Viris turned, scanning the crowd. Fenrin grabbed Jayln’s arm and started to back up but Viris shouted, "To your knees!"

There was a tremendous rustle as every mage fell to the floor, leaning over. Fenrin cursed under his breath and pulled Jayln down. They bent over as well and Jayln curled her fingers into fists, ready for the inevitable battle.

The room was silent and then the demoness’s voice fell over the kneeling crowd. "Someone shouldn't be here," she said, her voice playful. "Someone was at the rift."

The voice grew closer and Jayln turned her head to look at Fenrin. His hand was in his robe, no doubt gripping his sword.

"Someone wants to suffer."

The voice was right in front of them and Fenrin screamed.

Jayln jumped to the side. The woman had her hand outstretched and black flames licked over Fenrin who writhed in pain. Her hand lowered and Fenrin jumped up and charged her, his sword raised.

A dozen bodies pushed Jayln away rushing to their queen's side to grab Fenrin and hold him. He cut down two of three before they wrenched the sword from his hand and beat his strength with their numbers. Jayln shrank back to the wall. Should she run? Fight?

The demoness watched as Fenrin was restrained and then approached to press her hand on his chest. She breathed deep and purred, "Oh what a treat. So much hatred in your heart. Your soul is so very tempting. What is your name?"

Fenrin gave her his trademark wolfish grin. "My name is Fenrin Brynson or Fenrin the Wolf and here I thought I'd cut down some pathetic mages for fun, I've never killed a bitch of a demon before."

Without a word from their mistress, the mages screamed various spells and Fenrin’s face once more twisted in agony as his captor’s magic ripped through him.

"Now, now, my pets, don't kill him. Fenrin the Wolf...a fascinating epitaph. I am Niv, Mistress of Hatred and Pain, two concepts you seem quite familiar with. Tell me, Wolf, what happened at my brother's rift. I can smell his mark on you."

Fenrin panted and his head was pulled up to look at Niv. He shrugged. "I killed some annoying mages and their cave exploded. Does it mean I've already slain a demon? I was hoping you'd be my first."

Niv laughed. "Oh no, little one, my brother was not in that cave. It was merely a window he reached through for his meals. It is disappointing to hear you broke it. You claim to have come to attack us, but the hatred in your heart is not towards my people." She breathed in and hummed. "Ah, you are brimming with it and I cannot resist."

She reached down and touched Fenrin's forehead, he grimaced as she traced down, her nail leaving a red trail.

"So much and for so long--and rage! Much different from the mortals who throw themselves at my feet. You fulfill your own revenge and so well." She removed her finger and then curled it, beckoning. "Bring him forward, I want to see his rage with my own eyes."

Fenrin was dragged away, knocking two mages out on the trip although there were plenty more to replace them. Jayln stumbled through the crowd. She hated the thought of leaving Fenrin, but if she wanted to escape it had to be now while all eyes were on the scene.

The double doors they'd come from would be too obvious so she stepped carefully through the crowd up some side stairs to where she hoped another door would be. She hid behind a pillar, peeking around to try to find a door and instead found a perfect view of Fenrin.

The Brimstones had formed a ring and Niv snapped her fingers, a circle of black fire appearing that her servant tossed Fenrin in. He rolled, jumping into a crouch, eyeing around him for an opening. Niv waved a hand and an armored corpse, decaying with a longsword in one hand joined Fenirin in the ring of fire.

"Let's see who your heart wants to face."

Fenrin turned to the corpse, fists raised in preparation for combat but then suddenly fell to one knee, clutching his forehead. A trail of black flame leaked from Fenrin and Niv pointed at the corpse which ignited. The fire simmered down but instead of a maggoty warrior, it was a woman. She was dressed in black leather, daggers strapped to her back and thigh. Her long blonde braid hung low and she gave Fenrin a cocky grin.

He looked up and flinched. "Ly?"

The woman spun a dagger. "Just like old times, brother mine?"

Jayln watched Fenrin shake his head and take one step back from the form of his sister. Niv tutted, "This isn't right, I want rage!"

Lyra went up in flames again and Fenrin grunted as more fire was pulled from his skull. His sister was replaced by an older man, his posture perfectly straight. The new opponent stood in noble's clothes but with a military bearing and examined his blade critically.

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Fenirn looked up and when he saw the figure he screamed, "YOU!"

The man looked at him with contempt and Niv laughed, Fenrin's sword appearing in her hand. She tossed it and Fenrin rolled, catching his weapon and charging the man. They fought, the man unnaturally fast, pushing Fenrin back.

Jayln glanced around again for a door and spotted one at the top of the stairs. She just needed the right moment to make a run for the next pillar. Fenrin yelled obscenities as he pushed forward, and then crowed with triumph. Jayln took the chance and ran to the next pillar.

She skidded behind it and peeked out just in time to see the summoned man, Fenrin's sword buried in his chest, lift his own weapon and cut into Fenrin's arm. Fenrin leapt back.

The man charged again, Fenrin's sword sticking out of him and waving oddly. Fenrin pivoted and tripped his opponent, ripping the sword out. He swung it with a scream of rage and chopped off the man's head. The headless corpse turned and pressed the attack on as Fenrin hacked at it. Jayln froze, unable to tear her eyes away as Fenrin chopped the corpse to pieces, stabbing at it, the old dark blood, splattering the stone floor and Fenrin's black robes.

