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[Thraxas]

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He had tried every nook and cranny of his cramped cell, but could find not even so much as a crack that would allow him to escape in mist form. Darthos, vampyre, and former envoy to Thraxas of the Maritime Union, was completely and utterly trapped and helpless. The thick iron door was sealed by impenetrable wards, and far above, the circular grate was covered by an equally strengthened iron covering. It struck him that the grate might be a way of escape, but, to him and his kind, it could also serve as a means of torture as it could be opened during daylight hours to allow the light to enter the cell.

How has it come to this? he asked himself. How could he have found out about the boy? Thraxas' discovery of his theft of the poison was not surprising, but what was he told and by whom that led him to believe it had been stolen? These and other questions plagued and baffled him.

As if his worst fears were justified, the covering of the grate began to open very slowly. A shaft of sunlight engulfed the doorway and he recoiled from it in instinctively. The cover did not open all the way and when it stopped, the door opened. Standing in the brightly illuminated doorway stood his tormentor, Thraxas, hands on his hips. “See what I can do?” he taunted extending his right hand palm up allowing it to bathe in the radiance.

“How did you know?”

“That you are a vampyre? Please..." he snorted. "Do not insult my intelligence. My kind has a way of knowing such things.”

“Your kind? Daemons, you mean?”

Thraxas nodded. “You are so pathetic and weak. I am ashamed that I even bothered to employ you... though you were useful for a time.”

“Let me out of here and I will show you how weak I am!”

“In due time old friend. First, some answers. What made you poison that boy? Are you working for someone?”

“I will never tell,” Darthos spat.

“Oh I think you will,” Thraxas countered and he motioned to someone out of sight behind him. The grate covering began opening again. The shaft of light grew in size as it crept along the floor of the cell enveloping every square inch of it in its path from the doorway. Darthos eased backwards to the assumed safety of the last bit of shadow remaining. He waited for Thraxas to order it to stop, but he merely smiled.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“Indeed I am, unless you tell me what I want to know. You see, I don't know what is going on in Papua, and, frankly, could care less. All I know is that my trusted lieutenant stole something very dear to me and must suffer for it. And if he is stubborn, I will just get rid of him and remain ignorant of those events. Thus, unlike you, I have nothing to lose in watching you burn. In fact, I think I will find it most entertaining.”

“And you think ME a monster!”

“I will think you dead in about ten seconds.”

Just as the light had reached him, Darthos yelled, “All right!! Stop it!! I'll talk!!”

Thraxas made another motion with his hand and the cover stopped moving.

“What's to keep you from killing me if I tell you what you want to know?”

“Not a thing, except I give you my word I will not if you tell me the truth. If you lie to me, I will finish what I started. I suggest you be very careful what you say.”

Darthos swallowed hard and nodded. He knew Thraxas was a ruthless, cold-hearted, calculating and patient man who would learn the truth one way or the other. There was no use hiding anything from him. He began the long tale, and held back no details.
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."

[Deminatza]

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I still cannot believe that my father is dead. Darthos has confessed among many other things during his interrogation. I did not mean to bring him harm when I confronted Thraxas.

Korbin revealed to me that the man who called himself Dar or Darby was in fact Darthos, who is employed by the man named Thraxas. I know I should not have done it, but if he is one of Thraxas’ employees, then he must be the imposter. So I travelled to his castle and to confront him. He did not seem to know what I was talking about. Aye, he did know Darthos and did admit that he was his valet, but he had not seen him for quite sometime. When I told him that a boy had been poisoned, he wanted to exam him. I did not expect the reaction once he discovered its origin. He was quite furious and vowed he would seek out Darthos and ensure justice would be done.

A day later, I received a note from Thraxas. He arrived just in time to give the antidote and that the boy would live. He located, imprisoned and interrogated the would be assassin. Darthos spoke of a man known as the Elder, a necromancer who once lived on another shard as did my father and I. Thraxas must have known I did not understand his words, it must have shown on my face, because he took the time to explain it to me. To my understanding, it sounded as if it is very much like this land, yet on another plane perhaps? I have never been versed in the ways of the mystical world, so I politely nodded and waited for him to continue. One of the many things that baffled us both, was the Elder shared the same name as my betrothed, Scaramandine. Though, when he told me my father had perished, I heard nothing else but my heart breaking.

