Surviving The Shadows

He knew he was gaining consciousness by the way he could hear the demon’s dark heart beating and the way the fel coursed through her veins. A pair of arms wrapped around him. Then another. He smiled as the shivarra traced her fangs along his arm. “I need to get going,” he whispered, knowing full well that she was going to start whining. 

And whine the demon did. “Stay here with me. Let’s do each other hard, like we did last night. Come on. Show me your wings.”

He chuckled and sighed, “Azalia, I need to go. I have things to do. Besides, won’t you be beaten if you don’t show up for your line up?”

“Like I care.” She said, rolling her eyes. Daidh had been sleeping with her for the past few months and she was already being targeted by the commanders. Nonetheless, they didn’t care. Azalia was more invested in the relationship than he was and while she sought to know why, he never told her.

He never told her that he longed for the red haired woman he left behind in Silvemroon, or how he left her the apartment and his things. Neither did the demon care to hear about that.

The demonhunter slipped out of bed and walked away. Azalia would be there later. That he knew. He readied himself and prepared to go to the city that was once home. His welcome mat would be limited, so he had to work fast. He touched the leather mask over his eyes and sighed. She wasn’t going to recognize him. His eyes gone, tattoos on his body, fel energy pulsing stronger within him. Horns. Daidh sighed and he placed the sleeveless leather jacket on. 

Sometime during the day, a dark rose was delivered to the Courier. From the shadows, Daidh watched closely, finally getting to see the woman who in his mind, urged him to keep going. 

( part 3 ) (music)

“Will you tell me what the bloody fel he’s saying? Why won’t you tell me?” whined Alexielle as she watched Safrona reading yet another letter. Being ignored was frustrating her. “I will not be your delivery girl anymore!” The blonde elf threw her small tantrum and folded her arms, turning her back at the red head elf, yet very curious as to what Daidh had been telling her in all the letters he had sent her. If it was anyone else but Safrona, Alexielle would have read the letters and never deliver them, but there was that inch of respect she had for her sister, even if it meant getting angry with her.

Perhaps it was her silent promise to Daidh that she wouldn’t share his information with anyone, or perhaps she was so engulfed in the writing that Safrona did not hear Alexielle’s complaints. She excused herself and walked away, returning to the empty apartment one more time before she returned the keys.

Dearest Safrona,

This is my final letter for now. I have to return my focus to my new form and work. I was ordered to free myself from past anchors that could possibly prevent me from doing my job, but silently, I think they’re doing it wrong. We need that anchor to keep us grounded, to prevent the demons from taking over us. And so with that, I will confess something that has been brewing within me for a while now.

When I first met you, Safrona, you were a delightful woman with wisdom beyond anything I have seen for those of us in the dark arts. I admired that. You put up with our friend Alexielle, and I definitely admired that. Then we spoke more and got to know each other better, and I began to open up to you, as I feel you opened up to me. You suddenly began to invade my thoughts, my dreams, and my very essence. I began to fall for you, Safrona.

Perhaps it was an infantile gestures on my part, but for the first time since my escape from the Legion, I felt I could love again. I never said a thing because it isn’t the gentlemanly thing to do, and perhaps that was my fault. I should have simply demonstrated my intentions. You see, I feel that you deserve more than one who is already damaged, such as me. Our path turns us into creatures and monsters, but those of us who can continue to maintain some sort of normalcy deserve a normal life. I am beyond tainted, using my power of transformation to keep any evidence of that at bay. And now, now I am no longer worthy of you and your peace and beauty. Seeing me would terrify you now. I simply am not the same man you once knew.

I don’t say these words to bring you torment, but to free myself of that inept frustration I have felt since I realized these feelings for you. But I will beg one thing, my dear Safrona: allow me to hang on to this single feeling of adoration I have for you. As i said before, I don’t believe in releasing all anchors of humanity, therefore, I will be holding on to this one single emotion. It will be a reminder that I once loved and perhaps I could love again. Please be my rose, Safrona. Be that one thing I hold on to until the day I die. When I face my former masters in the Legion, it will be you who gives me the strength to pull through and come back alive.

I hope our paths meet once more in the future, but I will understand if I am not welcomed in your life anymore. I hope you are happy and may you continue to move forward, taming the dark arts that you command. Do not worry for me. I will do what has to be done to protect you and your world.

With all the love I have left to give, Daidh Sadriaal

(continued from here )

Agony. Pain. Remorse. Acceptance.

