The world in eye view was foggy, as is the sight of the future. Alexander was grabbed and pushed through a dark corridor only accompanied by the inhumane grunts of his two bulky captors.

As he was brought through the corridor he was brought to a gothic throne room. The windows were dark like they were not made for light to pass through. All types of beasts decorated the ceiling and walls.

As he was brought to the middle of the room, he could feel the cold steel of chains around his neck and ankles. He was pushed down to sit in the middle of the throne room feeling the sensation of many eyes on him.

He did not look around to meet these eyes only down at the cold dark floor. He heard footsteps that sounded like high-heeled shoes, ones that his sister would wear when his father had guests to impress.

He finally looked up from the cold floor at the sound of these heels.

As he did, he saw an ethereal beauty. It was a woman who commanded all attention, her almond-colored skin looked inhumane, only complementing her light brown eyes. She had Snow White hair, pulled back by her pointy ears.

As he saw her ears, he knew that she was a dark fae, the Queen of the dark race.

She wore a blood-red dress that perfectly fit her hourglass figure, yet what struck him most was her right arm. Adjourned on her outer bicep was a rune, of the same gold of his own.

“Where did you get that” he found his voice hoarse, each word spoken like his throat was made of sand.

The queen stopped walking as she heard him, she looked down at the young man.

Alexander found her eyes to be enchanting, the blue of her irises reminded him of the sky when he was young. He found those eyes staring down at him, perceiving every inch of his being.

He wanted to fold in on himself, get away from those eyes. Yet with one more look at her arm, he found a new source of strength.

“Are you a berserker? Why do you have our gift.”

He found himself trying to yell those words that came out like a whisper, causing him to fall on the hard floor.

The queen watched him curiously, suddenly bursting into a radiant laughter. Even her laughter was sweet and with an edge.

She quirked up her lip as she hissed out her words, “Stupid ones, your gifts are also ours just like the world is both of ours.”

Alexander gritted his teeth as he tried to pick himself back up. When he finally did he found the queen sat on a blocky throne five steps above him.

He found himself fighting for words as well as for breath.

“We were given our runes to protect the world from you people, do you not see even the world repels your kind? The gods would never give you, our gift.”

The queen's eyes darkened as the sky turned to night, “ You humans always make yourselves heroes, don't you? You cannot even fathom the gods not loving you or favoring you”

The air around the queen lightened as she finished. She found herself funny as she sat on her throne.

“Tell me then how do you think my kind as you call it has survived this long”

Alexander stared up at the queen trying to show no emotions, “You use our people’s weakness against them. Filling them with lust or hunger for power.”

The queen laughed again this time without any edge in her voice.

“It seems I was wrong you think more of yourselves than just heroes but kings and queens. You do not give us power; your beliefs and lives have no meaning to us. The only importance to us is that we share the same earth”

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Alexander sat motionless searching for a clue.

“How do you have that rune” he asked again.

“Are you this naive or are you just afraid of what you see”

Alexander knew she was right; it all fell into place too well. He found his legs began to shake and his heart began to pound out of his chest.

“It was all a show” he heard himself say without meaning.

“People fear what they cannot control so you put the chains on yourself”

“Your people play their role as well,” he said out of anger.

He knew it was misplaced; his anger was not with them, yet he needed to let it out.

The queen glided out of her chair; Alexander was barely able to follow until she was a foot away. She whipped her left arm with a closed fist, yet Alexander saw through her as he ducked underneath.

Unfortunately for Alexander with his legs bound by chains, he fell to the floor when he dodged.

“So, my soldiers told the truth you are fast. That must make you angry, knowing you were too slow to see the truth”

Alexander grunted not wanting to satisfy her with an answer.

“ Do not worry you will not be lied to in the afterlife” the queen said with a smile.

Alexander did not notice, or the queen did not show them but as she walked forward, she showed a maniacal smile. Her smile would have been nice to look at besides the fact that protruding over her bottom teeth were two large fangs.

