It was a dark and stormy night; the perfect setting for a horror story. Daedric laughed mirthlessly. What could horrify a man who wishes for death? One who prays for the Grave's cold embrace. He had been there once, and had welcomed it even then. If only he had stayed. Thunder struck outside and the small orange cat on his lap sprang to the floor. Daedric watched without seeing as the frightened creature tried to escape through a closed door. He closed his eyes and thought of the woman who left it here. He'd never buy a pet for himself; watching it die wouldn't be worth the effort. Then he suddenly laughed with all the mirth he'd lacked before. To be outlived by a cat after watching all his friends die. What a fitting ending to a miserable existence. The kitten looked at him curiously, forgetting to run for a moment. Julie had called her Fluffy. Julie was poisoned by a man she thought she loved. So Daedric called the cat Julie. "Stupid of me", he'd said then, "to give myself another chance to lose her." He'd loved Julie; he still did. But Julie didn't love him. She couldn't; she didn't know everything. Not even nearly. There was so much even he didn't understand yet. He scooped up the kitten and held her close. She smelled liked the lilac water he bought just for her. Julie had always worn that scent and the cat was all he had left of her. It was a saddening thought. After all, the cat was more fur than flesh. Julie snuggled against his neck and purred. Daedric absently scratched her head while walking toward the pantry. Like most cats, Julie had a fondness for thick cream. So why not indulge her? It wasn't as though he had anything better to do. Just as he sat Julie on the floor a knock came at the door. He sighed as he pulled open the heavy wooden panel.

A tall man with shoulder length black hair stared at him through ice blue eyes. Daedric hid a smirk. The man was trying to intimidate him. He had come to recognize the look. Shoulders pushed back with arrogance, legs stretched to add height. Not that he needed height; even if he hadn't been 6' tall, Daedric was only 5'3" and seemed to be no older than 14 yrs. Of course, this fact often worked to his advantage. Many people underestimated his intelligence. Add to that his strange looks, silver hair down to his buttocks, over-large green eyes, a mole over the left side of his mouth, and caramel colored skin, and most people naturally assumed that he would be withdrawn and retarded. Or at the least effeminate. Of course, it also worked to his disadvantage. After all, there was no way to convince Julie that he wasn't only 14.

"I'm talking to you, boy!" Shit, he'd forgotten. He looked up at the man and tried not to distract himself. "Where's the man of this house?" Daedric didn't bother to hide his smirk this time. "You are looking at him. What do you want?" The man looked taken aback, but quickly regained his composure. "Where is the hermit Daedric? I don't have time for your games..." "Nor do I have time for yours. I am Daedric, what do you want?" This time it was the stranger who smirked. "Let me in, and I'll tell you. I assure you, you won't dismiss me so easily then!"

Daedric silently took a seat by the cold hearth. There was one other seat in the room and it was occupied by Julie. The stranger contemplated tossing the cat to the floor but thought better of it upon looking at Daedric. Those who knew the hermit said he was fifty if he was a day and more fond of his cat than of his few acquaintances. Who knew what unpleasant tricks this 'boy' could employ? The stranger gingerly lifted the cat and sat down with the creature dozing on his lap. Daedric gave a slight approving nod. Now that it was obvious the man knew who he was, what was the point of playing the inferior? "Now, what have you come to tell me? And who told you who I am?" his voice was soft, but there was iron beneath the velvet. Very few people knew any of the truth about him. He wanted it kept that way. And since this stranger was now added to the list of those who knew, Daedric thought perhaps there should be a subtraction from that list as well. "I know what you're thinking. He only told me because I am his son and he was far too sick to make it himself. Your secret will be kept." Daedric lifted one graceful silver eyebrow. He was used to knowing what others thought, but never the other way around. He was tempted to use a telepathic probe now, but it could be painful for the subject. For the moment, the man was his guest. "You remember Angela, don't you?"

