Enemy of mine (Taggity Thade)

Days had passed since the meeting at the Court of Light and Shadows. The arrangement made between the fiend and the dwarf emperor had been so brief, it took a little while for it to really sink in. What was she going to do with it? For the most part Nicole had kept her hands to herself, reveling in each others silent ambiguity while they awaited their orders to be passed down from the Shadow Court. She would observe the Elf's comings and goings, but never questioned it. Although she felt a twinge of jealous each time he disappeared out that front door. Like a lonely housewife, she lingered about the house in wait for her prey to return which he always did at some point or another. Thade's icy demeanor proved to be of little company, but it seemed to soothe the burning hate within in whenever she did catch him for conversation.

A formal occasion was being planned soon by the Shadow Court, no doubt that was what kept Thade busy. It was nothing out of the ordinary for the Shadow Court to gather, the Emperor enjoyed putting on a good show and found it the best way to keep tabs on all of his pions. What made this night different was the fact that it was the annual festival of the New Moon. What had once been a festival of blood shed and sacrifice for the new year, was now just a grand party were everyone of importance was required to attend and rather than slaughter other sins of excess were committed.

The party was to be held deep within the forests shadowed by the Mountains, adding to the ancient nature of the festival and the new emperor's heritage. A plot of land had been sanctioned off, guards put into place as they prepared for the lavish event. No doubt, Nicole would have been notified of the upcoming event and as the days counted down to the event Thade would find Nicole unusually distant. Normally, the fiend seemed to go out of her way to provoke him or pose provocative questions but suddenly she was going out of her way to avoid him. The night before the event Nicole did not return from her supposed 'errands', gone without a trace. Had she chosen to run? This wasn't going to look good before the Emperor, who no doubt expected the Demon to be there.

The party hour was soon upon them, and everyone was expected to be there. How would Thade explain that one to the Emperor? Anyone who was with title or rank was required to present themselves to the Emperor at some point during the evening, and even if he dodged the greeting it would only be a matter of time until he was forced to face up. Nicole would wait until the very last minute, just as the demented Elf was forced to face the Emperor, she would step into view of the crowded scene and let her aura spred, letting herself be known to all and most pointedly to Thade as she focused her gaze upon him. She was dressed to die for, simple and loose fitting black fabric dripping from her perfect olive skin. Her lengths of ebony curls were loosely tied up in a lazy half-do, leaving most of it to fall freely down her back with little white pearls tangled amongst them. A smile spred across her painted lips at the sight of her prey, slowly beginning to make her way in that direction.