Well….Here's a new chapter! Hope you will enjoy it.

Chapter 3 Know your enemy

"Thank you"The shadow like figure said, with his demonic like voice, that was piercing thru Arkatic's soul, giving him an incredible uncomfortable feeling.

The shadowy figure, looked like nothing Arctic had ever seen. It had the legs of a ape, and head, but the slim and tall body of a cheetah. It had some kinda cloak on, but all other clothing features was hidden, by something that could only be described, as pure darkness.

This 'darkness' unnaturally covered the figure's hole body, like a aura. Making it looking like, as mentioned, a shadow. A darkness.

And the eyes. The eyes was the most disturbing thing, about this creature.

The eye sockets, looked like nothing more than a bright light, tempting every creature in it's eye sight, to follow it.

And if you get persuaded by this temptation, you will meet nothing more, than a white void, of nothingness. A void, tempting your most horrific desires, and showing all your life mistakes, and how they will affect people, how they will hate you, despise you! And most of all, how your life mean as little as a ant's, and that your just one, out of thousands, billions of lives, that all matters more than yours, and how people will spit on your grave, and stamp on it, like it was a puddle, a toddler would hop on for fun! And when you die, you will end up in a void of nothingness, just like the on your staring at!

A void, showing the try horrors, of nothingness.

Arkatic was trying his best, not to look in the figure's eyes, as he could feel the light tempting his eyes to follow. And every time his eyes ended up following, he would end up getting a glimpse of this white void, that was the figure's eyes, before he would look away in shame and sadness, and disgust over himself.

"Now that you're all quiet." The shadowy figure said, making Arkatic realise that it had no mouth, disturbing Arkatic even more, that he already was by this creature.

"We can continue. As you all hopefully can remember, you were called here, by the shadow lord. And if you're all not as dumb as I expect, you will be able to figure out." He continued, and then slowly walked over to the throne, he had been standing beside at.

He walked with slow steps, like he wanted everyone in the whole room, to see him walk. His body also left a trail of dark fog behind it, like he was covered in black dust, and when he would walk, the dust would fall off.

When he reached the throne, he slowly sat down in it, and let out a sigh of relax, over sitting in the comfy looking throne.

"That that's me" The figure said, who was the Shadow lord, to the crowd in front of him.

The only reaction he got, was a stare from the crowd, that didn't know what to say or do.

After some long, silent, and awkward seconds, the Shadow lord speaked under his breath, but loud enough so the dragons up front could hear him. Which contained of Arkatic, Fieres, the strange black scaled dragon, with the yellow stripes, Ica, Wolfer, that had goed up front, also interested in what the Shadow lord had to say, and then some ice dragons and very few fire dragons.

"Well….this is a complete waste of time."

He then talked high enough so everyone in the room, could hear him.

"Now, let's get started. As you all know, you came here, because I need your, 'assistance', so let's-"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Arkatic yelled out of nowhere, surprising everyone in the whole room, including the Shadow lord, even thru it it's nearly impossible to see any impression on him. The only thing that could point out that he was surprised, was that he had gotten completely silent, and was staring right at Arkatic.

Arkatic was just as surprised as everyone else, over his sudden outburst. But he knew that he couldn't simply walk away now, and that he needed to stand with his opinion, no matter what now.

"We all came here, because you, promised us, supplies, warriors, help, and whatever everyone else needs! NOT, because you, the lord of Whatever-your-lord-of needs 'assistance'! Understood! So no more crap about how WE, came here to help YOU!UNDERSTOOD! IS IT FREAKIN UNDERSTOOD!" Arkatic yelled at the Shadow lord, with the last part being echoed, in the room, making everyone clearly hear the last part, for some moments, before it finally got silent.

It was only now that Arkatic realised, that he under his speech, he had walked up the stairs to the throne, with only five steps separating him, and the Shadow lord.

The lord haven't been moved, under Arkatic's dramatic speech of his opinion. Literally. He haven't moved at all. The only thing he had done under the speech, was staring right at Arkatic. Which was very possible for him, without moving, since he have no pupils, and don't need to move for someone to feel like he is staring right at them.

It was now that Arkatic's gaze, was fixed on the void, that was the Shadow lord's eyes.

The only thing that had keeping him from falling into this void, was his confidence, which he had gotten when he was doing his speech. Which was now over, so….not much help for him now.

Arkatic could feel his confidence quickly leaving him, now that he was staring into the Shadow lord's void like eyes.

But he was trying to keep himself together, which wasn't working. So he was now at the mercy of the Shadow lord's cold, and deadly stare.

Him and Arkatic was staring at each other, tensely, like they were having a stare contest.

And like all staring contests, there is only one winner. And that winner was, the lord.

Arkatic couldn't do this any longer, and quickly looked to his right, and sighed like he had been injured. He then turned around and began to slowly walk down the steps, looking down on the ground in shame, to the crowd under him, which were all following him with there eyes.

