His body froze as the creature entwined him, its skin smooth and dry and cool as he felt it press against his back. He'd been so careful, so alert, and yet it had snuck up on him as if he'd been a sleeping child. The cold sweat of terror prickled across his body. This is it, he thought to himself, I have failed and now I die. "So," a voice breathed in his ear, "you have come to kill me?": It was a voice like satin - soft and gentle and rich and perhaps a little sad. He had not expected this. The feminine voice continued. "Am I such a horrible monster to be slain without question or reason?" He shuddered as her fingers brushed against his skin but said nothing. What could he say? That the village had sent him here to rid them of the monster they knew lived in these caves? She was a monster of old, that had been reason enough, or so he thought until this moment. He heard her sigh. "So quiet. You will not talk to me, I suspect. Pity... " A hand gently traced the edge of his blindfold. He tried not to flinch. "Here you are," she murmured, "With your sword and shield, and yet you put all your faith in this small piece of cloth... Will you not look at me?" "...I can't," he swallowed. "I could tear this from your eyes, make you see.... The hand lingered a moment against his face. He braced himself for the worst. "But... I will not," she whispered "It is you who must choose. Choose to blindly continue your awful mission, or choose to open your eyes and see." Her lips brushed his cheek, a kiss perhaps, and he felt himself gently released from her grasp. The sword and shield felt heavy in his hands as he stood in the darkness. Choose, she said. Choose to fight or to see the truth, perhaps to die. She was a monster, not human nor beast, no question. And yet, when she had him in her power, she did not hurt him. Of course, she could be toying with him, like a cat plays with a mouse. One look and he could be nothing more than stone. Choose, she said. He took a deep breath, steeled his nerves, focused himself... And chose. ---------------------------- Aiko 3, Hiro/David, Dagon (sword),Defenders of D'Akir, Wet Hair, MDragon Nest, Tournament Fighter by DAZ. Free Naga Character by Spec2, free Laques Hair by seisui, free blindfold and Silo shield from RuntimeDNA. Poser 6 render, post and cleanup in Photoshop