"Isn't it suspicious that they sent only you alone?" Maxwell's voice rang loud like the gong of the dead. He went on and on about the elders and the danger she was in.

She forced herself to stay limp and jammed her eyes shut. Of course they sent me alone, there's nobody who wasn't injured and became disabled or anyone old enough left that can help. Besides mom, but they need her there. Not like he'd know that, he left long before the Calcines came back. She moved back aiming for the edge of the bed. Nobody needed to tell me to keep quiet about this, our wakened state the past few decades only would invite conquest.

Her toes met empty air as he continued to rant and lecture. Please, let this be a dream I want this to be a dream. Or even a nightmare would be better, heck even a nightmare of a monstrous man eating rat would be better at this point.

It's quiet again. She cracked an eye open. Of course, it didn't work. Fool.

He stood in the doorway, a deep blue glowing force emanating from him. The scaled clawed staff floated at his side, its waters swirled with tiny storm clouds flashing lighting. He moved closer.

She threw herself to the side and rolled off the bed.

"This was your favorite room. Stay awhile," he said with a smooth low voice and flashed her a keen dimpled grin.

His moments were slow as if being overly cautious. Elaema strike him, that same look from years past... he's up to something.

"I'm not falling for it!" She darted back and forth. I'll find a way out of here! Shifting into a fighting stance she raised her fists. The training had been quick, mostly to do with weapons. Still, a well-landed punch hurt.

He stepped over, his cheek twitched. "I really miss the missions we had together, remember when we sailed to Eshos?" He reached out towards her face. "Damn your eyes they still draw me in." He drew in a long ragged breath, his face taut as a bowstring.

"Liar! What an old line that is." Not this time, no way. She lunged forward and jabbed his cheek with a hand.

He stumbled back a step; then snapped his wrist rapping her skull with his staff. "Now, now, let's keep things civil. He raised her chin and glared. "You do like your limbs don't you?"

"Aaa!" She held her head the sticky blood dripped between them and she sucked a breath through her teeth. "Such a pompous jerk who's too young to wield that staff!" Scooting to the stairwell she bounced and weaved back and forth, then shot off to the left. "What do you expect after how you acted?" He's changed and not for the better, no more going easy on him.

The room only had one window that was barred so that was out. And, he could move to the door. With Unnamed taking any spirit energy as fast as it came using a Soul spell was also out. She clenched her hands, masking a shudder. I will get out, no doors, nor windows or lock can keep me here.

For a moment he closed his eyes, they opened again with an icy clarity seeping in. "Can you blame me? You killed my king, and destroyed the city! How would you react?" His body trembled and he nearly crushed the staff before slowly releasing it. He tilted his head while muttering an incantation of old Elvin and Tarain. Her daggers vanished and then manifested into his hands. "I made a vow. You understand? My king, my family must be avenged one way or another."

She tensed her shoulders. "What's done can't be undone." Her voice cracked and she rubbed her stinging eyes. "Our future, it's all gone. Gone to hell. That doesn't mean that I'll give up so easily, the mission must be carried out!" Idiot. She covered her mouth. Damn it all.

His breathing became faster calling attention back to him. Sweat tricked how his temples. As he started chanting another malign incantation his light complexion paled further. "Oh? What are they having you do now? Steal babies out of cribs? Bewitch men? Destroy other kingdoms?" He leaned in. "Free dark gods and end the world?"

She shuttered.

Straightening again he tapped her head with the staff. "Mellow," he whispered with short breaths.

"Don't be absurd... ugg.." A calm washed over her pressing down the simmering rage. Got to try fighting. "I send this prayer to Aet——"

He covered her mouth. "Blue, not this time. Don't. I'm tired of hitting you. " He took his hand away.

"Back to titles now?" Her knees and legs collapsed under her and after he picked her up all in a breath's time. Something was off about this! She ground her fingers into her palms.