He felt his eyes burn away and nothing had prepared him for the torment he would feel until his sight slowly returned. The demonic essence let him see, truly see. He saw and he understood. He continued on to the next phase of his transformation.

Dearest Safrona,

I truly hope that it is you receiving my letters. This information in anyone else’s hands would be disasterous, but do not fear for me for I am better now. I have found a way to escape the Legion’s clutches, but my freedom comes at a price.

I knew the ill-fated tale of Illidan Stormrage and how many followed his path of the demon hunter. The Illidari, I believe they are called. Many continued on in hopes of defeating the Legion. I sought several hunters, hoping that my expertise on the subject would assist them. Safrona, I volunteered myself in order to escape my past, and give back by destroying these demons that are threatening to return.

For years, I have learned the Dark Arts and I manipulated demons. I learned to take a step further with demons from the Legion. And now, I am learning to end them once and for all. Writing this has made me realize that our studies in the Dark Arts are our destruction. You once told me that you escaped it all, even though it still haunts you. Do not succumb, Safrona. Perhaps it is too late to walk away, but continue to be in control. I spent many nights and days praying to the Great Dark, but now, I feel that I gave up my control by doing so. Oh, how I wish I could go back to the days when the Dark Arts were being introduced. I would say no. I would walk away. I would want a normal life.

Today, I see clearly. Today, my body shows the scars of a battle I have won. Today, I am a different man, and yet, I am hoping to be the same when all is said and done. If we ever meet again, my dearest Safrona, I hope you do not turn away from me. I hope you still see me under this new appearance.

I hope you forgive me.

His cries echoed throughout the chamber as his body continued with the transformation. Fel energies seeped from under designs burned onto his body and the wings he once wore in shadow form began to materialize slowly each day. Daidh covered his face, bearing the pain as a badge of honor he was willing to wear.

The blonde sindorei’s emerald eyes stared at the red head elf, sipping her tea, trying to ignore the irritation she felt as her friend, her sister, read a letter addressed to her. Alexielle’s penetrating stare was definitely felt, but Safrona continue to read silently, letting her tea get cold.  Alexielle could have easily opened the letter and read its burning content, but she was trying to be nice, and this was one of those moments she wished she hadn’t been. “Well? What does it say?” she finally asked.

However, Safrona said nothing as she continued to read. Frustrated, Alexielle rose, her sheer pink lace dress falling over her form. “Fine. When you’re done with Daidh’s childish letter, come see me. I’ll be inside my home.” With Alexielle storming off, Safrona continued to read her letter in peace, a small smile creeping along her lips for successfully sending her dear friend away, but the smile was short lived as she continued to read the letter.

Dearest Safrona,

I have failed you as a friend and for that I am truly sorry. As you may have figured by now, I am no longer at the Sanctum, nor am I at my apartment. I have been through my own personal hell and I have emerged a changed man. Only now have I decided to take time away from my training to let you know several things. This is information I could not share with our lovely Lexi nor with anyone at the Sanctum, and you are the only one I truly trust.

Our last meeting was not as I had hoped. I couldn’t tell you everything I had wished to tell you because I was being followed. I was being spied on. I know that now and I was able to defeat that force that sought me out.

Allow me to start at the beginning. When Kael’thas first went to Outland, I volunteered to follow our Prince. He had great ideas; great plans! We discovered the fel energy that many of us have within, but the Prince had gone a step farther: he had made a pact with Sargeras and the Burning Legion, and a few of us followed our Prince. I was one of them.

I learned their powers and learned to control demons, manipulate them, and even turn into the shadow of a demon. This was the future, Safrona. This was our cure. But our Prince was in over his head and a few of us figured this out. So we ran. We came back. We denounced our Prince. We did not dare speak of what had happened. And we tried to be normal. I used my knowledge of demons to teach demonology, but my past haunted me.

Lately, I have felt the Legion nearby, speaking to me, burning through the symbol on my back. I had to do something about it. I turned to you, but I could not burden you with such troubles. I packed very few things and I ran away from the Sanctum, my home, my friends.

My apartment has not been touched since I left. Go to the address at the bottom of this letter and ask the landlord for the key. He will be expecting you. Take whatever you wish, Safrona. Look at my garden, which is probably dead by now. As it should be. I am a different man now. I can no longer grow and care for beauty.

In a few days, my apartment will be ransacked and sold if you do not wish to have it. I will no longer use it. Or need it.”

