a pained cry as he pushes her back and she slides to the ground.

How dead am I now, my sweet?

She rolls as he stabs the sword downward. Her shirt is stained with blood on both sleeves and at her waist. Dust covers her and she coughs as she tries to stand.

"As good as...if not already," she growls, bringing the Kuru up to wait for him to fight her. "Tell me how you are doing this? And why aren't you using magic if this is more than just an illusion?"

Magic? You want magic?

His dark eyes swirl and fire is suddenly all around her, her feet feel as if they are stuck to the ground. The flames and smoke are too thick too see through. She holds the sword tightly, waiting for him.

No, I'm going to leave you burn, Tamrissa. No need to overdo things by fighting you while the flames consume you. I do have a few questions for you however, his voice raises above the crackling of the flames. Are you proud of Fei? Do you admire his weak mind and bleeding heart?

"He doesn't have a weak mind! He just allows things to...get in the way of his judgement."

You? He allows you to get in the way of his judgement? he chuckles. You are a strong, covetable, stunning woman, Tamrissa, but do not think for one moment that I would have ever let you get in the way of my goals. He is falling apart because of you. He lives for you. He would die for you. And he would sacrifice everything for you. He is weak!!

"I won't let him! I won't let him do that for me!"

How are you going to prevent it? You are tied to him. You die, he dies...if he dies, you run the risk of going insane or dying. He will try to control you to the very end, because his life depends on you.

"He will not control me!"

He already does, he speaks knowingly. Now, do you regret destroying me? I would have made this Umbra into something great. A force to contend with the highest powers in all dimensions and universes. You would have been at my side, not in front or in back of me...if only you would have seen the truth.

"I regret not making your death more painful! You would have made the Umbras into something obscene!"

And what are you doing, my dear? Two people ruling the Umbra? All law and order and power going to a strong-minded wench and a love-sick vampire? he sighs. Think about it, Tamrissa. Who is really out to destroy the Umbra and who was trying to make it into something great?

The flames flare and close in on her in a blinding flash. She screams...

She opens her eyes and looks up at the morning sky from the ground. Her eyes flick down to her body lying sprawled out. Her shirt is dusty and ripped but no blood remains on it. The Kuru lies beside her. She sits up slowly and turns her eyes to the palace rising above into the sky.

"Who is really out to destroy the Umbra..." she whispers...