Chapter Two: The Venom in the Vessel

Forty years before Belladonne was found in the Light Haven gardens, there was another celebrated child, a male. He was the child of Lord Phobos and Lady Isla Darkar of Isis, the second family after royalty. He was a child of miracles, for many had told the Lady that she was sterile and would not bear children.

Isla cradled her son, Argulus. "Is he not perfect? The ideal of human health and appearance."

"Takes after his father," Phobos said.

"I think I see my mother's eyes."

"No, he doesn't look anything like your side. His eyes are too clear, not muddy and such."

"But his face shape..."

"Not squished and fat, like your father's is."

"I would have sworn that his nose..."

"...was noble and proud, like my dear grandfather's? Correct. This boy will be great."

Isla held Argulus out to Phobos. "As he is such the perfect creature, true descendent of your family, wouldn't you hold him?"

Phobos snorted. "Me, hold him? Dear woman, that is a job of females! I have manly things to do. Controlling the estate, lording over the peasants..."

He left the room, and Isla rolled his eyes. "He's off to play games with the other lords, no doubt. Argulus, never get married."

Argulus never got married.

He never wanted to. The truth was, he really did take more after his mother. He had scruffy brown hair, and eyes that were a cloudy grey-blue and needed glasses to see a thing. However, his personality made him just like Phobos. He did what he wanted, with no respect for his responsibilities. Eventually, he was thirty, and he had his favorite servant take over the duties of the lordship as he went adventuring.

He had money enough to see the entire universe. He had his youth still, and the spirit to find new worlds and new friends. He hired a ship to take him from planet to planet, and within a year, he had seen the wonders of Domino, Antar, Solaria, and Callisto. His trip next brought him to the realm of Magix, an unremarkable farming planet, save for one thing. That thing was the incredible Light Haven Monastery, a co-ed religious colony dedicated to spreading peace, training young students, rehabilitating convicts, and worship of the Great Dragon.

He stayed at the wondrous convent for a week before finding it stuffier and more draining than his life as a lord of Isis, and left abruptly. His ship did not sail for another week, so he spent days wandering around the shops and villages of Magix, and one night, he found himself stuck between towns when a great rain started. A nearby cave offered shelter, and Argulus took it gladly.

The cave was dry and open and beautiful, well worth exploring. With only a single gas lamp to guide the way, he went deeper and deeper into the cave. Before long, the cave opened into a locked realm, to Argulus's delight. Locked realms, which could not be linked by portals, but only found by going through another places, were rare and hard to find. This one could double his fortune... and maybe even make him royalty, which did not seem nearly as stuffy and boring as lordship did.

As he walked into the realm now known as Shadowhaunt, a man as elegant and classy as any Argulus had ever seen met him. "Hello, sir," he said. "We have been waiting for you."

Argulus felt a flash of pride. They had heard of him, the great traveler, and had prepared their wonders for him. What an honor. He followed the man, obviously a servant, who revealed himself to be Kerbog Karborg, right hand of a great lord just like Argulus himself. He led Argulus to a mysterious castle, and then to a lovely throne room, where he bid Argulus to take the best seat while he fetched his master.

It took quite a while, and Argulus began to grow impatient. Finally, he started to stand, only to find himself pushed down by an invisible force. "What is this?" he said in surprise.

Suddenly, the mysterious castle did not seem so welcoming. Argulus could hear swarms of bats, and soon he saw one, followed by a silver and glowing bird. In a puff of mist, the bat transformed into Kerbog. "Servant!" Argulus cried. "I demand that your master release me!"

Kerbog smiled. "Of course, Lord Darkar. As soon as we can spare you."

The silver phoenix flew up to Argulus and perched on his head. "And get this damned bird off me, Karbog! Where is this great lord of yours? Is this how guests are treated?"

"Lord, you misunderstand. That is my master, and you are no guest."

Argulus began to feel odd, off. He tried to lift his hand to brush the bird away, but found he could not even do that. His weariness seemed to get the better of him, and he drifted to sleep...

Kerbog smiled once again. "My lord, how do you feel?"

Lord Argulus Darkar rose, but he was not the same. He flexed his hands. "Better, Kerbog. But vulnerable, very vulnerable. Fetch me some good armor. I'm thinking something in blood red."


Author's Note: Yes, this was short, but hey, it's an update. XD