"Our master would not like this." Unduriel sits perched atop the bookcase, watching Ondra fiddle with a key in his hands. "We should have taken them and kept them hidden, maybe even... sacrificed them."

"That's your problem, my friend. You think in the small term. And besides, if Amadeo keeps his word, maybe I can finally clean up some of the mess I've made. I'll have to apologize to our master. He won't like this, you're right. But I think in the longterm, this may be a key step on the path to accomplishing my goal."

"Our goal, Ondra. Do not forget your place in our master's schemes." The imp hisses, tail extending out as if ready to leap out and strike.

"And you do not forget your place as my familiar!" Shadows coalesce in Ondra's hand, forming a short blade that he throws at the imp. As the blade strikes, pinning it to the wall above the shelf, the creature goes limp and disappears in a small font of flame.

Stepping to the door, Ondra sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He gazes over his reflection in a mirror, eyes sunken and bloodshot, dark bags under them. "Gods...I'm exhausted."

He steps out into the foyer, taking a deep breath. His master will be annoyed, but Ondra knows him. He has a myriad of schemes in the works at all times. If there's a shift in plans, he can surely understand. And if he doesn't, then perhaps it is time to reexamine their deal. Ondra needed him once; the power he gave helped soothe the ache of losing his family. It helped him gain influence and money, but in the end, he can't help but feel with each passing day that his humanity is slowly withering away.

Up the stairs he goes, moving down the quiet hallway and looking out the dusty windows as he passes them. Outside, the lake shimmers and sparkles in what little sunlight manages to peek through the fog. Ondra stops at a door at the end of the hall, hand resting on the knob for a long moment. His hands shake, sweat perspiring across his palms. "Come on, Nelos. It's just a room." He mumbles to himself before finally taking a breath and inserting the key in the lock. He turns it with a light 'chik' before opening the door.

Stepping in, his eyes are first greeted with nearly pitch darkness. His pupils dilate, letting in more light and allowing him to rest his gaze on the giant stuffed teddy bear, brown in color to his memory. Now it lays on its side, covered in holes from where moths have eaten away at it. The pink ribbon, originally around its neck, now discarded to the side. A bookshelf bursting with childrens' books of all kinds sits next to a bunk bed, one very well worn one sitting on the lower bunk. Finely made pillows and linens decorate each mattress, made of the best materials for maximum comfort, though the moths seems to have gotten to them too.

He moves to a pair of writing desks, looking down at the long ruined wood and smiling. Still etched into the corners of each desk, he spies the Elvish initials for "V.O." and "R.O.", and he runs his fingers over them.

"Toba!" He hears the echo of voices long past, turning to see the transparent figures of two small children, a girl and boy with ears more pointed than his own. The tall and lean half-elf looks over them in silence. The girl holds the teddy bear, it's color restored. The boy holds a small ball and grins. "Toba! Play outside with us!"

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Ondra's smile fades, his legs giving out. He collapses to his knees, crawling to the visions before him and laying a hand on each of their shoulders. The boy blinks his bright blue eyes and wraps an arm around the half-elf. The girl rests her head in the crook of his neck, and Ondra sighs contentedly. "I'm sorry, darlings. Daddy can't play with you yet. He has some things he has to do first...Just a little bit longer."

The visions begin to fade, and the smell of sulfur fills the room. "Nelos...Dear Nelos. Unduriel tells me you're having second thoughts."

Ondra begins to sweat, and he stands. "I believe I need to reconsider a few things. I-"

"Hush now." The voice whispers right behind his ear, a hand with sharpened fingernails resting on his shoulder. The hand slides out from a long red robe with gold trim worn by a human male with piercing red eyes that seem to hold the half-elf in place. The figure steps around to put them face to face, a salt and pepper goatee crowning his chin as he grins wickedly. Ondra finds his tongue caught in his throat, unable to so much as breathe.

"L-L-L-" The figure puts a finger to his lips. "You can't alter the terms of the deal, Nelos. It's already in motion." There's a flash of fire, a rolled up scroll unfurling for both of them to view. "You see? You read it, I'm sure. The contract saying that you work for me, completing tasks as I see fit in exchange for the gifts I've given you. There are no changes to be made." His gaze turns to the contract and Ondra gasps, collapsing to his knees and sucking down air like a dying fish.

"My lord, if I could be allowed to explain..." Ondra waits with bated breath, the man eyeing him again before nodding his head. A chair flares into existence and the human sits in it. "Proceed, my little mortal friend."

Ondra takes a deep breath, composing himself. He hadn't expected his master's response to be so swift, nor quite so threatening. "Well. I wasn't thinking of backing out or altering anything. But I was thinking of the task you gave me. You wanted an inn built that would be used as a front for your worshippers. I believe that the return of Amadeo Ravenwood heralds not a halt to the plan, but rather a shift in perspective. He desires to be rid of the spirit of Mercy Warren. If I assist him, the general prosperity of Misery will return to what it once was long ago. Having an inn built will hardly be a problem then, when I am one of the ones who helped remove the ghost." His heart pounds in his chest, his brain firing on all cylinders to keep himself off the man's bad side.

The man remains silent, merely gesturing with his hand to Ondra, who continues. "I ask only that I be allowed to proceed with this my way, unhindered. I cannot count on Unduriel anymore if he's going to start questioning the way I handle the task."

The man strokes his beard in thought, chuckling. "He is a bit overzealous in his loyalties. I like that, but I imagine it can be an annoyance as well. Very well. I will have Unduriel correct his attitude. Proceed as you see fit. The end goal and the subtlety with which it is achieved are all that matter." The man stands, resting a hand on Ondra's shoulder. "You've done well so far. If you believe this to be the right path to our objective, I will not stop you. However-"

He leans down, bending so low to the kneeling half elf that it's a wonder his spine doesn't break. His voice passes through the air in the faintest whisper, like a serpent's tongue in . "-if you break the trust I have placed in you, there will be no force in all creation that can stop me from visiting the most horrible of tortures upon you and your delightful children."

Ondra bows his head low, but the man grips his chin and pulls him to lock their eyes once more. "Do I make myself clear, Nelos Ondra?"

The half elf nods slowly, feeling his heart near ready to explode in his chest. "Yes, Lord Krustalght."