His flames fueled by the corruption in his soul had eaten away at anything or anyone the almoner wanted. Rook felt so...alive. Just letting it all go. All his cares, his inhibitions, his responsibility. Just letting it all turn into ash. They were walking again and the Grand library came into view. He wasn't truly thinking at this point. Just acting on impulses. And when Siofra allowed him to go first Rook dipped his head to her then headed toward the massive doors. His fist balling up to knock on the aging doors that Ives had likely locked the night before.

"Ives." He called. "Let me in."

If Ives only knew the dark thoughts circling in his head. The memories of something Ives had said offhandedly that he had taken to heart. Solider. Solider. Thats all he was. A pawn used at the will of others. Siofra was letting him do what he wanted. Letting him burn and take without having to feel the pain of guilt.

"We need to talk."

Briefly his mind shifted back to Ea. The fire mage that he had some 'fun' with only a couple days prior. How would Ives feel if he knew? Would he even care as long as Rook still went after the damn plant?

Rook watched Ives open the door. Slowly at first and then upon seeing him he opened it more and stepped outside. He didn't speak as the smaller man spoke, apparently oh so relieved that Rook was back. But what 'had' happened? Why hadn't he returned? Without speaking he stepped forward and physically crowded Ives to push him back into the confines of the library. Reaching behind him he shoved the heavy door shut and turned back to the elven man. The man he had such strong feelings for that had treated him like some pawn to be exploited when the need arose.

"Where did I go? Is that your way of asking if I went to hunt the creature again?" He ask, still leaning uncomfortably close to the lore keeper. Suddenly, without warning Rook shoved Ives. One heavily scarred hand slamming against the slender mans shoulders in an attempt to push him against a table and chairs that sat only a few feet away.

"Actually." Rook spoke as he began to circle. One hand idly rubbing his beard as if he were heavily contemplating his words when in all actuality without his normal filter they were all on the tip of his tongue. "Actually I decided to go on a trip. Since, well. The man I cared for treated me as little more than a pawn in a game of chess." As those words left his mouth Rook would suddenly move in close. One of his powerful hands curling around Ives neck and squeezing. Not enough to do damage, yet. But enough that it would be difficult to escape. The dark part of him wanted to hurt Ives just as much as he was hurting. He wanted to see those blue eyes fill with tears and hear the tremor in his breath as he tried to breathe through his pain.

But if there was anything the seasoned soldier had learned in all his years it was that physical pain was momentary. It was the mental wounds that never truly healed. His free hand rose to brush softly over Ives face, his thumb slipping over the dark shadows beneath one of his bright eyes. Still clenching his neck Rook would lean in until his lips brushed the curl of the other man's ear.

"I found a fire mage in the desert Ives." He hissed. One hand still strangely tenderly caressing his cheek. "He was more exciting than some little lore keeper could ever hope to be." He pressed his body against Ives as if to push the idea of just what had happened home. "I held him just like this when I kissed him Ives. Ahhh.....now thats a fond memory." Leaning back so that he could see Ives reaction he smirked the hand that had been so gentle began to emit small amounts of heat. The fire beneath his skin barely contained.

"You should meet him sometime, maybe you could learn a few things."

Rook looked confused for a moment when Ives started talking about the mage taking over his mind. And then he began to laugh. A deep hearty sound that made his back arch and his head fall back in an almost manic fashion. All at once the laughter stopped and both of Rook's hands settled loosely around Ives neck. Almost massaging his shoulders until his grip tightened. Already leaning back against the table he had fallen against Rook harshly shoved him back. Hopefully with enough force to bounce his head off the heavy wood. "You know nothing lore keeper."

He leaned over Ives. Releasing his hold on him to plant one hand on each side of him. Knowing that if the weaker man tried to bolt he could easily be caught. Ives was a bookworm, always elbow deep in literature. He might be more intelligent than the warrior but he was not stronger. "No one forced me to fuck him, no one forced me to burn those elves alive, I wanted to." He stared down at Ives like a predator eyeing its prey.

From each hand that sat beside Ives on the table flames began to creep. Licking and burning the old wood and crawling hungrily toward the lore keepers clothing. He didn't speak all the while. Just watching Ives expression as his fire began to lick and burn at his clothing. But something shifted inside him as he stared down into those familiar blue eyes. The slight sheen to them revealing the hurt deep inside. Rook slammed his hands down onto the burning flames. Effectively smothering them out before they could get too far.

"Ives." He breathed. A pained expression crossing his face. It wasn't like fighting against himself like it had been with the plant. It was more like a memory creeping in. An emotion painting color amidst the darkness.

