“I warned you.” The tall Drow man walked slowly around the slumped over figure, the dragon scales of his coat glittering in the dim light. “You went against me anyway. Do you remember what I told you?”

Sunny cowered in the corner, battered and bloody. She was silent, which got her a swift kick to the side of her head, earning a small whimper from her.

“I told you,” He growled. “That if you broke your word and told anyone about anything, that I would personally see to the torture of your party.” He leaned in, grabbing one of her horns. “And that you would be alone again. Did I not?”

Silent tears ran down Sunny's face. “Please don't hurt him.” Her voice was crackly and pathetic.

Syff pushed Sunny's head down harshly, earning another small whimper from the druid. Syff walked back over to the slumped over figure on the chair, running a finger over one of the black horns that protruded from the Draconic Angel's head. “You care about this one. More than the others.” He looked to Sunny, a wicked smile on his face. “Don't you?”

“I don't.” She lied. “I don't care about any of my party.”

“You don't?” He feigned surprise, seeing through her obvious lie. “If you didn't care about them, why did it take you so long to tell this one what I had done?” Sunny watched as his hand curled around one of Aryx's horns. “Weren't you trying to protect them?”

“Let him go!” Sunny shouted weakly, coming out more like a cough. “He didn't do anything. Just let him go home.”

“Sunny..” Aryx groaned from his spot. “I'm gonna.. Kill this bastard..”

Syff gave another wicked smile. “How sweet.” His voice dripped venom. “I think I'll make a pair of matching gloves out of you.” He mused. “Watch closely. Watch the consequences of your actions.” Sunny stared in horror as Syff pulled hard on Aryx's horn, earning a loud yell of pain from him. Despite Aryx's cries of pain. Syff did not loosen his grasp on Aryx's horn. Sunny was able to see small cracks forming near the base of his horn, the sickening sound of it snapping off resounding in her ears. Syff tilted his head slightly as he inspected the horn. He dropped the horn, and Sunny watched as it rolled across the floor.

“Please, leave him alone.” She whispered, crawling across the floor towards Aryx who was moaning in pain. “I'll do anything, please just let him go.”

Syff watched the pathetic Tiefling crawl on the floor towards him. “You'll do anything?”

Pausing, Sunny nodded.

Syff grinned a wicked grin, and set to work pulling off another of Aryx's horns. He seemed to snap it off almost instantly, earning more groans of pain from Aryx. He held it out to Sunny with an eyebrow raised.

She swallowed hard and stood up, despite the ringing in her head. She walked over and grasped the horn, her heart pounding. Syff moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her head lightly. “Kill him.” He whispered in her ear.

“No.” She replied in a whisper. “I want him to go free.”

“He will be free. He'll be free of all the pain and suffering you put him through.” His grip tightened around her head and neck. “Do it.”

With tears running down her face, she lifted the horn. “I'm sorry Aryx.”

Aryx lifted his head, managing a small smile through his pain. “I love you Sunny.”

With a strangled cry she plunged the horn into his chest.

Sunny gasped, bolting upright. Her body shook and she was covered in a cold sweat. She stared around at her surroundings, her racing heart slowing slightly as she realized she was back in the garden, surrounded by the flowers that her and Aryx had planted just hours earlier. She stared at Aryx's sleeping form, the rise and fall of his chest brought stinging tears to her eyes. Quietly she crawled over to him, her eyes focused on the double sets of horns on his head. Kneeling beside him, she carefully ran one of her fingers over each horn on his head, searching for any cracks or damage. All four horns looked fine, nothing out of the ordinary that she could see. Relief filled her chest as she realized it was only a nightmare and not reality. Sunny carefully tucked herself against Aryx's chest, begging her body to stop shaking.

“Sunny..?” Aryx mumbled groggily, his grip instinctively tightening around her. “Are you alright?” When she didn't respond, Aryx rubbed his eyes and stared down at the frightened Tiefling, who covered her face and quietly cried. “Hey.” He said softly, sitting up with her in his lap. “What's wrong Sunny? It's okay.” He rubbed her arm gently.

“I'm scared, Aryx.” Sunny cried. “I'm so scared. I want to go home. I don't want to be here, and I don't want to help him.” Aryx opened his mouth to respond, but Sunny continued on. “ I want to tell you everything. You're the only person I feel like I can trust fully, Aryx. I know that you won't think anything different and that you'll want to help me. But you can't, and I'm scared of what he'll do to you.”

Aryx listened to her quietly, planting a soft kiss on the side of her head. “Did he threaten you?” When Sunny didn't respond, Aryx held her tighter, rocking her slightly. “Did he hurt you?” Again, Sunny didn't respond. “I need you to tell me, Sunny, so I can help you. Okay?”

“I can't tell you what he did.” She whispered, and Aryx felt a familiar twinge of anger in his chest when he heard how hollow her voice was. “Or what he said. I don't want him to hurt you.”

“He can't hurt me.”

“Yes he can.” She stared up at Aryx now, sniffling once again. “He's a bad man. A bad man who has a lot of power. He can hurt you, and he will if he gets the chance.”

“I won't let that happen, okay? I'll always protect you.” He stroked her hair gently. “I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened.” His tone was gentle, trying not to push Sunny into revealing anything she didn't want to.

“I can't tell you.” She shook her head before leaning in carefully to whisper in his ear. “Not here. He might have people listening.”

The pair glanced around the garden. “Okay.” Aryx nodded. “Later then.”

For the first time since meeting Syff again, Sunny felt a wave of relief engulf her. She slumped in Aryx's arms as she finally let herself relax a little more.

“Let's get some sleep, okay?” Aryx murmured, carefully laying down again with her tucked tight to his chest. “I'll keep you safe, Sunny. I promise.”

Sunny hugged him tight. “I'll protect you, Aryx.” Already she sounded half asleep. “You don't need to worry..”

“Okay.” He murmured back, stroking her hair once again. “I'm glad that I have you to protect me.”