Ella slowly drew closer, hardly daring to believe he was real, afraid he's burst like a soap bubble if she came too close, breathed to hard, or even blinked. Thomas, her Thomas, so close, even if he looked like death itself. Tears welled up in her eyes, tears of joy, misery, and something less definable between them both. Her trembling fingers stretched out toward his face, hovering scant inches from his gray skin, not brave enough to touch, not strong enough to pull away.

Her knees went weak as he spoke, a harsh whisper, but God only knew what it took for him to even be here. What mattered was that he said her name. He remembered her! He had come back to her! With something between a laugh and a moan she stepped in closer, leaning under his taller frame and finally daring to touch his face with her white gloved fingers, caressing his ashen cheeks, her own visage turned up to his, unheeding the devilish color to his eyes.

"Oh...Thomas, you're here....you're really here," she crooned, as if to a child, tears dripping from her chin, winding a trickling path down her mostly bare chest. The scarce moonlight glittered off the tiny droplet, until it fell into the shadow of her body, the glitter stolen by the shadows. If she only knew how close she was to falling into the same shadows she might tear herself free, fight, run, scream, anything to escape the manipulative horror. But she didn't know, and she was weak to this particularly cruel ploy, a fly willingly drifting into the spiders web.

The Nightbringer watched her scantily clad body move ever closer to him, scared yet drawn as the gap between the two slowly grew less. He need not even see her as he had remained looking at the ground to have heard the love she held for the man clearly in her voice and the pain his loss had caused her. The closer she came, the harder it was to not simply just attack her as her scent filled his nostrils, her voice soft and vulnerable and even if he couldn't see her currently, he hadn't forgotten a single detail of how she had looked. Her gloved hand hanging near his face, he could feel her warmth radiating into his skin.

His word had done as he had hoped it would do, it brought her in even closer. He didn't long ponder what the woman's reaction would have been if he had known about Thomas prior to tonight and had simply appeared before her as such. Turning his face into her hand, rubbing his cheek into gentle grip and the soft fabric covering it the cruel monster's eyes shift to meet her own. Reaching out with his other arm, the dark shadow of her former lover slowly slides it around her waist bringing his hand onto the small of her back and pulling her against him. Unlike what traditional books might have written or movies might have cast into belief, Thomas' body felt warm, almost comforting. His fingers flexed for a moment running his finger tips against her bare skin, as the creatures excitement at how well the game had been progressing was becoming nearly unbearable.

". . . Ella . . ." He repeated, his words choked as if difficult to speak or whatever that had happened to him had taken a horrible toll upon him.

The warmth of his body, the way his hand slid down to her back, pulling her in more intimately, it was driving her out of her senses. This couldn't be real, shouldn't be real. Thomas was dead, he was dead, but... Logic couldn't hold up to the feeling of his cheek nuzzling into her hands, the sound of his voice whispering her name. A soft gasp parted her lips as she snuggled in closer to him, one hand staying on his cheek, caressing the shadowed skin, the other sliding back into his hair, his beautiful red hair, bedraggled as it seemed now.

Hearing the strain in his voice, she pressed herself closer against him, her bare skin flushed and hot, her breasts squeezed against his ribs. She buried her face in his neck, pulling his head down to her shoulder, murmuring in his ear, her voice broken and cracking, but tender, oh so tender.

"Shh shh, I'm here sugar, I'm here. Oh baby I've missed you so much. But you're here now, you're with me again. Whatever happened to you, I'm here, baby doll will make it all better," she constantly kneaded her fingers into his hair, holding him tightly, now afraid if she let go he'd become nothing but shadows once more.

The dark being's hand slid up the girls body coming to a rest on the back of her neck, cupping with a light squeeze. Embracing her soft body tightly against him, he could feel his blood boiling as thoughts swirled darkly behind his eyes. She had bought the deception but to let it linger would eventually lead to her asking questions, questions he couldn't answer. He probably could have faked memory loss or something such like that...but how much more horrifying would it be with what was yet to come? Rubbing her neck and gently holding the small of her back, he didn't say anything more and just sat there basking in the stolen tender moment between two lovers being reunited. Inhaling her scent deeply, he closed his eyes as she snuggled ever closer against him.