Niv laughed delighted. "Wolf indeed, you are too fine a specimen to eat. I like you like this." Dark words rolled off her tongue and Fenrin whirled, a dark sigil appearing around him.

Niv walked towards Fenrin and he clutched his head. The sigils rose from the floor and closed in on him. He lashed out against them and they flared but remained unchanged. Jayln looked away and ran farther up the stairs. She was almost at the door.

A blast hit the floor at Jayln’s feet and she flew against the wall, her head cracking against the stone. Niv hissed and looked up where one of her servants had spotted Jayln's retreat. The crowd rushed towards the stairs and Jayln ran, her vision blurred from hitting the wall.

She reached the door and pulled but it wouldn't open. "Please, oh gods, please," she prayed trying to yank the door free.

A hand grabbed her shoulder and she spun, kicking the mage over the banister. Fists and elbows flying with deadly accuracy, Jayln managed to hold off the next five Brimstones before she was dragged down the stairs. Niv was still chanting at a prone Fenrin. Viris approached Jayln looking down his nose at her.

"She's not one of ours my queen."

Niv turned away from Fenrin, her chanting paused. She seemed to glide over and leaned to examine Jayln. She smelled like blood and fire.

When Niv touched Jayln’s chest, she frowned and removed it with disgust. "She is useless to me. There is no hatred in her heart and her soul would not satisfy my hunger." She waved a hand. "Do with her as you please, Viris. The Wolf will entertain me enough."

Jayln struggled against the two cultists who held her in place and Viris smiled cruelly as he stepped towards her.

A voice whispered in her ear, "Get ready to run for the main doors. Don't look back."

She turned to see who'd spoken but there was a bright flash. Viris shouted and fell backward. Someone helped Jayln up as she reoriented herself and turned to the main doors. They exploded open and the room shook as a huge gust of wind blew through it. She bolted, dodging the mages who grabbed at her and jumping over the ones that fell.

"Catch him! Don't let him escape!" Niv screamed and Jayln's heart soared. They were going to make it!

She raced through the door and down the hall into the courtyard. Leaping to plant a foot on the side of the gate, she launched off it into the air and used her momentum to knock out the two guards with well aimed blows. Her boots barely brushed the dirt before she sprinted away, laughing with euphoria as she broke the treeline. She ran until she couldn't run anymore and leaned coughing against a tree.

Jayln glanced back anxiously, waiting for Fenrin to appear. After about ten minutes, when her heart had stopped pounding a black robe emerged through the trees.

"Wow, you can really run."

"Fen—" She took a step forward and then froze. The voice wasn't his and neither was the face that appeared.

It was a different man. His hair black and eyes blue. She took a step back and he held up his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you. My name is Matius. You're lucky I was there, miss..."

He smiled but she took another step back warily. "Who are you? Where's Fenrin?"

"I just told you, I'm Matius." Matius scrunched up the robe and pulled it over his head, revealing a blue tunic and brown traveling pants. "I've been spying on Niv for weeks. You're lucky I was leaving today anyway and I was able to get you out too. We're the first to escape Niv's clutches and she won't be happy about it. As for your companion, I'm sorry but there was nothing I could do for him."

Jayln leaned against the tree taking this in. Fenrin was still back there. She covered her mouth, her eyes watering. Matius walked over and patted her shoulder but she pushed him away.

"I'm sorry, were you close?" he asked sympathetically.

Jayln straightened and wiped her eyes. She examined Matius, trying to focus on her situation and not Fenrin's. Fenrin wouldn't have trusted this man and she was hesitant as well. "He...we were traveling together."

"Were you there when he found the rift? Do you think you could take me to it?"

"Why?" she asked suspiciously.

Matius scratched his chin and then seemed to come to a decision. "Look, I just want to make sure it's sealed. That's my job." He straightened and said proudly, "It was tasked to me by the Arch Mage himself as his Third Apprentice."

Jayln blinked and he seemed a bit crestfallen that she gave no reaction. He tried again, "Really, I've come all the way from Aziron. We've been looking for Niv's nest for months. After I seal the rift, I've got to get back to the Arch Mage so we can gather enough to assault Niv's fortress."

Jayln perked up, "You'll attack the fort?"

"Yes, exactly. But she's too powerful without the Arch Mage. So can you take me to the rift?"

Biting her lip, Jayln thought about it. She wasn't sure she could retrace those steps but she knew Tryst could. "I don't know about this Arch Mage or whatever but I have some other companions who could get us to the rift. However, after that, I want to come with you. I can't just leave Fenrin in there."

He looked at her puzzled. "I'm sorry, what do you mean you don't know about the Arch Mage?"

She shrugged, Fenrin had mentioned the name but it hadn't meant anything to her. Matius sputtered, "The most powerful mage in En? Co-ruler of Aziron?"

After a moment Jayln tried, "Isn't Aziron the other country bordering the Solis Empire?"

Matius's mouth opened and then closed. "Yes it is," he said defeated. "Lead on to your companions...er..."

"Jayln."