Angela... how could he forget? It was when he met Angela that his powers began to manifest themselves. She was so very sick; the others warned him not to touch her. But he felt... drawn. The next day it was like she'd never been sick at all. And of course he wasn't sick; he'd never been sick a day in his life. Even so, he couldn't bring himself to believe he'd done anything. The thought of having a power he couldn't control frightened him. But Angela always knew it was his touch that saved her and she became closer to him than anyone had ever been. Even Julie. And that was over 40 years ago when he was only a young boy. Only Angela had realized his sudden headaches were due to use of his power. Only Angela understood that at first he couldn't use his powers at will. So many people wanted things from him when they learned of his abilities, but never Angela. Luckily, most of them got a clue and left him alone. Now that he could use his powers he'd much rather use them to teach a few valuable lessons to his torturers... and, wouldn't you know it, the headaches disappeared as soon as he learned to use his powers. Pure revenge with no consequences. Sweet. But he had distracted himself again.

"Has something happened to her?" If something had, he could forgive the inclusion of this stranger. "Not her, her daughter Marie. She's run away and Angela hasn't seen her for weeks. She sent a pigeon to my father and my father sent me to you. Daedric suddenly noticed the strangers dusty clothes and rumpled appearance. His leathers were caked weith dirt and he carefully shifted his feet in his boots. He'd ridden hard and long to bring this news. This was important to Angela and, therefore, important to Daedric. "You have a miniature, I hope?" "Of course." The girl looked much like her mother. Long, curly sandy brown hair, big blue eyes and the warmest, rosiest skin a man could fantasize about. This was how Angela looked about thirty years ago, when he'd suddenly seen her waiting for a stagecoach. They had been separated when he was only 10, but he'd never forgotten her. Of course, she had looked much different under layers of dirt and baby fat. Daedric touched the man's shoulder and sent a thin thread of Healing through him. He shivered, but smiled gratefully. "I'll do the same for your horse. You will stay here tonight and tomorrow we shall go on our separate journeys. Goodnight, Justen." Justen's eye's widened a little before he slowly nodded. His father had only told him enough to actually find Daedric; what he'd learned since coming here disturbed him. "The bedroom is the first door to the left upstairs. I will sleep here when I've finished packing." Daedric lovingly caressed the dagger at his side. He hoped he would not need it, but too often he did. He sighed. Why hadn't Angela told him herself? He was more easily reached by pigeon than by horse. Was there something she did not want him to know? He shook his head ruefully. It was her business; meanwhile finding the girl was his business. He almost laughed. Girl? Maybe he was getting too old.

Daedric had one more thing to do before he packed. Of course, he hadn't told Justen; the boy knew far too much already. He took a small scrying stone from a kitchen cabinet. Daedric's 'kitchen' wasn't what one would expect. It looked like a clean, normal kitchen, but perhaps it was even too clean to be normal. Of course, Daedric couldn't afford to take chances; he was an apothecary. The majority of his kitchen cabinets were filled with potions and herbs that could potentially be fatal. Well, fatal for anyone else. Daedric would only get ill and be fine in a few days. He knew because he'd tried it. Kneeling by the hearth with the miniature before him on the floor, Daedric slowly twirled the stone over it using a piece of old twine. He closed his eyes and focused on Marie's image and name. The stone began to swing in circular motion around the miniature. Though he couldn't see it, he felt a tug on his consciousness that indicated the magic was working. All that was left was to surrender to it. The secret to his magic was surrender. If he'd known that when he was much younger, he'd be dead. Daedric gave himself to the spell and allowed his memory to replay the all-too-familiar scene from his past.

It was after he'd been taken away from Angela. Perhaps he should have been glad to go. They had been kept in a dank basement; a prison for children who committed the crime of not being wanted. But he hated leaving Angela there. It was these thoughts that held him captive just before his master cuffed him on the ear to bring him back to the present. "I won't have you sitting on your fat ass, you're here to work! I feed you, teach you to read and write, and you repay me by being a lazy good for nothing...!" Having run out of insults, he cuffed Daedric once more, sending him sprawling to the floor. Daedric knew better than to retaliate; he was only a gangly boy of 14 with no weapons. He'd be murdered. Not that he was adverse to dying, but he had no intention of giving his master the satisfaction of killing him. "Yees, ser, I'sarry, ser" Daedric murmmered. This earned him a boot in his gut. "All my effort and you still talk like a gutter rat..." Daedric ruefully stared at the man's boots. All his effort? He'd sat Daedric at a table with his hawk nosed skeleton of a wife and told her to make him useful. "And do it quick; I've a lot of scribing for him to do, and I need someone to mix the elixirs." Daedric had 10 months of teaching interspersed with whippings and tongue lashings before he was 'useful'. Meaning his master had taught him to make every elixir he knew and his wife had him reading, writing, and speaking like a gentleman. Why teach a slave all this? The answer was simple enough. The more Daedric could be forced to do, the less his master had to do. Had he said 'sitting on your fat ass...?' Daedric's under-fed belly protested that statement. The same under-fed belly received another kick from his irate master. "Get up! What, are you taking a nap?" Daedric felt a headache building in his head and cursed his luck. The last time his powers had been provoked, his master had been reduced to a blubbering, bloody mass of flesh. But that didn't stop him from giving Daedric 20 lashes with the whip. Daedric always healed quickly but the pain... and it didn't help that his master always gleefully added salt to the wounds. Something was different this time though...