Bringing his hand from her neck his finger tips lightly brushed against her skin and pressing it against her cheek, his thumb stroking her jaw line as he ever so gently raised her face back up to his. His expression was caring, lost and pained as his red hued eyes stared unblinkingly down at her. Moments pass like minutes as he just seems to be lost within her sparkling hazel eyes, before he with an ever deliberate slowness lowered his mouth to her own and stealing a lovers kiss.

The shadows around the unlit room had been growing darker as their attentions had been lost to one another. The monster behind the human mask almost rippled with anticipation and excitement and couldn't help but pull the ravishing raven haired beauty deeper into the kiss a light growl and moan pushing past his warm lips.

Ella felt every movement of his hands, his fingers caressing her neck, his palm warm on her lower back, hovering over the tattoo she'd gotten for him. She arched into him as his hand rose to her face, slowly tilting her head back to look up into his eyes once more, blinking back tears as she favored him with a tender, vulnerable smile, her misty eyes searching his blood colored orbs, looking for other hints of her love. She moaned softly as he bent slowly to meet her, pushing herself up at the last moment to fall into his kiss, surrendering to the passion and hope burning in her soul.

The kiss seemed to go on forever, deliciously drawn out, as if they were making up for all the time lost since his death. She never wanted it to end, wanted to stay lost in this moment forever, lost in his gentle embrace. She gasped slightly into his mouth as he crushed her against him, her body rippling against him, her fingers clutching at him for support as her knees went weak from the sound and sensation of his growling moan. She imagined her vision going darker as her world narrowed, focused on nothing but Thomas, nothing but her man. Unconsciously she brought one slender leg up and curled it behind one of his own, her foot stroking the back of his calf, just like he'd used to love.

The mocking illusion of her lost love drew her deeper still into his warm embrace as his hand upon her lower back gently drifted downwards. Caressing and squeezing her firm rear before finding its place upon the back of her thigh, grinding his palm into the firm yet silky thighs as she curled her leg around him. Tilting his head slightly to the side, he pushed deeper still into the kiss a lustful growl purring in the back of his throat at her reactions to his every touch, and her every move. His other hand still holding her cheek, gently cupping as his thumb moves brushing a few of her tears away with a simple, tender caress. The Nightbringer had to admit, part of him wanted the moment to last a bit longer as well it was rather...invigorating feeling the young woman's body against his, so willing, wanting, craving her lost lovers embrace.

Even so, the game must continue. Thick black tendrils, dripping with a tar like slime began to rise up from the dark ground of the floor around the two lovers, wriggling and dancing in the air as they came into existance. They sat just at the edge of vision within the darkness, preparing the strike at their wicked masters command. He meant to keep playing the role...he wanted to see the utter torment, to hear her voice cry out in much the same...but not just in pain but in delicious conflicting lust.

Every gesture he made, as strange as they seemed with his flesh so ashen, every touch, sank her deeper into delirium. Her own mind filled in the little inconsistencies, glossed over the imperfections, so desperate was it to rationalize the uncanny encounter. She felt that old flame kindle in her belly, that sweet warmth in her chest and cheeks, ignited by the forceful passion in his kiss, fanned by his hand on her leg, stroking her skin like he used to. She wiggled happily against him, her eyes closing gently as he brushed her tears away with his soft fingers.

Despite her will to continue, she needed air, her lungs willing to hold out only so long. She broke the kiss regretfully, nipping and pecking at his lips as she breathed deeply, raggedly, not pulling any further away than was absolutely necessary. She nuzzled her nose against his, no longer fazed by his bloody gaze. She could feel him against her bare skin, his heat, his fire, God he was burning her alive. She ground her body up against his in a slow, sensuous rolling of her hips, arching her back as she uttered his name in a whispering moan.

"Oh Thomas..."

With another deep growl, nearly feral from lust as the woman's body grinds against his own, his fingers curling as they tighten against her. Leaning foward as her back arches, his chest pressing fully against hers before he lowers his head down onto her neck. Nuzzling her neck for just a moment his wet lips just barely graze her soft silky flesh before kissing her neck and playfully nibbling at her. Turning in place as the two of their bodies moved and rubbed at one another, he kept a firm hold of her as he slowly pushed her up against door, grinding his hips back meeting and matching her each sensual movement with his own.