He sniffed. "Not much of a title." He shifted her weight. "So naughty can't have you hurting me." Then waved a dagger in her face, as he exhaled before hefting her over his shoulder. "Heavy now; be your armor made of lead?"

"Lead? Insufferable man, how dare you!" She beat on his back until her arms burned. "Your back should at least be fractured by now." She sighed. All energy left and she slumped against him. "Did you do this?" A trickle of blood ran over her eyes, and she wiped it away the slickness coating her fingers.

"I'm prepared. You think that I'd take on an Elvin without protection?" His laugh was soft as he carried her back up.

"Let go of me!" She clenched her teeth, grinding them. What the hells? "May the blight of the mountains find you, so you never become warm again."

He laughed harder while staring down at her. "Still so stiff and proper I see." The staff floated over, he took it, then pressed down on the sides of the handle, pushed one end over the other, and did this until it was a compact square. The dragon claw still held the orb now perched atop.

"Ah, it's good to be back home. Those grasslands were making me sneeze."

"Don't ignore me!"

The portal above closed as he descended. As he went down the long stairway, each torch near him sparked to life as he passed. The shadows behind stretched, flowing up the walls as he turned the bend.

Large dusk-rats ran about with daily tasks. They stood about five feet high with red or silver fur and clumps of musty dust clung to their whiskers. A few came over, sniffing.

She sneezed. "Get away!" The stink is unbelievable, I can barely breathe!

She pinched her nose shut.

Large white eyes glinted in the candlelight. One came up to him as he stepped off the last stair holding a platter of food in its paws.

"Thank you, Rush, follow."

They continued down a long hallway, passing several doors on either side. Some were boarded shut. The rat followed behind. Maxwell flicked his fingers at a large metal door. It glowed before it opened. Inside was a lavish bedroom, in the middle a plush bed Maxwell dumped her on it, then he turned around flicking his fingers at the fireplace. The logs burst into flames, and the fire did little to chase away the gloom.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she lunged at him, the door behind was open. Just need to get past it.

He caught her arm, pulling her back on the bed.

She pulled and yanked on his hair, then stiffened as the spell relaxed her again. "Let me go now when your spell wears off human—"

He dumped her on the bed. "While I appreciate your spirit, attacking me is foolish. Sit and rest. I'll return later."

He turned to the dusk-rat.

"Set that on the table Rush."

The rat set the platter on a table next to the bed along with a pitcher of water and a metal mug. He patted its head, then bent down.

She slid off the bed while watching him, then lunged over to the washbasin and threw it. "Get away from me!"

"Stop that right now. Calm yourself." He came over, swatted her hands away, and quickly snacked the dangling pouches off her waist snapping the ties off in the process. In the next moment, he was further away.

"What is it you want?"

He grinned at her. "You. Now that I have you what I really want to be harder to obtain."

"What do you mean?" Making deals with devils came to mind.

"I need to-how to word this?" His heavy-lidded eyes narrowed. An air of seriousness surrounded him.

"Look, even though you don't believe me, right now, I have valid reasons for taking you away. We must talk. Or you will talk, your choice."

"Weren't you trying to kill me before? She scooted further away. so confusing. "I don't care what your reasons are. They aren't good enough!" Stupid idjit, such arrogance.

He nodded. "That’s not important, as you're alive and well. I may have overreacted before, but you made me get so angry, I lost my reason. If you remember my power has never been easy to control. It feeds off the darker emotions... I will come back the next 'morrow." He brushed the stray hairs behind her ears.

Flinching she jerked away. "Never-" Then started to slap him.

He caught her wrist - mid slap. "I will not tolerate this behavior, Miss Dentree. I have been more than respectful considering your position in all this. By rights, you should be executed for your misdeeds."

She startled.

"Yes, that's right."

His mouth twitched. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to." Then he closed the door.

She sat on the bed while surveying the room. No windows anywhere, straight ahead a another fireplace, to the right against the wall a large closet, and so tall she half expected a demon of flame to appear and burn the room down.