The apothecary stepped back warily. The boy was surrounded by an amber glow and his wide green eyes had gone completely black. The boy stared straight at him but did not appear to see anything. At that moment, Daedric truly couldn't see anything. He simply felt. He felt his power welling up within, felt it taking over, shredding him to pieces. Daedric smiled; at least he tried to. His body was cold and remote to him now. All this was happening inside him. He was dying. He felt an umbeleiveable chill that burned like white hot fire. In the midst of this maelestrom of contradiction, Daedric wished he could laugh. His master would have no satisfaction in his death. He would watch his little gold maker be ripped to shreds by the amber glow. Daedric felt his senses deaden and could no longer think coherently. His last thought was a hope that Angela, at least, would find happiness before death...

The spell was complete. Marie was in a seedy little Inn with two men. Her hands were bound and she was gagged, but she was not their prisoner. He'd felt the waves of pleasure emanating from her as the two men thrust into her; one in her cunt the other in her ass. Daedric felt a little sick after witnessing this, but was ashamed to admit that it also aroused him. He swore as he stashed the scrying stone into a traveling pack. He shouldn't need it again, but it never hurt to be prepared. Daedric continued packing. Having identified Marie's thought pattern, he could estimate how far away she was and pack enough food for the journey. A large yawn escaped him. It was always tiring to scry another's thoughts while trying to keep your own private. As he carefully packed herbs, clothing, food and other essentials, Daedric thought again about that strange occurance of 36 years ago.

Daedric opened his eyes. A tear slowly ran down his cheek; he was not dead. Not unless the apothecary's home was Hell. He was roughly jerked from the floor by the collar of his shirt. The face that met his, however, was not that of his master. An elf; one of those dark skinned, wide eyed, long eared woodland sprites of legend. This one did not look as jolly as the legends claimed. "Who the hell are you? What the hell are you?" Daedric glared silently. The elf cocked back his arm to strike Daedric then stopped. Daedric had a strange smirk on his face that sparked a memory in the elf. "Come with me boy." Before Daedric could protest he was nearly dragged out the door at a run. Struggling to keep up and quietly cursing his luck, Daedric had no choice but to follow. Luckily, the apothecary lived close to the woods. It would have been strange, to say the least, for the townspeople to see a young boy being kidnapped by an elf. Everyone swore it happened, but it was always the cousin of a friend who witnessed it. Suddenly they stopped before a large hill. The elf stood before the hill and closed his eyes in concentration. Daedric was shocked to realise he could see the elf's thoughts. He was imagining a door in the hill. In only a few moments the door appeared. Once again they started foward, but they were no longer running. Curious elven faces peered from behind artistic stone swirls and arches. It was then that the realisation struck him. This was no hill; if it were the walls would be made of earth. Daedric felt a chill go down his spine. He'd heard a lot about magic, and none of it good.