"E...lle...I...missed..."

Then it happened, striking him fast like a lightning bolt as he tore himself from the embrace and fell backwards holding his head. Dropping down to a knee, the growl that came from his mouth sounded disjointed and inhuman as his eyes seemed to begin glowing a much brighter red but yet no light did they give off. The tendrils hanging just out of sight within the darkness moved in to action, the first two lashing out at Ella trying to coil and wrap around her wrists.

The Nightbringer knew he'd have to play it by ear, as cunning and manipulative as he was there were variables that not even he could forsee. There were ways that he could simply drive into her mind and collect the information that he required but aside from the drawbacks that would cause to his game, it would completely ruin the entire joy he got from it.

Ella curled her fingers up into his hair further as he bent his face to her neck, the clenching and twining a constant report back to him exactly which spots on her neck were feeling his nibbles and kisses to the best effect. She barely registered him lifting and turning her in place until her back softly collided with the door, a hungry moan escaping her at how forceful he was being, how controlling. Her leg curled up to his hips, urging him onward as he returned her grinding, his groin roughly rubbing against her already eager femininity through the thin fabric of her panties.

She cried out in shock and loss as he jerked away from her, the sudden motion staggering her back against the door. She reached back to steady herself, her eyes wide with first concern, then surprise and no little fear as she finally saw the shadowy tendrils encircling them both. She barely had to time to scream before two of them lashed forward like inky whips and curled around her delicate wrists, the tarlike surface disturbing against the scarred skin.

"Thomas!? Thomas what's wrong?! What's happening?" she pleaded frantically, seeing the deepening crimson of his eyes, struggling against the restraining shadows, more fighting to get to him than to get away.

The tendrils held the young paniced woman fast as they pulled at her wrists like shackles, holding her in place with her arms stretched out to her sides. His eyes growing ever brighter become orbs of burning crimson as his skin turns from grey to an inky black, almost seeming to swirl and move from underneath his flesh. Rising to his feet, large thick cords of black shadow pull at his back making him struggle and strain before finally standing upright once again. His face, ever still Thomas' has become an even darker reflection as those fiery eyes come to rest once more upon the his lover.

With a deep, throaty growl "...E..e.lll...a..." he takes a step forward, pulling at the large shadowy cords as the tendrils locked around your wrists tighten in turn, as if attached to his back. More tentacles begin to slither forth from the deep endless darkness within the room, coiling and snapping at the air as they draw ever closer to the trapped woman. Thomas' face seemed twisted not only with lust but soundless pain as though unblinking eyes just stared out upon her luscious body.

The Nightbringer grinned to himself in spite that before he had the tentacles interupt the sweet scene between the two of them, he probably could have taken her right then and there. Hell. Part of him had been sorely tempted to. It was better this way...at least for him.

Her arms spreadeagled to either side of her her trembling frame, Ella could do little more than watch as her Thomas turned darker, more sinister. What was wrong with him? Had she done something wrong?! Crying, she tried to pull free, to go to him, to somehow soothe the hurt in his burning gaze. She whined piteously as the restraints wound tighter, her eyes drawn to the cables of darkness attached to his back.

"Thomas! What's wrong?! Are you doing this? Please baby, stop! You're hurting me..." she pleaded, hoping and praying her voice reached him, calmed him down from whatever strange madness gripped him. Her Thomas wasn't like this. Was it because he was dead? Was it because she had gotten to close to him, excited him to much? Were the living even supposed to touch the dead? She didn't know, couldn't know, yet struggled, desperately struggled to think of any explanation, anything she could do. The look of mingled lust and pain in his face both excited and chilled her, one for the memory of times past, the other for the horror of his current state.

The dark mockery of Thomas stepped forward again, a slow heavy step falling upon the soft dorm carpet as he eyes stayed focused only on Ella. Moving closer to her with his hand out stretched as if reaching for her, but only to find that she is to far away away. Closing his eyes, the cords on his back snap tight as they drag him back down onto one knee as an audible grunt of resistance cuts sharply from his mouth. Struggling again to rise to his feet, the shadowy tendrils anchored into the ground fight against him.