Her stomach growled. The scent of the rich food wafted over. Better not. It had to be poisoned or worse. Droplets on the pitcher ran down. Her throat became even drier. One cup would be alright. The cold water eased down clean and sweet. Two cups later she set the mug down. In a moment she knelt near the fireplace and peaked up into the chimney. It's too narrow, so that option was out. She padded over to the large closet, it was empty except for a few robes and boots. Running her hands over the walls she searched for a possible hidden door.

Nothing. She rubbed her wrist repeatedly. A whine pushed through, and she squeezed her hands together. Stop it. She pulled at the leather armor ties, bouncing them. Oh to be back home in the temple the cool walls all around again, with the priests playing lutes. She shook her head. Get your head out of the muck. Come on! I am a proud elvin, I won't falter. She bit her lip hard, the pain helped slow the circling thoughts. A small bit of luck left, he didn't find these! She took a boot off and untied the metal tree emblem.

Pressing the trunk, a thin top slid off to the side, hidden were four lock picks. These came out of the hidden slots in the branches as she pressed them. A tiny smile curved her lips. Placing the emblem on the bed, she held the picks in her palm. There were very few locks that stayed unlocked. At least this training had stuck. She placed them on the small table next to the door, she gripped the pick wiggling it in the lock then placed the last two above the first. The third was hooked she wedged it under the latch pushing up. It clicked. That had to be the best sound in the world.

Calling to the spirit of Umbra his cool shadows flowed from her feet to her ear tips. Need to move quickly as every step the spirit took its payment, mild tiredness had started in her limbs already. Getting up, she sprinted down the corridor. An exit should be somewhere. The hallway turned to the right which led to a flight of stairs.

The torches flickered into the depths, the walls were too close. Way too small. Her chest tightened. Don't lose it. She managed not to run back up the stairs. After what seemed like an eternity the bottom showed a vague glow only a few steps away. Dusk rats fill the lower area. Her hands shimmered as she squeezed them. The spell should work, just hug the wall. A mouse ran past with a gray cat hot behind it, the cat hopped over her feet and disappeared into the gloom.

Down into it, a few were off near a cell door poking a bug. On impulse, she touched a Dusk rat softly on it's arm. They didn't seem that bad anymore.

It skittered away hiding behind a vat of putrid tan glop. The rest all shrieked and ran away hiding in the shadows, hissing at her and swiping the air with their claws, their eyes darkened. They were almost cute before, but not now. I better not let my guard down. The vat cracked in the middle, drips of the liquid beaded down the glass. The rats avoided it running away as it pooled near. They shouldn't be down here, if they're pets Maxwell should take better care of them. That might have been a bit mean. She stepped closer. "I'm sorry." She bowed her head. "I won't do that again."

Snap. It's jaws almost bit into her leg, she danced away glaring at it. Was it playing me? They all hissed disappearing further away, avoiding the liquid.

Weaving in and out behind other vats of colors, blue, black, pink and many others cast an unearthly glow in the cell room. She edged away from the rest of the rats. She pressed her body against the wall making her way into a huge room. large floating round containers all in line from start to end. What was that pink sludge for? To the side, strange tubing ran the length of the floor. It is connected to the base of a mechanical device. It had a thick tube that was connected to a container. At its base was a metal seat with glowing buttons.

The room extended into a hallway, with more of the containers on both sides. At the end of the hallway a stairwell wound upwards. She went over to peek around the corner. In another room with a table in the center books overflowing in piles in the corners littered with scrolls slipshod on the tables.

On some of the tables were empty bottles, vials, and knives among other items. On a shelf, blades of silver glinted. That wasn't hard, I can do this. Taking them she slipped them back into their sheaths. It was good to have them again.

A small window was just above. She dug her feet and fingers into the brick wall straining to it.

Several white eyes stared back at her.