"Good boy." The lord said, taunting and probably sarcastic.

Arkatic instantly stopped moving, and turned his head to the Shadow lord, and growled at him.

In response, the lord, turned his stare to Arkatic.

Arkatic stopped growling, and stared right at the lord, with eyes, burning with hatred.

But Arkatic could feel when there was no other outcome than defeat, and started walking back to the crowd. He stopped where he had been standing the whole time, and started to stand there again, and looking down on the ground.

The Shadow lord looked at Arkatic, who was starring the ground, before he turned his gaze to the dark stone floor under.

"Well….that was dramatic." He said to himself, but loud enough so mostly everyone in the room could hear. Like he was taunting Arkatic. When you think about it, that was probably what he was doing.

He then standed up from his throne, shocking the crowd a little, with the sudden movement.

"Let's get back to topic. Oh, and don't worry uh….whoever you are. We will get to the part, you was so anxious about." The Shadow lord said to the crowd, and pointed at Arkatic at the last part.

Arkatic looked up at him for a little moment, before he again looked down.

The lord then continued.

"But first things first. We need to do something about what you call me. Because, honestly, it's going to get tiring of me getting called, 'the Shadow lord' for all of you, but mostly important, for me, the rest of your pity lives." The last part caught the crowd's attention, making them growl, and whisper to each other.

"So from now on, I want all of you to call me, Shadow, or lord. You now, to better work 'together'." Shadow said, liking the idea of being called Shadow, instead of being called the Shadow lord, for the rest of the time he have to work with these dragons. And honestly, thinking about being called that forever, would eventually get annoying. And then think of if anybody should read or write a story, with on of the characters being called the Shadow lord. It would be madness!

Arkatic was looking around the crowd up front, seeing Fieres, Ica, Wolfer, some ice dragons, but last and not least, the mysteries, black scaled dragon, with the yellow stripes.

Arkatic had never seen, or heard of a dragon like him. The only dragon that could have any resembles to him was Cynder. And still then the only thing making them look remotely like each other, is their black scales.

The black dragon was looking up at Shadow, not really looking interested, but still didn't want to look away.

Arkatic began to look away, but just as soon as he had moved his head enough so he couldn't see the black dragon, the dragon spoke to him.

"Names Cenanus." The black dragon said, without looking at Arkatic, fast and swift, like when you swing a sword thru the air.

Arkatic was both shocked and surprised, and find himself again staring at Cenanus.

He then said, cautious, and nervous.

"Uhm….Arkatic."

"Okay." Cenanus replied, without emotion in his voice, and still not looking at Arkatic.

Before the two of them could have a real conversation, Shadow asked the crowd. "Any questions?" And began to look around the crowd.

"I have one." A female dragon asked out of nowhere, even making shadow turn his head in surprise.

The dragoness was a ice dragon, with light blue scales, and a snow white belly. Her horns bent upwards, and where white like her belly. Her tail blade was like the one of a spear, and blue as ice. Her wings was also white, and her eyes was blue like the sea.

The dragoness walked up the the front of the crowd, and asked Shadow.

"What are you?"

The question waked whispers around the crowd, which all was also about the dragoness question. Because, no one really had and idea of what Shadow was.

Shadow stared at her, without moving a muscle. Completely motionless.

After a moment of anxious after hearing the answer from Shadow, he finally speaked up.

"That's a good question."

And before anyone could react, his hand had morphed into some kinda black spike, which went all the way from the throne, to the dragoness throat.

"Don't ask it again." He said cold.

The dragoness began to silently panic, breath heavily, and sweat, as she could feel that the spike had pierced her scales. Then her warm draconic blood was slowly sliding over her scales like a snake down to her belly.

The spike that had emerged from Shadow's arm, looked like some kinda solid fluid. The surface of the spike moved, like there were a dark fog covering it. And the beginning of the spike, had several holes in it, that makes it possible to see through it. The end of the spike, was completely smooth, and pure like a refined stone.

Arkatic could feel the tense atmosphere in the room, making it feeling uncomfortable warm. Arkatic could feel his sweat slowly sliding down his head, to his shoulders, and then to his back.

Him, and mostly everyone else, was wondering what Shadow would do. Would he let her go. Or would he kill her on the spot.

As clan chief, Arkatic has also been standing in the same situation, to either kill, or let go.

He is still wondering if he made the right decisions.

While Arkatic was doing what mostly everyone was doing right now: thinking of a outcome. Something got his attention. It was Ica. He was completely covered in sweat, and breathing heavily, and you could see the panic in his, like he was really worried of something.

But before he could think more about that, his eyes got a glimpse of the current situation.

Shadow was slowly moving his arm back, removing it from the dragoness throat, making a little drops of blood, drip from the tip of the spike.

