It's been a long night and morning for Alptraum.

First, there was the awkwardness of moving in with the Countess and Phlagaea, even though they all had separate rooms. He got to sleep in his own bed, but there was a certain hormonal aura about the suite that kept him from sleeping well. Then, come morning, he was able to sneak out in order to start charging up for Melusine's promised feeding – only to be rebuffed at the hog pens when he asked for twenty of the beasts. The hog-keeper was only willing to let him have a dozen, and bemoaned that he'd have to go out and restock the pens from the farms and all.

This left Alptraum with the choice of choosing some of the 'transformed' hogs, or going out hunting. He chose hunting, of course, and that took up the rest of the morning. It didn't help that he hadn't fed himself yet, since Melusine requested that he have an empty stomach when he came to her.

The final straw was when Kaira's head popped over the gem growing from his right wrist, to tell him that he needed to un-slot the dagger. He had absorbed near to the limit of the gauntlet, and it was starting to 'leak through' to the spirit dagger. So on top of everything else, he'd be going to the Shadow Dragon without any sort of chaperon.

The Lair of Melusine
Deep in the base of a mountain, this dark cavern is of unknowable size. The only light comes from a circle of crystal embedded in the cavern floor, and the silence is oppressive – even echoes are somehow muted out.

One thing is certain for Alptraum currently, he can't exactly sneak around given the amount of 'life' he absorbed through both hog devouring and hunting. His silvery iris are shining brightly, not to mention that even through his shirt, the white scar on his chest is glowing to the point of being noticeable, particularly in low light. And if that weren't enough, his right hand has, where the 'gauntlet' is, has a oily-like sheen to it. The oily 'shadow' also flows most of the way up his right arm, giving it a slimy-skin look instead of the usual fur and it stops just below his shoulder. The liquid-like shadow rolls and moves seemingly on its own accord, forming micro-pseudopods that last for a second or so and tend to stretch between the fingers of his right hand fingers, making them almost looked webbed. He raps his knuckles on the stone wall, then calls out, "Melusine? I have come bearing a … meal for you. I tried to absorb as much as I could. I stopped when things started to get … funky

"Mmmm," comes the hollow voice of the Shadow Dragon. "You look good enough to eat, I must say," Melusine comments in an almost playful tone. "Are you hungry?"

Alptraum's brow goes up a bit at the comment and his ears splay back. He reaches up to run his hand through his air, then wishes he hadn't as tendrils of black 'goo' stretch away before snapping back to his hand in its wake. "I didn't eat this morning, as per your warning, so … I am yes," Alptraum admits as he takes a couple nervous steps into the room and holds his right hand out just a bit from his body. "Forgive me that my shadow is … a little uncontrolled," the bat admits, "I don't think it will be a problem once you siphon off what I absorbed for you, should go back to lurking inside … I hope."

"Perhaps it is merely excited?" Melusine asks. "Are you, Alptraum?"

"I would describe it more as … terrified," the Eeee admits. "I never know quite what you intend to do. Do I need to expose the scar my my chest for you to feed?"

"Not this time," Melusine says. "But you must be more relaxed. Can you summon the wraith, and look at me through your Barsunala eyes?" she requests.

For some reason, being told not 'not this time', makes it even more terrifying. At least pain is honest … what she intends now and the uncertainty is just. Alptraum shivers and tries not to think too much about it. Instead, he concentrates and tries to draw out the wraith-form to overlay and 'become' him. The sensations come quick, surprisingly … and noticeable because soon Alptraum's vision goes dark as blindness overtakes him … only to be replaced by the eerie way the wraith 'sees' the world around him.

For the first time, Alptraum can really see Melusine. Limned in silver fire, the Shadow Dragon is formless and yet all forms at once. And she has no end of soft curves. Swirls and streaks of light flash across her surface, with the dazzling light of her 'heart' moving and pulsating with its own rhythm. "Am I still terrifying?" she asks.

"Yes," Alptraum squeaks out, then coughs. Still, the bat takes a few steps towards her in spite of himself. The Eeee also can't help but now look to his own right arm, wondering how different his shadow looks when compared to her.

Oddly enough, the shadow on Alptraum's right arm seems such a deep black that it might not even be there at all. But then, the Wraith and Muriavan's shadow never really get along.

Alptraum wiggles those fingers, just to be sure they still move. "You don't have to offer me anything for this," he says nervously, "I have good reasons as it is to try and keep you sustained."