She covered her mouth, suppressing a scream as she fell. No way he didn't hear that. She settled for squeezing into the rightmost corner.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor. Maxwell entered. "Next time I find her I'm throwing away her clothing."

Rush looked up at him. Maxwell placed the tree emblem on the table.

He patted her on the head before stooping to eye level with the rat. "Go find her, and block all exits."

Rush ran off down the stairs a few minutes later claws scurried in the corridor.

As he walked pulled out a vial that had an orange liquid in it, he placed it on the table. "Just once, to have someone listen."

A whiff of thick rancid spices swirled over from across the room, she crinkled her nose.

He turned around stepping over. His face showed nothing. After a time, he headed back to the nearby table.

She relaxed a touch but still watched his movements. Only one thing to do. She leaned leftward. Should be enough space to run.

He took a small silver bag, opened it, stepped in front of her, and tossed a handful of red powder from a pouch. Her hidden spell broke as the powder settled on top of her head.

She scrambled and then crashed into a shelf while bolting for the doorway.

He stared straight down at her. "No place to hide in here, it's enchanted just for you. I see the Mellow spell wore off." His smile of fang.

"All that trouble for me?" She said each word slow drawing it out. She covered a yawn that went on too long.

She clenched her hands open and closed repeatedly. The hell with it. She ripped her daggers out of their sheaths piercing his shoulder; instead of the expected screech, his eyebrow twitched and he pulled it out. He touched his shoulder with the staff, the dragon claw extended glowing blue touching him and healing the wound.

She gagged on her tongue, her words incoherent jabber.

"Hush, before you pass out."

She scrambled back. Going around the table looked like an exit. She lunged-

He held her arm without straining. "That will be enough. Come with me, I have a solution to both our problems."

The spell faded. Must be a temporary one. "I'm to believe you just like that?" Not much choice, this room had only one exit. Got to get out!

He smiled a little too wide. "I never said you'd like it, if you don't survive this procedure that will do just fine."

A while later down a flight of stairs, he took her back to the container room.

He stopped by a round large glass container, half full of a pink liquid. A thin outline of an opening on it with a metal handle. Lets see now... two hoses, one at the back end that leads to a metal tank. The other near the hatch hung over a large flask. The other at the back end led to a metal tank. He opened it. "Get in."

"No." It didn't smell right, almost like rotten eggs and vomit.

"You know, your father... I bet he'd be willing to test this out. Of course, the fact he has no elvin blood to resist the effects would have—unfortunate consequences."

"You leave him out of this!" She ground her teeth.

He pinched his lips together and simply held his hand towards the container.

Climbing in the fumes took away her breath, her lungs burned and gray blotches skewed her vision.

Maxwell touched a few buttons on a console, then liquid pumped in through the hose. In a few minutes, it almost brimmed over.

Unable to hold her breath any longer she breathed it in. Instead of a painful choking and burning, it breathed like air. This had to be charmed or something. Everything became a murky haze. Teetering she slumped on the glass and slid down in a heap.

Maxwell pressed a series of buttons. Rush was beside him.

"Ee-e-o..."

Straining to hear, she focused on the voices. Odd how the god had become silent during this, usually it would have made some comment by now.

Glowing green droplets rose out of every part of her body, these were sucked into the hose near the hatch. With each droplet that came, the headache grew. She curled into a ball and pinched the bridge of her nose. Just make it stop. Make it stop!

The voices started again. He and Rush. Wish they'd both shut up already.

"Keep tryin..."

Rush squeaked.

Cracking an eye open she watched.

"Turn it up." Maxwell rummaged around the room.

Rush fiddled with a slick stone screen that lit up as text appeared on it. She tapped on it and scrolled the text.

"Still alive. It weak."

Free yourself and dispose of them. Free us, free us now! Unnamed said.

About time you said something. And to do that how?

Can't you see what he's doing? Fight!

Why don't you do something for once?

You wouldn't like it.

Just do it.

Then no complaints after, little one.