They walked through a few of the arches following no particular pattern Daedric could discern. suddenly they were in a large domestic looking room. Three elves looked up with surprise. a girl about Daedric's age with long black tresses and large blue eyes, an older woman with the matured, more womanly version of the same features and... And a man that could have been his father were he not an elf. The man's face was his own, only without the mole over his mouth. "Explain this, Raphain. This boy is most obviously yours." Raphain looked nervously at his wife. "I don't know wha..." "Don't play games with me. I want to know and there are more painful ways to find out." His captor, Garunth was his name, took a menacing step toward the cowering Raphain. "I...", Raphain cleared his throut nervously and begain again. "When Gallaina was pregnant with our daughter, I became restless. I was out in the woods and saw a human woman taking a walk... she was just a human, it is not as though it were another elf!" Gallaina let out a soft "Oh" and a tear slid down her cheek. Their daughter's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Daedric. Daedric, meanwhile, was miserable. His existence was a burden to a family he'd never met before now. "A human woman lay with you??" Garunth seemed both incredulous and disgusted. "She... didn't have a choice..." Gallaina fainted, falling quietly to the floor. The girl quickly kneeled beside her mother, fanning her gently with the end of her shirt. Daedric looked on guiltily, feeling sick. Was it any wonder he was given away? His mother was raped! Garunth touched Gallaina's forehead and her eyes sprang open. "I am so sorry, Gallaina", he said softly,"But I had to know about this boy. He is a mage." Gallaina looked as if she might faint again but only nodded. Once assured her mother would be alright, the girl walked over to Daedric. "It's not your fault; we are not angry with you. You needn't feel guilty." Daedric cursed himself for a fool. There was a spark in the girl similar to the larger one he felt in himself and Garunth. She was a mage as well, and was reading him like an open book. The girl had a surprised look on her face. "How did you do that? You closed your mind like... like..." "A book." he finished with dawning awe. There was so much he could do, so little he knew! "You won't be going back to the humans for a while. You will need training", Garunth announced. The girl, Shaila, smiled brightly. "He could train with me." Garunth chuckled. "I'm afraid not, sweeting; he has survived the Madness. You would not be able to handle what I will teach him." Shaila looked back at Daedric with awe and respect. "The Madness?" Daedric asked, feeling foolish. Garunth nodded. "The amber glow that surrounds you whenever your emotions are out of control. The final stage, what you experienced today, is the power trying to destroy what is you and remould you to it's use. Few survive it. Most avoid it by training in the simpler arts I teach Shaila." Garunth patted the girl's head affectionately. "We should go. Come with me, Daedric." Having his mind read still disturbed him a bit, as did having the names and thoughts of others suddenly popping into his head. When they were out of earshot, Garunth began to whisper. "When I experienced the Madness, I was angry. I was the first mage and no one understood me. I only wanted to die. It was only after that that I realized surrendering to the Madness was the only way to survive it. I watched many other mages die trying to cling to life before I began teaching them the simple tricks that would hold the Madness at bay." Daedric understood; Garunth wanted to know what made him surrender. "I too wanted death", he whispered hoarsely. "An end to being owned and used my entire life." Garunth only nodded. That day, Daedric's training began.

Garunth taught him everything about the power that controlled him more than he controlled it. He also taught Daedric hand to hand combat and the use of many weapons. "Never rely solely on your magic", he had said,"Or it will become your master." That was 36 years ago. Daedric hadn't forgotten; he could not afford to forget. He lay down upon the couch and induced a deep sleep. He would need rest. The quest began tomorrow.

Upon waking the next morning, Justen quickly washed in a pitcher of water left on the dressing table. Dressing in his leathers from the day before, Justen looked out the window. He then rubbed his eyes in shock and looked again. Daedric know stood 5'11"... a most impressive growth spurt. Not only that, but he was dressed in dirty rags, no cloak and ragged sandals. Daedric smiled apologetically. "I doubt Marie would have taken a kid seriously. I don't want to waste time explaining myself to her. There's food for your journey packaged in the pantry. Farewell." "Why would she take you seriously dressed that way?", Justen asked, trying to hide his disgust. A lopsided grin accompanied Daedric's answer. "She may not, but most thieves don't bother with a man who has more muscle than money." The two men laughed loudly as they parted. Riding away, Daedric caressed his dagger thoughtfully. He had the distinct feeling Marie would not want to return. He may have to force her to come with him. He wasn't looking forward to it. Nonetheless, he left his home at full gallop. The Inn wasn't far; it was in only the next town. He would be there before nightfall. If he must do this, at least he could get it over and done with.

