[[ OOC: I can not take credit for the idea of the black gem having a life of its own. This idea goes to Enkai who also helped guide me along to what this new entity was, how it behaved, and how it would later impact the story. I'm not sure what he/she has planned . . .<img alt="&gt;.&gt;" src="./images/smilies/shifty.gif" title="Shifty eyes"/>]]<br/><br/>Nero found himself in darkness. It was pitch-dark; he was in a cold stone chamber. The blackness pressed against him and wrapped him like a tight shroud. Far away in the corner, a candle burst into flame, sending shards of light across the chamber. He could see that it was a large, vaulted stone room, as big as any building he had ever seen. The ceiling was hung high above him and was held in place by seven stone columns topped with bizarre carvings.<br/>"Where am I? Am I dreaming?" Nero asked himself.<br/>"No." came a voice that echoed around him. It was a deep voice that shook rubble and dust from the ceiling and caused the ground to shake.<br/>"Who are you? Show yourself!" Nero called out into the darkness.<br/>Nero was met with a laugh that bellowed through the chamber. It was a cold and heartless laugh that made Nero feel uncomfortable.<br/>Then there up ahead of him, just several feet away, three pairs of bright red eyes were gazing at him. Nero stood frozen and transfixed on the creature before him. He felt his hands begin to quiver as sudden panic gripped him tightly.<span style="font-style: italic">Is this what it means to feel true fear? Is this fear?</span>Nero thought to himself unsure of the answer.<span style="font-style: italic">What's wrong with me. I've seen far more nightmarish things than this without so much as a gasp. Yet, for some reason I am unable to shake this feeling of dread and demise. Its gaze chills me to my core!</span><br/>At such close distance, he could not make out any shape of the creature, just red staring eyes. He had certainly not heard its arrival; it had simply appeared.<br/>"I can see you shaking. Relax." came the voice of the creature.<br/>"Who are you?" Nero asked once more, trying his best to make his voice steady and calm.