Thraxas was ever the gentleman, and understood when I had asked to be excused so I may seek out Scar to relay this information to him. But in truth, I sought the comfort of his arms. I needed something to keep the world from spinning into oblivion.

I arrived at the academy hoping he would be there. I went to the balcony, where we spent a few nights enjoying the scenery and each other’s company, but he was not there. So I went to the roof but he was not there either. I felt the world threatening to give out from under me. My father dead, Scaramandine no where to be found I have never felt so alone. I managed to make my way to a nearby bench, sat, and mourned. Then I felt a warmth envelop me. When I needed him, Scaramandine was there, holding me against him as I cried.

I managed to tell him all that I had learned from Thraxas. He seemed to be quite shock to learn that the imposter known as the Elder also shared his name. He suggested we speak to a woman known as Malissin. He thought that maybe she would be able to shed some light on the situation.

I did try my best to focus on her words, but all I could think about was my father. Though I did hear something about the Elder’s soul is somehow linked with mine. Again, magical things I do not comprehend, but how is that possible? My sense of loss once again overcame me, while Malissin and Scar continued to converse. Was my father overrun by the creatures in the dungeon? Or, like Scar, surprised by assassins? I needed proof. Scar must have either heard my thoughts, or I spoke them aloud, because he said he would find proof and bring it back to me.
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[Thraxas]

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By now Darthos knew when someone wanted to enter his cell (and they would only enter during the day)---the cover over the grating slid back, forcing him to move away from the door. As this happened, he eased back to remain in the shadowy recess. Thus far, his only visitor had been Thraxas, but today there was a new one, an old familiar face. "Greetings Lord Scaramandine the second. Welcome to my mansion," he saluted, smiling. "Do come in, won't you?"

Standing just inside the entryway, Scar glared at him, folding his arms. "'Scar' will suffice. And this is NOT a social call, I promise you. And if you do get out of here, for your sake, I hope we never meet again."

"I do not think I will ever see my way out, but I may yet see the light of day," he morbidly chuckled. "Pray do say on, sir."

"Tell me where I may find my great-grandfather. I wish to pay him a visit as well."

Darthos snorted. "If I knew that, I would have told Thraxas. I suggest you begin looking in Umbra and environs. That is where I met with him... mostly."

Scar nodded. "Good enough. Now, should you get out of here, I want you to tell him to leave me and Demi alone. If he will do that, I will forget about his crimes against us, including his attempted assassination of me AND, I can hardly believe I am saying this... the murder of her father."

"Assassination? Yes, he wanted me to hire assassins to kill you, but I told them not to. I kept you alive. I DID hope you would not have recovered so quickly... you blasted Lycan. As for her father," he shrugged, "orders are orders and I am indentured to him... for now."

"Why did you want me kept alive? Why did you disobey his orders?"

"I have my reasons."

"What is it you want in Papua?"

Darthos shrugged. "I like the place. Despite the rampant sunshine, it suits me."

"Don't go back there."

"I won't be going anywhere," he replied, smiling. "Unless, that is, you could put in a good word for me to Thraxas?"

"Good bye, Darthos. You are a scoundrel who deserves whatever you get. Be prepared should we ever meet again."

"I look forward to it, Lord Scar."

Scar turned and departed, yet the door remained open. Moments later, Thraxas appeared and spoke to him. "Once night falls, you are free to leave," he said.

Stunned, Darthos only stared at him.

"You owe your freedom to someone else, not me," he continued. "If I had MY way, you would suffer greatly for your theft against me. The door will be left unlocked. You may pick up your things at the Inn in Umbra; I sent them on ahead of you. I will call on you again should I ever have use for you. Perhaps in time you may rebuild my trust, to some extent anyway. Let this be a lesson to you, Umbran."

"What can I say? My lord is too generous."

Thraxas gave a sideways nod and exited.

Darthos was not sure this wasn't a trap, but he meant to test it either way.
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."