As he rode, he again let his mind drift. It was always this way; once he began thinking of his past, he couldn't stop. He sighed as he remembered coming back to the apothecary's home after his training with Garunth. He'd decided to force the apothecary to give him his freedom and the shop. He felt smug and powerful and there was nothing the apothecary could do to stop him from getting what he wanted. Unfortunately, he didn't yet know just how true that was. He unlocked the front door with a flow of telekinesis and strolled in expecting to see surprised and angered reactions. He relished the idea. What he hadn't expected was the frightened, weeping wife that cowered away from him. Confused and disappointed, Daedric reached into her mind. She was in no shape to answer his questions willingly. What he saw made him gasp with shock and horror. During his bout with the Madness, the great backlash of power had killed the apothecary. His widow had been living here alone, always in fear that he would return and kill her also. Daedric swallowed the bile in his throat. He'd had no intention of killing the man; he didn't think of himself as capable of killing anyone. But there was obviously no way to convince his widow of this. "Get out of here", he whispered to the woman. She lifted her tear streaked face to him, her lips trembling. "Get the hell out!" he roared suddenly and a table crashed against the far wall. The woman scrambled to her feet frantically and ran from the house screaming. He realized that the apothecary's sign had been taken down. He really was a fool; that should have been his first clue. After rummaging around a bit, he found the sign and hung it again. No one liked the old apothecary; no reason to believe old loyalties would prevent his taking over the business.

Daedric smiled ruefully. There were no old loyalties, but plenty of old debts. Debts Daedric could only find one way to settle. He'd learned quickly enough that he was more than capable of murder, or torture if need be. He became a man that first year; at least, as much as any 15 year old becomes a man. It wasn't until the year after that, however, that Daedric realized his body wasn't reaching manhood. He'd gone back to the woods to ask Garunth about this oddity. His answer was a loud guffaw. "Look at me boy. How old do I look?" Daedric shrugged. "30?" Garunth nearly choked from laughter. "Did I not tell you I was the first mage? I am 534 years of age and faced the Madness at age 13. I only look 30 because I choose to. I will show you how." Like everything else performed with the magic, age manipulation was a form of surrender. One had to see his body at the desired age and allow the power to rearrange itself accordingly. This skill alone took two months for Daedric to master, however. If he thought mind reading felt odd, he was absolutely bewildered at the feeling of individual components of his body growing and shrinking in his body. Even now it amazed him. He couldn't even count how many of these tiny units comprised his smallest finger alone. He sometimes shuddered at the thought of a mishap. What if he was left deformed? True to form, Garunth told him this was one more reason not to put his full faith in the magic. That is why Daedric opted to remain 14 unless it was necessary to do elsewise. He wasn't all that sure it made a difference, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Daedric looked around him at the shoddy little huts and the large families that made do in them. Over worked women with three or four children and one on the way. Men laboring in the field for less money than the rags on their backs were worth. Reeking outhouses where unsupervised children played in the filth. Then he sighed. Strangely enough, most of these people were happy. They had each other; it was all they needed. Some of them felt sorry for him, the lonely apothecary at the edge of town. They all knew him; how could one not know the only healer for miles in a town like this? The first few years mothers often bought their shy, mousy daughters for 'chitchats' they hoped would lead to romantic union. Of course, when their daughters began to tower over his head, they sensed something was different about him. Daedric did not care if they knew, however. These people owed him their silence; the townspeople were too poor to afford a new healer and too often sick to do without one. Eventually they got used to it. So used to it that not a one even batted an eye as they saw the noticeably older Daedric practically fly by on his horse. And did they wonder where he was off to in such a hurry? Daedric didn't often leave and no one questioned him when he did. You see, their knowledge of him was a two edged sword. Where else could he go and be accepted? He was an outcast; he had no choice but to return to them and they knew it. So life went by almost as if Daedric didn't exist. And he liked it that way.

He'd finally made it out of the town and the sun hadn't quite began to set. Daedric stopped briefly and reached out with his senses. Marie wasn't at the Inn, but she was still in town. He went to a nearby Inn and paid to stable his horse. The beast needed the rest and Daedric was full of pent up energy. He ran silently into an alley keeping a tag on Marie. She was still with the men of the night before, but they were only walking in the marketplace. Arriving quickly, he tried to affect a casual stroll. He scowled as he realized the closest he could come to it was a fast paced walk. He was excited to be so close. It was as if he could smell her; a hunter after prey. He found the trio in an oddly isolated spot. They didn't seem very surprised to see him. "So you finally made it. I was getting annoyed with you buzzing around in my head. Did my mother send you?" Marie strutted forward as she spoke. Daedric tried to remain stoic, but Marie exuded a raw sexuality. He narrowed his eyes suspisciously. Buzzing arund in her head? How did she know? "Could you two sweethearts take care of this?" Marie asked sweetly of her companions. They eagerly started forward. Daedric pulled the dagger from the sheath at his hip. No point wasting time. Rushing toward the taller one, he made a quick feint for his chest. Trying to avoid the dagger, the man never saw the booted foot heading for his stomach. Daedric's target bent double with a small 'oof' and Daedric turned to face the second man who had decided to try sneaking up behind him. This one was easily dispatched with. He hadn't thought Daedric would hear his approach and was totally unprepared for his attack. Daedric lunged forward and planted his dagger in the man's throat. Giving a final twist he turned back to the recovering victim of his kick. He was a little to slow. The man grabbed him by the throat with both hands, lifting him from the ground slightly. Daedric began to feel dizzy when he heard a crazed giggle. Marie.