The dragoness took her hand, to her throat. She then let out a sigh of relief, when she came to the conclusion that it wasn't a serious injury, but only a flesh wound.

Arkatic could spot that Ica also let out a sigh of relief. But Arkatic was to busy in his own mind, to think more of that.

He was wondering how Shadow could let out such a fast attack, making Arkatic take to seconds before realising what had happen. And also how he could stop the attack, right before it would completely pierce thru her throat.

But that was questions to another day.

The crowd turned their attention to Shadow, just in time to see the bizarre transformation of the spike.

The spike shrunk down, to then split up to five smaller spikes, that later formed into shadow's fingers.

Shadow looked down on the crowd. He then said, relief over being done with that situation.

"Well, good we got that over with. Now, let's get to the next topi-"

"My lord, we have something you must see." An orc said, that had just gotten into the room, thru a door, where the throne was.

Shadow standed frozen a second. Before all hell broke loose.

"WHAT IS THIS!" Shadow yelled at the orc, with a voice, sounding more demonic than before, making shriver's go thru Arkatic's spine, that had walk back a few steps, like the rest of the crowd.

"HOW,DARE YOU TO INTERRUPT ME!" He continued, looking like he had gotten bigger. And the shadow from the corners in the room, was now beginning to grow all over the walls, floor and ceiling. Making the room filled with darkness.

"YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON. OR ELSE IM GONNA TEAR YOUR EYES, OUT OF YOUR EYE SOCKETS, AND FEED THEM TO YOUR FRIENDS!" Shadow yelled at the orc, that he had now gotten corned up at the wall.

"SO NOW TELL ME, WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT!"

"We have captured a scout that was going around the castle!" The orc quickly and tearfied replied, and then closed his eyes and covered his face with his hand, clearly scared for his life.

Shadow then shrunk down to normal size, and asked the orc much calmer than before, and curious.

"A scout?"

"Yes yes, my lord, a cheetah scout, to be more exactly." The orc replied and showed with a hand movement, to two other orcs to come in.

The orcs was carrying the cheetah, and sat him down on his knees.

The cheetah had brown fur with black dots. His eyes was brown, and his ears was black. He was wearing green clothes, and a green cape, which both was as green as the trees.

"Well….that's something." Shadow said, and slowly walked over to the cheetah.

When he came to the cheetah, he sat down on one knee and said somewhat amused.

"Would you look at that!"

The cheetah looked up at him and said confident and fearless.

"I won't tell anything you abomination of a creature." And spit on Shadow hitting his chest.

Shadow, while still staring at the cheetah, proceeded to wipe the spit of him.

He then got his head closer to the cheetah, making sure that the cheetah was staring into his eyes. He then said to the cheetah with a hypnotising voice:

"Tell me, what is it that you fear?"

"Uh, what?" The cheetah replied not really understanding, what Shadow meant.

"What is it that you fear - what do you hate - what do you despise?" Shadow continued getting even closer to the cheetah.

"Uh, uhm." The cheetah said. He was sweating, and looking around panicky.

"What is it, that you want to kill, right on the spot?"

"Uh, uh,uh….." The cheetah said, right before he quickly got and arm free from one of the orcs, and took up a hidden dagger in his brown boots, which he then swinged at Shadow.

The cheetah smiled happily. Knowing that he`d succeeded his mission. Knowing that he had killed a new threat to his tribe, and possible, the whole world.

But that wasn't happening.

Instead, Shadow quickly raised his hand, making it pierce thru his hand, stopping it from hitting him.

The cheetah looked up at him, now with fear and shock in his eyes.

Shadow then said, emotionless and cold.

"Right….me."

He then took hold of the cheetah' hand which were holding the dagger, and pulled the hand back, making the dagger go out of his hand.

When the dagger came out, a few drops of some black liquor dripped from his hand. And then the hole which the dagger had left, instantly healed before the cheetah's eyes, looking like there never had been a hole in the first place.

Shadow then took the dagger out of the Cheetah's hand, and casted it away.

Shadow then got up and walked back the crowd.

"Put him in the interrogation room." Shadow ordered the orc's, which right away took the cheetah away which stared at Shadow.

Shadow then clapped his hands and said to the crowd:

"Now, let's get going!"

Him and the clan chiefs and Fieres, which represented the fire king of Kharos, began to negotiate for ten minutes of what they should do.

In the end, they came to the agreement, that the clans of the Icy mountains, the colonies of the Barren lands, and the kingdom of Kharos would give some of their warriors to Shadow. Then in return Shadow would give them all the supplies they need, for as long as they want.

Shadow even made them sign a contract. With there blood.

He made two orcs go around the room, with one holding a dagger, that the dragons should use to cut there paw. The other orc was holding a piece of paper, with letters that none of the dragons understood. The meaning of this was that the dragons should let the blood from there cut on the paw, drip down on the paper.