Rook grunted when he was suddenly pushed back. Caught unaware and lost in a flood of memories he didn’t fight it. Just stumbling back a couple steps before he caught his balance. His face was still contorted with confusion and his blue eyes peered at Ives as he spoke. Taking little of it in. Memories were bobbing through the darkness now. Beacons in the darkness. But it was all a confusing fog. As soon as something seemed tangible it disappeared and he was left grasping for more.

A cure he said. A cure for what? What cure? All the memoires except those that inspired anger had been buried and Ives words didn’t make sense. ”Hope.” He repeated. But that little word so full of purity only pushed the corruption deeper. ”Hope is a lie, Ives. Haven’t you learned that by now?” And then he struck out. Aiming a blow at the lore keeper’s face with a tightly clenched fist. Stop talking. He had to stop talking.

As soon as the first blow found purchase Rook would step in close again. The opposite hand smacking against the elf’s head with an open palm over his ear. Whatever had momentarily surfaced was buried again he wasn’t even raging angry now. It was more of a cool desire to hurt. A strangle calmness even as his hands gripped the collar of Ives coat and shirt and lifted him upward. He was light...so damn weightless. He harshly tossed him then. Growling as he flung the smaller man into another mass of chairs and a table.

”Do you feel hope Ives?” He said fatly. Holding one palm up to allow a burst of flame to emerge. Snapping and hissing as it tasted his burned flesh. Having ever intention of setting the library aflame with both of them inside. "There is no hope for either of us."

He was pathetic. And Rook didn't try to hide the disgust on his face as the weaker man tried time and time again to get to him. To stop him. "Weak." His voice rumbled, a growl. A threat to this insolent pup that dare stand up to him. "Rook, Rook." He mimicked and crossed one leg over the other. Leaning back against a chair as he watched the lore keepers desperate struggle. "Whats wrong lore keeper? Afraid of losing it all? Everything you love, everything you've worked for, everything you live for." The fire was steadily burning him. He didn't have the affinity for it that Ea had. But he didn't care. It didn't even hurt really. He could focus on nothing else but causing Ives pain.

Rook looked down at the fire on his palm then slowly, purposefully reached back to touch the chair he was leaning again. Smoke began to rise as the aged wood quickly caught. Dusting his hands together and snuffing out the fire Rook walked over to where Ives had finally given up the fight. "You call yourself a lore keeper but you cant even safe your own library." He tsked, stomping harder than necessary on the fingers that were outstretched on the floor as he walked by. Letting his fingers trail over a nearby bookcase threateningly.

"Tell me then Ives." He said while scratching at his beard. "Did you aim to get yourself a soldier because you were too much of a coward to protect your library yourself? It was smart you know, to pick the old gruff drunkard without a friend in the world. What easy prey I must have been." His lips twisted cruelly and he tapped beside his eye with one scarred finger. "Hindsight, ey? I should have seen it coming. But then again I'm not smart like you Ives. I'm just muscle. Just a solider." There it was again. Damn he hated that title. Basically calling himself a weapon to be wielded. And oh hadn't he been?

His fingers flicked across another bookcase and this one he actually lit. Tiny embers appearing where his touch had been. "Better talk fast. Our time is limited."

Siofra watched from one of the windows, her head just poking over the edge along with her men. She remained unsuspected and hidden from sight, the lore keeper more focused on his friend that confronted him. She watched with awe, her eyes moving toward the angered man as he marched right up to him, beginning an onslaught of insults. She couldn't make out what he said exactly, the window obscuring the voices that were inside. But, from what she could tell what he said bothered the lore keeper. This brought contentment from her, smiling as she watched on. He must have been so angry at him. So angry that he had to take out this much anger on him. It pleased her really, she enjoyed seeing Rook like this. She enjoyed watching the weak lore keeper continually be so surprised, then so helpless against the man. He was weak indeed. Perhaps he needed such a man that was stronger than him to protect himself and the library. There were no other guards. But the more she thought about it, she debated whether or not to leave the lore keeper alive. She weighed her options, she could either have him as a minion, do some havoc under her corruption, or to leave him to perish. If she left him to die... then surely there would be some speculation to his death. If only she had the power to choose the next lore keeper, but it would either go to his apprentice if he had one or the council would choose one. Of course, the blame would be all on Rook, and by then he would be corrupted no longer, abandoned by the almoner. She would love to see that happen to him, the pain and devastation that he brought would all come down on him. But on the other hand, she would have no control over who would be lore keeper. This was the perfect chance for that moment. Lore keeper was a high title. If he was under her control... it would benefit her greatly. But what to do with him exactly, she wasn't sure of. But she would love to see what he acted like under her corruption.

She saw as Rook threatened to set the library on fire. The table burning then he moved to a bookshelf which also was set alight. The lore keeper writhed on the floor, helpless against it all. He was going to die and the entire library was going to get burned down to the ground if she didn't stop it. Moving daintily from the window, the men followed her toward the large stone doors. They opened them for her, and the petite lady stood with her shadow looming across the library.

