He laughed cruelly. "Never. I am not so weak as to need to explain myself to a mere mortal." One gesture, and shadows began crawling up her legs. Fear would trickle down her spine, a sense of dread. Whispered words and faint brushes in the dark. The unknown was always more terrifying than reality.<br/><br/>Well, almost always. But Kadin shut those thoughts away, drawing darkness around his thoughts like a blanket. Strangely, the dark kept away the madness. He knew what lurked in the shadows: himself. There was no reason to fear the dark, not for him. It was what happened under harsh lights that frightened him. Or rather, would frighten him, if he could be frightened.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I am not afraid,</span>he repeated to himself, eyes focused on the young woman before him.<span style="font-style: italic">I fear nothing. I am the Nightmare King. I am Fear.</span>