The closing chapter of Nocte Tempore

[Urithrand]

Kolamar Biddle stood in the rain, looking Nocte in the eye, giving him a slight twinge in his neck as the tiefling was considerably taller than he. "I have only one question, Nocte. Why? Why did you betray us. My mentor, my own initiate into the order... why did you give them our names? My name!?"

Nocte looked back at him. "In honesty my old friend, I only gave them your name, and that of Alacander and Brooke. They gave the rest." They both knew what happened now. Nocte turned to Lauan, reaching for his money pouch. "Do you have anything on you, Lauan, a dose, just one?"

She shook her head. "I can get you some though." Nocte handed over the money and she sped off to the enclave to return before the inevitable took place. Biddle chewed his lip as he watched Nocte watch Lauan leave. He knew his friend and mentor well enough to know he was more afraid than he was letting on. He knew what was coming, and he was facing it bravely, throwing off the coward that he usually displayed.

It wasn't long before Lauan returned with liquid agony, a bottle of red liquid that Nocte clung to as it it might save his life, though he knew it couldn't. Nocte took the drugs Lauan had handed him and drank them, closing his eyes. The least he could do was allow his mentor a quick and painless death. "Anything you want me to do... after you're gone?" He asked shakily. Nocte's eyes just looked back. Was there a twinge of regret there? No. He was resolute to the end, or so it seemed.

"Goodbye Lauan." Nocte said, before the drugs started to take a hold of his brain. His face relaxed and slackened, and Biddle knew it was time. Now or never. "Goodbye my old friend." He said calmly, before hurling a finger of death spell at him. Nocte's body was too damn stubborn though, and Biddle was forced to fall back on other spells. It did not take long, and Nocte didn't even fight back. He just looked at Biddle the whole time until his eyes suddenly unfocused, and he collapsed, dropping to the floor and looking blankly up to the heavens.

Biddle was thankful for the rain, for Lauan had watched the whole affair, and he did not want her to see the tears. Duty bound, he was. Now his duty was done. "I'll leave you to your... mourning." Lauan said, smartly turning on her heel and walking away, a frown on her own features. Biddle simply nodded. He wasn't quite finished yet. Taking out his poisoned blade he plunged it into Nocte's dead chest and carved out his heart, the tears rolling down his nose and into the open gash he had made. The still warm heart fell to the floor as Biddle finally admitted it to himself and cried. It was a long time since he'd felt compassion.

"Goodbye, my friend." He whispered. "Goodbye forever."

[Anks]

In a small smoldering camp by the Gate of Sunderer a delusional tiefling paced as he awaited death. He had come to terms with his fate. His mind wandered as he speed up his pace. He remembered The Hell's , all the things he had done to the people of Sundren and he remembered Arawen. The things that brought him most joy was the suffering he had caused to others. Their torment , that look on their face as they died. And of the woman that dared care for him. He somehow thought this was for the best.

He was ready for death and he was tired of waiting. He sought out death that somber day. He had concluded that only death would bring him nirvana, the freedom of suffering and pain.

His head hung high with pride as he stepped forward and moved along side Biddle. He tried to control his hands and their need to tremble. Slowly he reached to his side and pulled out the doze of agony he drank its contents, the external world became silent and blurry. Only the pounding of his heart rang true to his ears.

His face widened with a sadistic glee as each spell that was supposed to bring him an insurmountable amount of pain only brought intense pleasure. He fell back and took his final breaths his heart became steady and his blurred vision turned to black. He had found comfort in death and even as he took his last breath he lived that final moment as he did with all others. With a smile.