Snippet #2109602

An eerie laughter filled the darkening room as the moonlight filtered in a blood filthy red now. Terrance had his head cocked back as he continued to laugh at the woman's words. "Dragged to hell?" Terrance ran his long clawed hands through his hair. "I don't think you understand, princess. I've already been to hell and back. Refused the welcoming of the great flames. You're dealing with a hellish spawn right now and a soul deal does nothing to me but make me wish hell would accept me." He then ran his hands down his hips and sat on the bed beside her. "But if it is a rematch you want then we shall have one." With the snap of his fingers they were sitting int he princess' palace room with Nicholas standing in the doorway as if he had just been searching for her.

"Terrance..." he growled, his emerald eyes narrowed as he stared at the dark man sitting by his frightened fiance.

"You were tricked, were you not?" Terrance questioned the man, but Nicholas stepped forward as if he were going to run to Celena's side. "I wouldn't," the dark man threw his hand out to stop Nicholas from moving toward her or her to him. "Answer the question. To marry this woman you were unaware and tricked. Correct?"

Nicholas narrowed his eyes and nodded his head. "I was, but it doesn't matter now. I love her."

Terrance's eerie laugh entered the room once more. "Then you would not mind a fair rematch for her hand in marriage, would you not?" Terrance had a wicked smile come over his lips. Nicholas did not answer with his own voice but with his head. He knew that if he was challenged to archery again he would beat the dark man again. "Good. Then here are the terms of the agreement. Similar to the last, but more final." With a flick of his wrist a large scroll appeared in his hand. "We will do archery again, to replicate the original competition. If you win, Merchant Nicholas, than you will have Princess Celena's hand in marriage and her powers will be stored away forever in the moon so that no evil shall touch it. Seem fair."

Nicholas stared at Terrance a moment then nodded his head. "Sounds fair enough. As long as you swear taking her power from her body will not harm her."

"It can not harm her, young Nicholas. It is a power that is just resting in her body. It will not help nor kill the young woman to lose her abilities." He gave him a soft nod that Nicholas took as a vowel of trust. "Now, the fun part. If I win... I get to marry this young beauty and rule over the lands. Her power will still go to the moon so that I will not be all to powerful over the lands, but also, you'll become your worst nightmare and a slave of our household to be a reminder to my love that you are not worthy to be at her side." Nicholas stood in the door with his hands clenched in fists. He did not like the idea of being a slave to the evil sorcerer, but if it meant that he tried to keep Celena safe from him than he would do it.