He had to take Marie back to Angela and there was no way to do so and keep his secret if he were 'killed' here. Daedric reached out toward his dagger. "That won't help you now, friend", his captor laughed though stinking rotted teeth. Swallowing back disgust, Daedric pulled at the dagger telekinetically. The man had a second to be shocked before being stabbed in the wrist. He screamed and Daedric was instantly dropped. An instant later he kicked at the weak point behind the man's knee bringing him to the ground. The man's neck was broken almost before he realized Daedric had moved. Retrieving his dagger from the dead man's wrist, Daedric faced Marie. She hadn't participated so far, but he didn't rule her out as a threat. She smiled and applauded. "It looks like you've captured me. I'm all yours." She stepped closer to trail a hand down his chest. "What are you going to do to me?" Daedric felt a tickling of the power at the base of his skull and then he knew. He pushed Marie to the ground and pinned her wrists. She grimaced, but not because of the fall. She had a headache. Still in pain, she managed a weak smile. "She never would say anything about you, but she always thought of you. That's why I left. I always got the feeling she was thinking 'She's all I have left of him.' I got tired of being a symbol of her first and last love affair." Her voice cracked on the last word and she stared defiantly at Daedric, silently daring him to deny he was her father. He frowned and let her up. "You know who I am and you tried using compulsion on me? Don't try to look innocent, I know what you did to those two goons. What you tried to do to me." Daedric did not mention that she was very nearly successful; his loins still ached with desire. Marie smiled before replying," I am innocent, in a way. I never knew what I was doing, I just let it happen." Daedric realized she was telling the truth. There had been no one to teach her; she had simply surrendered to the power. And it seemed rather obvious that the most common use of her power was seduction by compulsion, as his had been telekinesis. Then he frowned. Had she seen the Madness? Well, there was certainly no way to ask her. "I'm taking you home." He said instead. "It's a little too late for me to play father, so I won't pretend. It wouldn't be fair to you." Marie didn't look too disappointed. "I didn't need a father; a needed my mother to stop thinking about my father. Why'd you leave her anyway?" Daedric smiled sadly. "I didn't"

Daedric wasn't sure she'd believe him, but he told her anyway. After he had her mounted on the horse with him walking alongside, he told her about seeing her mother on the stagecoach platform. "She was beautiful. You look so much like she did then. But don't expect a gushy love story; I never loved your mother." Marie only nodded at his bluntness. Angela had recognized him the moment she saw him. She rushed to him and embraced him with tears in her eyes and a small smile on her lips. "You're all right! That man who took you away had such an evil look about him; I worried about you all these years! I never knew if you were alive!" Daedric chuckled and nuzzled his face against her hair. "You were worried about me? At least I was out of that place! When did you get out?" She happily informed him that she'd been bought only a year after he had, but by a family. Her family. They had felt guilty putting her in that place, but they knew they couldn't afford to keep her. Since that day, her father found a generous lord, sold his property, and became a paid laborer. It had hurt to give up his land, but it was the only way he could afford to get his daughter back. In a few years, he and Angela's mother had earned enough to buy her back and dress her in clean clothing instead of the torn rags she'd grown accustomed to. "It was so wonderful! Like the way it was in the few years before they gave me away. I remember them telling me the same stories I told you before I went to bed. When they had me back, they retold all my favorites, bought me all new toys, basically made me the happiest girl alive. Except that I never knew what happened to you." Daedric frowned. He'd always told Angela everything but... "Please tell me! It's been giving me nightmares!" "probably nothing worse than what really happened", he'd growled before slowly recounting his life of the past 10 years. When he'd finished, he noticed the stagecoach approaching. "Where are you headed?" "I am glad I had more time with my parents, but I'm older now. I'm leaving home." Daedric became frantic. He'd just found his friend again; he didn't want to lose her so soon. He knew Angela couldn't read his thoughts, but sometimes she came so close it was astounding. She looked straight into his eyes and said quietly, "I'd stay here with you, if I thought you wanted me to." Returning her gaze he saw something he wasn't sure he should tamper with. All the same he did want her to stay... "Stay with me." he'd responded just as quietly. And she had, for the next 8 years. It was the seventh year that they became lovers. Angela had stepped into his room one cold night wearing nothing but her skin. "I thought we could both use a little extra warmth", was all she said as she stood there shivering. He knew he should have sent her back to her room, but he was only a man, and she was beautiful. He'd fought temptation for seven years. He silently lifted the corner of his blanket in invitation. "She was attracted to me. I'll never understand why. Just as I'll never understand why she left. One day she just left me a note saying that she couldn't bear to burden me and not to follow her. Not that she'd left me a choice; she hadn't left so much as an eyelash behind. I couldn't have followed her." Marie suddenly laughed. "You're a dolt", she said to the stunned Daedric. "I'm sure you didn't know then, but can't you at least figure it out now?" She waited expectantly for realization to dawn on Daedric. And when it did he swore loudly. Angela left because she was pregnant.