Safrona lifted her head and gazed at the cafe’s patrons. She folded the letter, stopping half-way through the message and without a second thought, she grabbed her things and walked away, toward the landlord’s location.

Silvermoon had become a dark place the past month and he didn’t expect anything less than that. The warlock sat on his leather sofa, in the darkness, contemplating the events he had only heard rumors of. The Faceless. The Handmaidens. The Resistance. When he first heard of them, he simply rolled his eyes and continued on with his work at the Sanctum. There was only one god he ever followed and while that god may have been on the Faceless list, he heard whispers among his own kind long before anyone else did.

And he was worried.

Daidh bore the mark of the Burning Legion and the Shadow Council upon his skin, covered by his elegant clothing and fine silks. A mark he longed to rid himself of, but unable to. Ever. He escaped with the notion that he would research Sin’dorei culture for his masters, but they hadn’t bothered him since Sargeras’ followers had been somewhat silenced.

And yet, the voices and shadows were getting worse. So worse that the chaos he witnessed in the city didn’t faze him at all. He remained silent, scoffing those who spread their words throughout the streets. What did they know of gods?

And yet, he longed to forget all he knew. Daidh stared at the darkness in his home and he was eager to get up and go. Walk. Anywhere. Still dressed in his daily dark navy suit and red tie, Daidh rose and reached for his keys. A stroll in the damned city would probably serve him well. He walked away from his apartment, leaving behind the dying rose garden he had neglected to tend to for months.

The fliers all around him were ignored. Bodies on the ground went unseen. And yet, he heard it again…and again…and again…

Where are you? Come home…Come home…

In one of those whispers he heard, he collapsed against a wall, hearing a harsh crinkling sound in his head. His hands reached up to his temples and he calmly waited until the sound was gone. No…go away… He gazed around and straightened his tie before he continued walking. Once more, the voice and noise attacked him and he stopped along an apartment complex. Once he regained his composure, he straightened up and noticed how familiar the building was. His fingers desperately sought a name listed on the buzzard and when he found it, he pressed the button once, twice.

“Please be here…please be here…”

He pleaded to no one in particular but the hope that perhaps Safrona was home. He was in need of sane company, and she was the only one he knew who could probably help him.

@safrona-shadowsun 

The pupils were beginning to leave the Sanctum when Master Daidh was returning to his office. He was carrying three books and wasn’t quite looking ahead when he was suddenly stopped. He lifted his eyes and focused on the dark haired warlock he hated so. “I would advice you to move, Raziel.”

Raziel Darksun continued to keep his arm out, blocking Daidh’s path. He smiled coldly at Daidh and “What is the hurry, Daidh? You can’t possibly be so eager to go home. From what I’ve heard, you only have roses to go back to.”

“What do you want, Raziel? I’m sure you have a student waiting for you in your office.”

“Or two. But I have been quite eager to speak to you, Master Daidh. See, there are murmuring rumors that speak of an increase in power, strength. Have you heard anything?” Raziel’s voice turned into a soft whisper as he gazed about to see if anyone was coming.

“No, I have not. Excuse me, but I am very busy.” Daidh attempted to move, but Raziel wouldn’t budge. “Whatever rumors you’ve heard are probably from your inner circle of imbeciles. Move…please.”

“Inner circle of imbeciles. That’s interesting because I know a thing or two about certain…imbeciles who work here. Let’s be honest, Daidh,” Raziel whispered as he moved closer to his ear. “That tattoo on your back; those are not wings, are they? Why would you tattoo your wings on your back. Anyone who isn’t blinded by your charm and charisma is capable of recognizing that symbol.” Daidh turned to look at Raziel, who smiled at him. “It seems your master is coming back for you, demon.”

“I’m not a demon.”

“No, perhaps not, but when your sell your soul to the Burning Legion,” Raziel whispered in Daidh’s ear, “I don’t suppose you can leave whenever you want. Am I correct?”

Daidh smiled and turned to look at Raziel, his eyes turning from fel green to violet. “You shouldn’t interfere with things you don’t know about, Raziel. You’re going to get burned.”

“Is that a threat? The rumors must be true then.”

“Raziel, go play with your students. Leave demonic studies to those who understand demonology fully.” Daidh pushed his way from Raziel’s hold and opened the door to his office. “Oh, and if you’re planning on selling your soul to the Burning Legion, you’d be out of luck. They eat pitiful creatures such as yourself for dinner.” With a smile, Daidh closed the door and locked it. He placed the books on his desk and stared at the darkness for a while. The rumors were spreading quicker than he had imagined.