"Stop," she ordered. Her voice held no emotion to it, but it was loud and clear, vibrating throughout the whole room.

The elf then walked inside, no one else around except for the men that followed behind her. The doors were left wide open, although no one else came. As she entered the room, the lore keeper looked upward at her in confusion. His face held its usual seriousness. It wasn't until he recognized who she was that his eyes widened in shock. "Almoner..." he said, then narrowing his eyes as his tone deepened. "So it was you." She only smiled as she approached, coming even closer now toward the two men. He probably didn't know about her ability, most likely just a guess on his part. Not many knew her powers of corruption, only her magic of purification she so showed. But, her magic indeed had a much darker side.

She stopped once she reached them at a small distance. "Rook," she said, her attention facing him. "Hold him down," she ordered, and waited to see until he did so, looking back down at the elf on the ground. At those words he seemed frightened, ready to fight off Rook but he could barely do anything against him. He frantically looked at the almoner. "What are you doing?!" he asked, although he also seemed quite angry. This made her curious, made her wonder what such a weak man would do when corrupted. She smiled in response. "Well, I think it's time you joined your friend," she said, dark eyes gliding to Rook before back at him again. If Rook held him down she would go nearer, close to the keeper. "You will serve me, and me alone. You need not worry about anything else," she said smoothly, reaching out a hand to touch him. He tried to shake himself loose worriedly, staring down at her hand with widened eyes. "No!" he shouted, although it went unheard. He tried to move out of the grasp, doing everything he could to move his body away from her hand. But if Rook held him tightly it would be of no use. His scared eyes moved from her hand to Rook, pleading for him to let go. "Rook!" he shouted, to not the one under the control, to the one beneath him. The one that would save him. But that man wouldn't come.

It was then he felt her soft delicate hand reach him, and Ives shut his eyes tight. He didn't want this to happen. He didn't want to serve this woman. He knew by touching him it must have been her magic. He could feel something course through him.

"Rook!" he shouted, the last cry of what was good left in him.

Ives could feel the evil coursing through him, like a plague that couldn't be cured. Ah, how good it felt to just finally let it free. His mind didn't think about how Rook was controlled, or about how to save him. Instead, he continued to lie there as the almoner's touch coursed through him. It wasn't until he was fully corrupted he began to speak. "Get you're filthy leg off of me," he ordered in a low tone, his eyes moving upward sadistically as a smile briefed his lips. He brought one hand from behind his back, trying to push his leg off of him, however this time it was much forceful than before. Siofra took a few steps back, smiling as she watched her magic worked. Oh how great this was. She was excited to see how well he took to her corruption. But so far it seemed that the two were still mad at each other. Given the situation she could watch the two have at each other for a while... it may prove to be entertaining. After all, she could just order them to stop any time she wished to. If they would continue then they couldn't get any more corruption from her. Which is something they wouldn't want. She then nodded at Rook, to let him go as she still smiled. But maybe the lore keeper would force him off anyway, she didn't know. But she continued to watch as she then moved back toward a chair, pulling one for herself a distance away so that she wouldn't disturb the two. The other men stood at the far corner of the room, remaining silent yet guarding the place from anyone that may come. One of them moved toward the two grand doors, closing them. Siofra crossed one leg over the other and smiled again, awaiting to see the play before her. Two angry men that had bitterness and resentment toward each other. This should be fun.

"It feels great," replied Ives with a wicked grin. "But how could you fall so easily to this? You are a mindless soldier aren't you? I guess that makes sense. You have no wits about you. No wonder you leave the library all the time. I think you only come here because you wished you had a connection with someone in a higher place. Because otherwise you have nothing, you are nothing." He snickered. Oh how he liked this. He had something that prevented him from just saying his inner thoughts before, but now he could let them out. With evil intent. "You slept with me because you wish you had someone like me. Too bad you are just a whore, sleeping around with whoever pleases you. At least I have some pride. Maybe you will take anyone, because who really would love you? Those scars and all." He laughed, a hand raised near his mouth as he would usually cover it, however this time he did not do so all the way. "Don't feel too lucky, Rook. I am Lore Keeper. I could get with whoever I wanted. There are many around the library that compliment me. Maybe I should actually go with someone who is actually good looking," his foul blue eyes gazed up teasingly at the man. "Perhaps I only slept with you as a distraction from all of my days' hard work. It makes sense, regarding your place," he said with malevolence. He enjoyed this. He enjoyed to see anger out of the man. He felt angry this whole time. Worried for him. And for what?! For him to come back? It's like whenever Rook came he was gone as fast as he left. Maybe he went and impregnated women each time he was gone. Perhaps everything he said was a lie. The plant. Everything.