Melusine begins to dance for the Eeee, trying to draw him in closer to the glowing crystal ring in the cavern floor. It becomes clear that while she may not be able to hold a form for long, she still is able to create limbs at will. She has a multitude of legs where she touches the floor, although none ever seem to last more than a second. Her top bursts open and unfurls like a flower, with traces of silver lightning arching between the petals – and then the petals grow hands and shrink into boneless arms that move down her body. For a moment, she even looks like a physical dragon, with silver outlines of scales, a neck and a tail. "I wish for you to be relaxed, Alptraum," she purrs, brushing one of those hands across his cheek.

Whatever response Alptraum was going to say gets lost as the Eeee stares at Melusine; watching her dance in a slow circle around him. The only sound the Eeee seems capable of making is a gurgling, choking, sound when he swallows. The touch on his cheek causes him to start, his body tensing up and even drawing back from the touch … though in the next moment Alptraum has reached up with his right hand in an attempt to touch Melusine's own retreating tendril. "You know … you're beautiful because you have no form," the Eeee finally manages to stammer out before he even realizes what he said, "It is something to envy."

"I am beautiful for many reasons," Melusine says, from two different directions (or two different pseudopods, in this case). "But what you see is so little of what I am. Now, withdraw the Barsunala, so that you may wear your shadow-skin."

Alptraum blinks a few times. The next minute or so is actually difficult for Alptraum to withdraw the wraith, as if its trying to remain to protect its host. Finally, though, Alptraum has forced it back and now looks at the world through normal-Eeee eyes.

"The darkness is our haven," Melusine says, and Alptraum can sense her surrounding him now. "But the light is our lifeblood. Let loose your Shadow, Alptraum, and learn what it means to be a being of light and darkness."

Alptraum can hear the blood rushing in his ears as his heart races. He has experienced many terrifying moments, but this … Perhaps because he walked into this willingly, this may yet be the most terrifying. He draws in a deep breath and holds it. When he finally releases it, at the same time he pushes the shadow that lurks beneath his skin; that often just flows about quietly, dormant. Perhaps because of the fear, or perhaps because of how much energy he absorbed earlier, the shadow flows so easily for the moment; leaking from every pore; flowing across his body in a great wave of near-gooey darkness. In mere moments, the Eeee's body from hear to toe, to even the insides of his ears to the whites of his eyes, are coated in the inky darkness of the shadow within.

Melusine contracts, and the world seems to vanish into a realm of pure white light as she engulfs Alptraum. It's a bit like the odd world within the Light of Nala, only without the sense of physical presence. Indeed, it's difficult to know where his own skin ends! Hundreds of vampire kisses cover every inch of Alptraum, each one draining a small amount of the light within him and producing the same euphoric effect as if Rosalind were feeding from him. The sensation is ever-shifting, so that no single area seems to be the focus, yet know no two kisses are alike.

"Well, out of ways to die, this isn't so bad," Alptraum finds a as a stray thought rolling through his sensation-riddled mind as he willingly pushes out his shadow to be as one with her. He doesn't even notice if he's breathing and perhaps he doesn't care. Is he part of her? Frankly, the Eeee doesn't know. The original fear, though, that is gone. In its place is a rowing desire to remain in this place; part of her; part of this sensation. That desire, though, seems to spark at least a small fear, a worry that he's losing himself!

It seems to go on forever, until Alptraum finally senses that he really is about to lose himself if Melusine keeps draining him. Right on the threshold, the kisses pause… and then all drain a final, big gulp! Before Alptraum can fade out, however, a returning surge of light flows into him. It's wonderful, and filling; satisfying in a way that drinking blood could never match. The sensation is… almost exactly like that in the memory of Vorgulremik devouring the priestess.

"I hope that Rosalind will be safe … " Alptraum's thoughts ends as he fades away. There's a calmness in that last moment of finality, that final few seconds before what he thought was the end … then the rush! There's no thought; only sensation. Sensation beyond anything he has experienced directly; even with the closeness to what he remembers from Vorgulremik's memory. But … the similarity does something, it reminds the Eeee that he's playing a very dangerous 'game' with a wounded, but still powerful, dragon. As amasing as this is, the little thought, the little warning, echoes in the back of his mind, "Do not lose yourself." But Gods, does he almost want to in this moment, this sensation. But every time he slips closer, that thought echoes, enough to keep him from completely giving in.