Uncovering the second book, he opened it and stared at the title for moment, The Rise of the Burning Legion. He hoped the book gave him at least a hint about how to server all ties. Raziel was right: his Master was indeed coming, but he wanted nothing more to do with that life.

The letter sat on his dresser, along with the small package of seeds. From the dresser to the bed lay a trail of clothing, article by article, in the order removed, leading to two intertwined pairs of legs. 

Daidh lay back against his pillows, one arm behind his head and the other wrapped around the pretty little thing with light brown hair. He thought about the seeds and began to calculate how much soil they would need, aside from realizing he needed some sort of guide on Draenor flora. The woman beside him turned and nestled along his chest, causing him to turn and look at her. She had been there several times already, helping him forget the past and to move on.

The waitress from the inn next door the Sanctum had always been a person of interest for him and after talking one late night, they began seeing each other. With his mind finally at peace, he was able to take care of other things in his life, mainly his rose garden. 

He made up his mind to write Safrona, thanking her, unless he could find her in the city. It had been a while indeed, and seeing her would be a sight for sore eyes. Daidh turned and wrapped his arms around his lover, before falling asleep.

BASICS Full Name: Daidh Sadriaal Nickname(s): Sayaadi Age: Adult. Race: Sin’dorei. Gender: Male Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual Religion: He follows the Great Darkness, the Great Void Occupation: Instructor at the Sanctum, Master of Demonology Language(s) Spoken: Thalassian, Orcish, Common

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Face Claim: Daniel Gillies (Elijah Mikaelson) Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Fel green (violet in demon form) Height: 6’0”. Build: Slim, toned Distinguishing Characteristics: manners, his smile, dresses in a suit the majority of the time

PERSONALITY Positive Traits: He's a well-mannered gentleman. He's patient and will tolerate most extraordinary information. He prefers to understand before passing judgement. Negative Traits: He's rather lonely. He tends to keep to himself because he fears losing his ability to control his power. He can be dangerous when in demon form, although he has been able to maintain control. Fears: He fears losing control and becoming a demon. He fears falling in love and hurting those around him. The fear roots from a prior experience. Hobbies: Cultivates roses, reads, and watches people Likes: The Dark Arts, roses, women, learning, teaching,  Dislikes: Confrontations, trouble, his past

(Throw Away - Blue Stahli)

The streets were not as busy around his home in the Court of the Sun. Nobles were already on their way to wherever and Daidh was just about to reach the door to his apartment building. He noticed the tall figure in black and his greeting before Daidh collapsed unto the ground. The pain pushed from the inside out and he struggled to maintain his composure, to cast a spell, to find a way to counter the magic, but it was impossible. His own powers became a weakness for him.

As much as he tried to turn into his demonic form, it was impossible, although his body felt as if it wanted to. He heard the warning and he lifted his head, narrowing his eyes.

Thesa.

He wanted to respond, but the pain was unbearable. It wasn’t until he saw the figure turn to ash that the pain subsided and he could see dark lines on his body. Leave Thesa alone? He laughed at the idea. “Make me…” he muttered, his eyes turning bright violet and the his hands starting to take on the shadow form that his skin was dying to release. However, he remembered where he was and he took deep breaths, remembering that the the neighboring nobles would not be too keen with a demon living amongst them. 

A small letter tied around the vase.

" I got a new years smooch from you, dearest! So! Here is some girly roses for this holiday. -Thesa" 

Daidh looked at the flowers and grinned. "There's nothing girly about these. They're rather beautiful." He leaned in to smell the fragrant scent and he smiled. Roses always seemed to soothe the beast within.

Daidh had a small smile upon his lips as he strolled along the city streets. He noticed a change in the weather and a brief wind blowing. A black shawl glided past him and he immediately ran to grab it. He turned to find the owner and noticed a blonde woman dressed in a black siren gown running toward him. She smiled and waved him down.

"I take it this is yours," Daidh said gently. He smiled at the woman and offered to place the shawl upon her shoulders. For a second, his eyes flashed violet and as he touched her skin, he couldn't resist leaning toward her and kissing her gently between her shoulder blades. He didn't think much of it and as he fixed her shawl, his eyes turned to green again and he smiled at her. 

"Have a good day, ma'am," he said with a bow and he continued along his way.

traianbloodshade