The ride from the town was slow and quiet. Both Daedric and Marie had much to contemplate about their lives up to this point. Marie was now looking down on the head of her father who wasn't her father. She knew nothing about him except that it was his genes that made her what she was. Perhaps she should thank him for that. Having so many men to do her bidding simply because she wanted them to had made life quite easy. The only downfalls were the constant headaches and her mother's strange longing for the man she no longer had. She had always thought he left her mother, not the other way around. Not that it mattered; they had both betrayed her. Who had loved little Marie? Daedric suddenly looked her square in the eyes. His were tired and guileless. He offered no excuses, which was best, because Marie wanted none.

Daedric was still thinking about Marie and the Madness. After taking a moment to think about it, he realized it was rather obvious that she had not experienced it. She still had the headaches. Daedric wished he could tell Marie about the Madness. But how could he talk to her about anything? This woman was cynical and bitter, much like he was. Marie was too much like Daedric for them to really get along. A dry chuckle issued from Daedric's throat. Marie looked down curiously. "I was only thinking... I have been isolated from you for all your life, I've finally found you... and now we're just as isolated as ever because we have nothing to talk about." Marie allowed herself a small giggle at their strange predicament. Then a puzzled look crossed her face. "Why did mother send you to find me without telling you everything?" Daedric smiled sheepishly. "She didn't. A mutual friend told me you had run away. I decided that finding you was more important than asking questions." Marie let out a very un-ladylike snort. Daedric only laughed. "It's the truth, whether you believe me or not." Daedric insisted. Marie reached down and patted his head. "I know. And I know you really couldn't do anything about... about me... but I'm not ready to accept having a father figure to look after me." Daedric's smile just grew warmer. "Can't I help a friend? It's never too late to make a friend." Marie turned her head away, but not before Daedric saw her eyes glisten wetly. She nodded, saying "Friends, then. Thanks for everything." Now may be his only chance. "There's something else. The power you have comes with a price. Left untrained too long it will drive you mad and may kill you. I can train you and keep the Madness at bay." Before Marie could answer, they were stopped by a burly officer of the guard. Puffing up his chest importantly, he informed Daedric that a man matching his description had attacked and killed two men and kidnapped a woman. Daedric growled low in his throat then stopped in confusion as he saw that the officer was grinning foolishly at Marie. Looking up in horror, he saw Marie lean forward and smile... surreptitiously rubbing her temples. She spoke in a sultry murmmer, easily convincing the officer to forget the whole thing. Just as the man turned away, Marie's eyes blackened and she fell from the horse into Daedric's arms. It was too late! Constant use of her power along with Daedric's sudden appearance into her life had brought on the Madness. Daedric gently laid her upon the ground and held her hand. He wasn't ready to lose her, but how could he help?

