A golem stood before him, its features strikingly familiar. Amazingly lifelike, its hair shone like spun gold, her eyes colored of the deepest sea, wings protrude from its stone form, her face was quiet and frightened. "I only pray this message reaches you, "Her voice is echoing with an unnamed sadness, "I have bought as many constructs as I could afford, I've put this message on all of them only attuned to send it to you. I've sent them out all across the planes in hopes to find you." Her features change to match her voice, "At first we wanted to find you, because we all care for you deeply. We followed you to the abyss and would gladly fight heaven and hell to bring you back to us, but now something terrible has happened and we need you so desperately."

"We kept in contact, after you left. Morte pretty much lives here in the brothel, Nordom wanders the planes but visits regularly. Dak'kon has gone back to his home plane, as far as I know, I have not been able to reach him. And Annah…" She paused. "That's why I'm seeking you. She's gone. She returned to the buried village and took Pharod's place; all has been well for the last few years. I keep in touch with her; I make a point to see her at least once a week, Both of us using our contacts to try and find you; sometimes doing a brief outing only to find false leads. But she is gone now." The message paused, her voice cracking. "They said she went out with a group of collectors to the lower planes to claim cadavers. Doing her job, I suppose. Only One came back. He said Baatezu took their camp and killed some of them, three others, including Annah were taken as slaves. That was 8 months ago."

The construct reflected the sadness of the voice recorded in it. "I know what they do to slaves. If she still lives, oh by the powers what they will do to her." Her voice broke again, "We need your help. Please. I beg you." She paused to control herself, You know where to find me. Please be quick." The stone facade stood frozen, its task completed. The golem moved no more.

I walked into the familiar archway. How long ago was it? I believe 4 years since I last entered this building in the clerk's ward. A beautiful young woman greeted me, her hair a warm chestnut brown and eyes gleaming with excitement, her smile could stop any man in his tracks. "Welcome to the Brothel of Slating Intellectual Lusts!"

"Yes, hello." I stopped near her, her eyes giving me the once over, her face showing her distaste. I couldn't imagine how I must look, I couldn't even remember the last time I had a decent bath. "I need to speak with Fall From Grace, please."

"I'm sorry sir," She was sincere. "Lady Grace isn't entertaining anymore. She has taken ill; perhaps another girl would suit your fancy."

I doubt any girls I know are still here, I thought. "No please. It is important I speak with her; it's about a personal matter. We traveled together some time ago and she has requested my presence on an urgent matter."

"Oh, alright then. And whom may I say is her caller."

"I have no name."

"Oh." She looked me up and down again, "how interesting."

I waited in the greeting hall. Things there hadn't changed much, nice plush chairs and couches some people chatting. Most of them ignoring my presence as best they could. I couldn't blame them. I know I could be intimidating at times. I stood well over 6 feet, my body covered in scars and tattoos. I wore only boots and a loin cloth. My sword was strapped in a sheath on my back and a dagger on my belt.

I heard the commotion and turned around to watch Grace, still a lady, walk briskly to me. Morte however, flew with abandon at me chattering all the way. "Chief…Hey there Chief! Good to see ya!"

"Hey there Morte. How have you been?" I was genuinely happy to see him. He began to answer my question when grace arrived. I held my hand out to her. She took it and pulled me to her, embracing each other in a welcoming hug.

"I'm so happy you've found your way back, my friend." Ever in composure she straightened up and looked at me.

"I got your message, any word?" I asked before anything else.

"It has now been so long since I've sent out the constructs, I'm afraid we might be too late." She signed, "It took 8 months just to send them out and it's been 5 months more since then."

"That long?" Time runs differently in hell. "It took so long to plead with the fates. I'm only allowed out long enough to help find her. They are labeling it as part of my punishment."

She smiled weakly, she looked so tired. "Don't dismay. I do have a few leads as to where she might have been taken, it's just I cannot go there on my own…I am willing to if you are with us."

"I am with you."

"Good." She turned to Morte, "Go and summon the others. I'll make the arragemtns for our supplies, and you." She looked me over and sighed. "Go and bathe…see Luis I put some men's garments in there a few months ago that should fit you."

I gave a bit of a laugh. "Yes, ma'am."

Thankfully grace kept the clothes simple. The people in clerks ward usually dressed in bright, fine fabrics that were out of place for a traveler like me. Leather pants, dark brown and comfortable and a black loose tunic. There was a knock at the door. "Yes."

Morte entered first, I could never figure out how a floating skull could open a door. Nodrom and Dak'kon followed right behind. "Eh he…look what I found!" he declared triumphantly. I was happy to see them all.

Nordom scurried up first, "Attention: Greetings! Voice appreciation and joy."

"Hello little Modron." I smiled at him. I was surprised that Dak'kon was there, but grateful none the less. "Greetings Dak'kon."

"Well met and returned, old friend."

We talked and caught up, I got to hear the wondrous things Nodrom had seen, Dak'kon was in his home plane up until receiving a message about the same time I found the golem. Morte, of course, was spending most o his time chasing the girls in the brothel. Grace joined us a while later. She had summoned for food and we were to discuss a plan and begin the next day. The others listened in.