The light fades, as if Melusine senses the change in Alptraum and withdraws. The darkness of the cavern returns, with the Eeee looking up at the unseen roof from where he lies on his back, near the circle of light in the floor. Melusine slinks around him in near-silence, until; "You may rest tomorrow if you wish, Alptraum. I will not need another such feeding until the day after."

Alptraum doesn't answer for the moment. His expression is dazed, a but lost. Slowly as awareness returns, Alptraum begins to wiggle his toes, fingers, even wings, to see if he's still … whole. "What was that?" the Eeee finally manages out in a whisper.

"Did you enjoy it?" Melusine asks instead of answering.

"Yes," Alptraum finds himself answering, still a bit too dazed to offer much in the way of a guarded answer.

"Once your shadow is stronger, you will be able to enjoy it even more," Melusine promises.

Alptraum weakly lifts his right arm to see if the shadow has withdrawn back to normal. "If feels as if … " he says in a whisper, "You are trying to shape a new shadow dragon to … serve you; or at least something close. Though if such experiences are common to your kind … that is not such a terrifying fate."

Alptraum's gauntlet is 'normal' looking, with the orb glowing dimly. "I would not do that to you, Alptraum," Melusine claims. "You are still like a child in your development. In true shadow dragon lovemaking, there is a contest of wills, however."

"That … well, doesn't surprise me. A dragon is a dragon, no matter the 'skin'," Alptraum says as he finally pushes himself slowly upright. He suddenly wishes he had not as the work seems to 'spin' around. He sits there for a moment, wobbling.

A dark bulge of flesh steadies the Eeee, as Melusine moves into help support him.

When the world stops spinning enough, the Eeee goes through a brief 'parts' check to make sure he remains whole. "The wayward reaper should be in town either tonight or tomorrow early," he says as he reaches back to pat the darkness with his right hand, "And he has information on an eccentric 'wizard' whom may be able to repair, or help find one who can, my … pardon, Muriavan's old heart."

"You will seek him out then?" Melusine asks, and rubs up against Alptraum.

Alptraum's head tilts slightly and he reaches out with his hand, and a little of his shadow, you play against Melusine's surface. "If the information is promising, yes," he answers.

"Hmm, perhaps you wish to feed me personally now forever, instead," Melusine teases. "I should have held back a bit more, yes?"

"Or perhaps I would prefer it if such sessions weren't about feeding," Alptraum counters with his own, "But more about … mmm … a moment of mutual pleasure and sharing. I know my companionship is most likely lacking when compared to what you deserve, but I am known for being … creative. When I am stronger, mayhaps I will even surprise you some day… "

"Fix my heart, and pleasure for its own sake becomes possible," Melusine purrs. "And I am glad that you did not bring Kaira with you this time. It is a mercy to her, lest she learn first hand how inadequate she is compared to me."

"Mm, you and her are very different," Alptraum agrees, "She likes to be conquered … where you like to conquer." He leans back against Melusine, adding, "Ah, I so wish to become closer and stronger with my shadow. It has such possibilities."

The dragon-blob purrs at that final statement. "Yes, in time you will make a fine, strong consort," she says.

"And make no mistake … I will some day show you new things and new experiences. You have been denied them for far, far, too long," Alptraum claims. He holds out his right hand, fingers splayed. "Sacrificing my right hand to Muriavan was worth it. A mere piece of flesh for a new world of experience." He closes those fingers, the chitinous plates sliding against each other soundlessly as they flex.

"Hardly a sacrifice, when you gain more than you lose," Melusine notes. "When you become more experienced, you will be able to share this with Rose as well, I imagine."

"Oh, I intend to," Alptraum agrees as he rises to his feet. "When your shadow link is restored with her, well … we will be able to explore many things." He runs his hand lightly over Melusine's surface. "But now I must go. I need to tend to her and Phlagaea's needs this evening. I will … keep in touch." And to himself, the Eeee thinks, "And Great Gods to I need a cold shower or I'm going to be walking funny for a week! This … combined with the scents of Phlagaea and Rosalind … I might not survive! Focus Alptraum, get a grip on yourself … er, don't think about gripping yourself, not right now. Bad, bad, bad! Just … calm down, clear mind, remember she's using you. Just keep her happy. Say what she wants to hear… " And at long last the Eeee wobbles towards the exit. There's one good thing he realizes as he walks through the archway … he's completely forgotten how nasty Vorgulremik's tongue tasted.