'Help me... please... it burns...' Daedric's eyes widened as he 'heard' this psychic plea. If she could communicate with him, did it not stand to reason that he could communicate with her also? He had to try! Pulling her into his arms he fervently sent a probe to her mind's inner eye. This was the most important node in the brain; it was the home of the imagination. What few people knew was that it was the imagination that dictated the rational mind, not the other way around. Daedric hoped that going straight to the source would aid in his plight. 'Don't fight it, Marie! Give in to it, as you've always done before. The pain is temporary.' 'It burns! It burns so much! I don't want to die... don't let me die...' Daedric's eyes were squeezed shut, but tears coursed down his cheeks nonetheless. She was afraid, and all he could do was hope she'd pay heed to his warnings. He completely ignored the outside world and the gathering crowd of onlookers. 'Marie, listen to me! Listen, damnit!' For a moment, her frantic thoughts slowed to hear him. She'd never been thought at harshly before... 'Marie, you have to stop fighting this! I know the pain is great, but it will pass! And I am here with you. I'll be with you the whole time, I promise!' Marie had calmed now and was surrendering to the great soulfire that ate at her. 'That's a good girl, it will be all right.' Daedric's mind whispered encouragements to hers as she desperately tried not to panic. It still hurt so much! But Daedric was there for her, he would help her.

Marie felt another presence and became afraid. Someone else was touching her; where was Daedric! 'I'm still here... some fool in the crowd wants to take you to a doctor. I can't attack him while he holds you, but I am still here in your mind. I won't leave you.' Marie began to panic. Could he not even protect her from some average human man? 'He will not hurt you Marie; stay calm!' 'Don't yell at me!' She felt Daedric's spirit trying to soften it's tones. A hysterical giggle resounded in her mind. Who'd have thought you could yell into another's mind? Daedric remained silent... it seemed she was amused, which would distract her at least. Then he realized that tactic wouldn't work... feeling him there wasn't enough; if he was silent too long she began to panic. 'Don't panic, Marie, I've told you I won't leave. Just stay calm.' 'How ironic; you telling me to be calm.' She was right; Daedric was still struggling with his own panic... he felt responsible for Marie's life. He had to protect her!

Daedric had been following close on the heels of the man who carried Marie. As they drew closer to the doctor's office, he knew he had to get Marie away. No doctor could treat the Madness, he wouldn't even know what he was treating! Taking a deep breath and praying he would not hurt Marie, he swiftly kicked the man in the weak point behind his knee. The man fell heavily and Daedric picked up Marie and ran. Even burdened by Marie's weight, he easily outran his pursuers. Launching himself into the air, he briefly planted his feet on the side of a nearby building. In the split second before gravity could take hold, he pushed off to land similarly on an adjacent building. A few more leaps took him to the roof of the first building. Daedric continued to run as the crowds watched in awe. What else could they do? A few blocks away he stopped and sat down. He wondered how many people were at home when he decided to vault onto their roofs? Daedric was more worried about Marie, however. When he'd faced the madness, he wasn't exactly timing himself. Should it have taken this long? 'Daedric... if I survive... then what?' 'Then you will have powers beyond your belief. But they will be raw and untrained. I will have to teach you how to use them.' 'So I'll still be a freak? Is there no way to rid myself of these powers?' Daedric's silence was answer enough. Marie began to panic again. 'It's not all that bad! And you'll have me.' 'And I'll look 22 when I'm at least 50? How many people have you watched die? How many have you killed?' Daedric thought for sure his heart had stopped. That hurt, just as she knew it would. Daedric felt himself savagely cut off from Marie's mind. He howled in pain, but he still tried desperately to connect again. That's when her mind spoke softly to him for the last time. 'No, I don't want to live the way you do. I don't want these powers. If I can't live without them, I don't want to live. So I'm going to fight for the right to die.' Crazed laughter bounced off the walls of his mind before fading away. There was nothing left for him to do; he had lost.

Anger welled up within Daedric. His daughter; his flesh! Torn from him because she was afraid to live the life he had brought her in to. A pain grew in his chest and he released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Her life had been softer than his, she'd lived for 22 years before the Madness took her, but there was more to happiness than physical comfort. If he'd been there for her, he could have taught her things, enjoyable things they could do with the power. She would have grown to love it rather than hating the strange flow in her life that possessing it had caused. Daedric laughed mirthlessly. How could he be so sure? Even he often regretted having the power. Perhaps this was better for her. But if only he'd had the chance... he had to see Angela.