The tendrils around her wrists did not yank at her arms this time, instead coiled tightly ensuring their pretty prey would have no where to go. Two of the cords attached to Thomas' back pull free from the ground as the phallic shaped tentacles spring from the darkness of his own shadow. Writhing and dancing about in the air as if they have minds all their own. The manipulative dark shade caused a single tear to roll down the pained illusion of her loves face as his struggles only intensified as the tentacles and tendrils surrounding the two had grown even closer.

Tears filled Ella's eyes as she helplessly bore witness to Thomas' struggle against the shadows. She jerked against her bonds, pushing with all her might against the door behind her for leverage, only to sag weakly as it proved fruitless. Whatever these shadows were, they wanted something of both of them. They tied Thomas down, even as they seemed to flow from him. What did it mean? Had he brought something back from where ever the dead go? Some sort of evil hitchhiker?

She snapped free of her frenzied thinking as the two tentacles burst free of her lover's back, recoiling against the door in horror at the sight. She whimpered in confusion and fear, her eyes jerking back and forth from the gyrating appendages and her tormented love. As they drew closer, a moan of dread built in her chest, her head shaking in denial of the tableau.

"No...no...Thomas! Please stop this!" she pleaded, thrashing violently against the shadows encircling her wrists, only serving to further wear herself out, and shake her hair into a wild, tangled mane around her face, thin strands of it sticking to the sweat dappling her neck and upper torso. Gasping for air, she stared at Thomas' face, her heart clenching as she watched the single tear roll down his gray cheek. This struggle with the shadows, with her, was hurting him, was hurting her baby. She was hurting him, pulling at the things coming from his back. Was this...was this her fault? Was he so angry at her for still being alive that he was...punishing her?

Thomas rises back up to his feet again, his shoulders rocking forward as he pulls at the tendrils coming from his back and lodged deep within his shadow. Taking a few steps forward, the black cords attached to him try to drive him downwards once more but this time, he does not drop to a knee as he steadies himself against their forcefully jolts. With every step closer he comes, the thick tentacles dripping with slime from his back grow closer as well, dancing about in the air as if in anticipation of finally being able to reach.

The two other tendrils that had been crawling on the floor towards her finally lash out and upwards, wrapping around her knees and curling around and back down her legs to her ankles. Thomas hadn't uttered a single word after having been assaulted by the horrible shadows that continued to tug and pull at his body, almost as if trying to keep him from her. Surprisingly, he would not be stopped as he finally made it back to Ella's restrained form, his hands coming up to her hips as his thumbs rubbed against the hem of her panties. The two tendrils continue to hover about, their large phallic heads swaying as if they are just simply looking at her, preparing to strike.

But Thomas speaks again,"I...missed...you." repeating and finishing his sentence that had been interupted by the hideous tendrils about the room.

Ella didn't know what to think, didn't know what she could do. All of her struggling seemed fruitless, her words didn't seem to reach him, and worst of all, he looked so terribly pained. She went limp in the grasp of the tendrils, standing just enough to keep from bearing all of her weight on her restrained arms. Near to the point of hysteria, she shifted her attention from point to point, trying to make sense of it all. The shadows were fighting Thomas, but they were part of him to? Some of them seemed different than others, like they were part of him, others like they were trying to stop him. She wasn't sure anymore if his reaching her would be a good thing.

She screamed as the tentacles wrapped around her legs, trying to jerk away too late, and subsiding quickly into their grasp as she stared, transfixed by the slime covered stalks hovering closer, swaying like malevolent fronds in an unfelt wind. She slowly looked down as Thomas reached her, flinching away from his touch slightly, confused and afraid, unsure he was the same man she knew from before. She breathed rapid, shallow breaths as his fingers traced the tender skin around her pantie line, her body trembling from the conflicting urges to writhe happily at his touch, and to squirm in terror.

"I've...missed you to sugar," she smiled tremulously, her voice cracking. It hurt not to trust him, grated like a knife twisting in her heart. But it was all too strange, too frightening. She fought to not panic, trying to still her shivers, hoping that if she calmed down, he might return to his old self. She tried to block out the slimy feeling of the tentacles wrapped around her limbs, trapping her at the mercy of her erstwhile lover. She focused on his face, still recognizable through the shadowy pall, his eyes, even though they burned with an abyssal glow. She fought to see him as she knew him, not as he was, to project her memories, her love, out to him.