“Some of the beliefs about your kind weren’t all lies, it seems you fae do eat humans.”

The queen laughed gleefully, which sounded like the plucking of a harp.

“Silly boy you would not be appetizing to our taste,” she said licking her lips.

Alexander saw what would happen before she moved as he surrendered his body to the fangs in his jugular.

Alexander woke from his vision feeling his head on a pillow. When he woke, he found his body was refreshed, yet he found the familiar sight of the monument ceiling.

“Take your time please sir, your body may feel refreshed, but it has gone through many changes”

Alexander found the familiar voice of his guard soothing to his ears.

“I thought I told you that you do not need to be all proper”

Cyrus looked down at his young lord and found that he was smiling.

“I will have to work on its lord”

Alexander rolled his eyes at this, “Is there a reason you put my head on your lap” he asked rolling his eyes, “I think a robe would have been fine”

Cyrus blushed slightly, hiding it with a laugh.

“It would look bad on my part if I couldn’t even keep your robe clean,” he said.

Alexander seemed to understand as he nodded. He began to look around the monument room finding it empty beside both.

“Did my father return to the manor”

Cyrus seemed apprehensive to answer, deciding to nod as his answer.

“And the cardinal” he asked.

Cyrus looked around the room, “He was watching you quite closely while you were adjusting when I returned though you were alone.”

Alexander sat up slightly, wincing as he did.

“Alexander you shouldn’t get up, yet you still need time to adjust.” Cyrus searched the floor near them and then looked at the treasure at their feet.

“You should keep your artifact near you, I am told it makes the adjustment of your source more bearable.”

Alexander turned, finally facing Cyrus with a slight grin, “I don’t have an artifact, Cyrus”

Cyrus searched his young lord's expression, not finding him very funny.

“This is not a joking matter Alexander; you could hurt the progress of your source.” Cyrus searched around the room once again.

“Which one is it” he asked, getting up to search for the one he was told.

“I’m not joking Cyrus, and did you forget even if I had one you wouldn’t be able to retrieve it”

Cyrus ducked his head slightly, turning away in shame.

Alexander laughed at this, seeming to brighten his spirit.

Things have changed already; my father did not leave me alone.

“Cyrus” Alexander commanded.

Cyrus jumped slightly at the sudden change in tone but as he looked up he was shocked to see Runes on Alexander.

“That’s impossible” Cyrus muttered.

Alexander’s expression became annoyed, “Yes you would think that the workings of my father.”

Cyrus looked over puzzled, as he was about to ask Alexander to cut him off.

“Yes, people of the ancient line can become enhancers, it’s usually rare but think about it is my mother in any of the families.”

Cyrus looked bewildered at his lord, suddenly feeling like he did not need to speak like his lord could read his mind.

Cyrus turned pale, reflexively putting his hands over his ears.

Alexander laughed, “I can not read your mind Cyrus, I am just answering questions you would have asked.”

This only confused Cyrus even more, he walked towards his lord trying to find out what was going on. As he was about a foot away, he saw.

“Yes, Cyrus my rune is in my irises, yes my irises are gold.” Alexander was starting to get annoyed.

“No, my whole eye will not turn gold, stop talking.” Alexander finally commanded.

“Can you rip off a piece of cloth for me?” asked Alexander as he massaged his temples.

Cyrus was about to ask why, but he figured Alexander already knew what he was gonna ask. As if he could read his mind Alexander nodded.

Cyrus felt a chill go down his spine, feeling like he could hide nothing from his lord.

Alexander watched with amused eyes at his uncomfortable guard. Luckily, Cyrus did not seem to change his behavior as he ripped a piece of his armsleeve off his robe handing it to his lord.

“Never change Cyrus,” Alexander told him as he wrapped the cloth around his eyes.

“You want to be blindfolded sir”

Alexander just brushed him off, “Let us go, I am sure my father has a wagon waiting for us. After all, he could never let the people see me now.”

Cyrus followed his lord, yet he could not shake the edge in his lord's voice at the mention of his father.