"There had been a large battle at Khalas for the bridge. Many mercenaries, Tan'ari and Baatezu fell. Of course, neither side won any new ground but with that many fresh deaders the collectors went out to see about claiming some." Grace leaned over the table to show me her notes, I caught her scent. It was intoxicating. While she spoke I could hardly follow. Everything about her was to seduce, it was the way of a succubus. So beautiful. She continued, "I've learned there were two generals posted there at the time, one now dead, the other is posted somewhere that I can't locate. Odds are though if they didn't kill her right away, they'd have sold her off to a slaver. They have a slaver guild so hopefully that is the case; they keep records of sales, even of slaves. We'll need to go to Gehenna to view them. Thankfully Baatezu are easily persuaded by copper."

Morte piped in, "They keep their records in a vault system guarded by Yogholoths, ya… know, Lesser Fiends. They really aren't as loyal as the higher ups would like to think."

"Grace, may I ask you something?" I asked softly.

She looked up at me with those enchanting eyes, "Of course."

"Why are you doing this?" I eyed her...to gauge her reaction. "Annah never liked you; I know you were patient with her but not concerned for her, not like this. And certainly not willing to go anywhere near the Baatezu."

She thought for a moment, always careful of her words. "We are bound with unseen ties. She doesn't even realize it but I know the bonds are there." She continued," We are bound because we both love you. And now further bound because she is suffering a fate I once endured." I eyed her with curiosity.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I know you eye me with lust…every mortal man does. And every woman I've seen come across you sigh with longing, despite your physical features. You and I however, would be a tragedy." She smiled softly, "I remember how she looked at you, when you had your back turned. I watched you kiss her. I've been in this business a long time, I've never see a man arouse such a passion in a girl before. You're all she talked about for some time."

She sighed," And I watched you too." I tried to hide my being startled, she watched everything; I shouldn't have been surprised. "You're eyes always followed her. I knew you'd come."

"I am always afraid for you people." I grinned slightly, "Caring about me, I'm walking doom. I destroy everyone and everything I come in contact with. No one should care about me so much."

"We know."

We discussed the following day further; we will first visit the Baatezu halls to search their records. It will take a long time but between wandering around looking for a dead general and a living one it seemed the quickest. The night wore on.

"So," grace sipped her wine, "What have you been doing these last few years?"

"Enduring." I both didn't want to and couldn't talk to her about my punishment, "And yourself?"

"Business is good; the girls you know have moved on to become Sensates. No real complaints from me. Other than occasionally worrying about you or Annah." She eyed me carefully, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Whenever I say her name you seem to wince."

I traced my finger along my wine glass then took a long sip. I can't get anything past her. "It hurts to know what has happened to her. I wished that she would move on…..be safe…you know." I sighed; she looked at me eagerly waiting for the rest. "Ok fine. I never said good bye to her how I would've wanted to. I've regretted that."

"Fair enough."

"Tell me something."

"Yes."

"What should we expect if we find her? What types of things would be done to her." I stared at my glass, "I know you don't like to talk about it but…how broken will she be?"

It took grace a long time to answer, I waited patiently. She sighed but never looked up at me. "She is strong yes, but that will only make their tortures worse. Being beaten and raped, "She looked at me then continued. "That's nothing. That's when you can rest compared to what they'll be doing to her."Grace's eyes wondered off, "She was funny sometimes you know. We'd go have a drink now and again, only then did she ever open up to me."

I listened in. "Little things here and there but they were enough. She missed Pharod greatly. She once told me there was a stink about you she missed; she longed to smell it again. She even confessed to wandering the mortuary once looking to match your zombie-like scent but she said she couldn't find anything like it." She poured more wine, "She was growing her hair out too." I smiled…oh that shining fire red hair. "I asked her about it, she didn't seem the type to have long flowing locks, and she said you told her once you liked it. I tried to get her to let one of the girls style it for her but she'd never hear me out."

"Her tail." I cut in.

Grace looked up at me," What?" She smiled slightly.

"I loved her tail. She was so self conscious of it but I thought it was cute. Sometimes I'd walk behind her just to watch it drift back and forth with her hips," I got lost in the memory. "It was… hypnotic."

"I bet." Grace gave a pearl lit smile. "We'll find her." She put her hand over mine and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"Yes."

Morte insisted on staying in my chambers long after the others had retired for the night. I relaxed to the sound of his chant…I had never realized I missed the annoying chatter box. "We all gathered back here for a few days. Ya know, just to rest up. Oh...oh you should've seen the prostitutes' faces when you didn't come back chief. You're going to have to teach me whatever it is you manage to do to these women, I mean you're no looker and you smell like a crypt…" He rolled his eyes. "Anyway. Being a head in a brothel does have its advantages ya know. Nina, in room 4…ya know the brunette...she sleeps nude." I couldn't be sure but I think he was grinning.

"You sneak in their rooms while they're asleep?"

"Oh yea…great way to spend time near'em without them throwing things at me. Except Annah, Half the time she'd wake up and hit me with a pillow." I laughed at that. "She was the most entertaining though, talks in her sleep." He blinked and spun to face me better, "Well not really so much as talk as yell at whatever she's dreaming about. Gave you a real heated speech once…I hope you're ashamed of yourself."