In the start, the dragons was hesitant to do it. In the end, one after one followed, and the only one that still needed to do it, was Arkatic.

Arkatic looked nervous on the dagger and paper, which both was covered in dragonic blood. He kept looking at it, like a kid that won't eat is vegetables, but know that he needs to.

Arkatic slowly reached the dagger, and took it shakenly out of the orc's hand. The other orc placed the paper under Arkatic's paw, ready to be covered in more blood.

Arkatic opened his paw, and made the other on with the dagger ready to cut.

The dagger slowly got over the Arkatic's paw, which was shaken.

He had of course done things that was worse, but he saw Shadow as no more than an enemy. Which maybe could make you understand why he's not to happy about making a blood pact with him.

But Arkatic had no other choice.

He then began to count inside his mind.

Okay,okay, just do it….one….two….THRE-

His counting was interrupted, when Cenanus walked over to him without he had noticed. Cenanus then took Arkatic's hand with the dagger, and pulled it down, cutting Arkatic's paw.

Cenanus then walked away without saying a word.

Arkatic was completely shocked and couldn't really understand what just had happen.

His blood from his paw then dripped down on the paper, and the orcs walked away.

Arkatic bit his lips, when the shook vanished, and was replaced with a sharp pain.

He have had worse injuries, but that doesn't mean you aren't allowed to feel pain.

The orcs walked up to Shadow and gave him the paper. He looked closely at the paper, and nodded now and then, like he could see which drops of blood belonged to who.

After a final nod, he gave the paper to the orc, which then walked out of the room.

"Okay , that was the final thing, I think, uhm….yes it was!" Shadow said, and looked around the crowd. He got a series of confused glances from the dragons, which didn't quite understood the thing about the whole blood contract thing.

Arkatic and many other dragons, including Fieres, walked towards the exit but was stopped by the corrupted voice of Shadow.

"HEY! I didn't mean that you could leave. Actually, it means actually the complete opperside." He said, with a much dark, and cold voice than before, making everyone stop and turn their heads to him with worriedness in there faces.

Shadow then turned around, and let out a little creepy laugh, putting his hand on his face.

When he removed the hand, he slowly turned back the crowd, in a disgustin and unnatural way. Even making a loud bone snap, making chills run down Arkatic's spine.

Arkatic began to sweat, not partuccely liking the last part Shadow said, and defenltely not the creepy laughter or turn around.

"It means, that all of you are gonna stay here, helping me. After all, you know by now that I need warriors. And the best way to get the best warriors, is taking the ones that are gonna give me warriors. It's simple logic."

Arkatic was now shaking. He knew something like this would happen.

"And before you complain." Shadow said, and closed his eyes, and giggled a little. He then opened his eyes and continued.

"It's already to late. Now….who's a good boy?"

Without wasting any time Arkatic quickly ran towards the exit.

But as Shadow said….it was to late.

A big dark explosion happened at Shadow. The explosion created a dark fog, that quickly runned down to room, leaving a trail of unconscious dragons behind. Including Arkatic.

The only one of the dragons still conscious, was Cenanus.

Shadow walked down the steps from his throne down to the sleeping dragons.

He walked around them looking at them now and then before reaching his destination - Arkatic.

Cenanus walked over to Shadow and looked down on Arkatic, which Shadow was also doing.

"What do we do with him." Cenanus said, the way he usually does, cold.

Shadow looked up at him, and said confused.

"What do you mean? Ohh, you mean the trouble he had caused? Ah, don't think about that. It just proves that we need him. And the rest." And looked around the unconscious dragons.

Cenanus simply nodded, before he asked Shadow.

"With all true respect my lord….Shadow? Really?"

Shadow looked back at Cenanus, and replied, annoyed.

"Ohh, sorry, you try to find a good nickname to someone that calls himself the Shadow lord."

Shadow then stared at Cenanus a little while, before he turned around, and walked to the nearest exit.

He then stopped.

"Would you please, find someone to carry all of those body out of my throne room. Oh, and make sure that there ready." Shadow said, continued to walk to the exist.

When he was out of the room, Cenanus again looked down on Arkatic, and said with a somewhat sad voice.

"I'm sorry."

"Sooo….you're telling me, that we somehow have went into a game, that you have played years ago. Which it's set in a magical world, called the Dragon realm, which is inhabited by dragons, animal people, and fantasy monsters? And, that place we saw, was some kinda capitel for dragons, cheetahs, and moles, called Warfang? And that they are the most likely creatures, to have captured us?" Jack asked Ben.

"I wouldn't say that they have captured us. But else, yeah." Ben replied.

There were a long and silent moment, before Jack gave his opinion on the situation.

"Firstly: That explanation makes no logical sense, and it's purely something you have made up. Secondly: We were knocked out, dragged somewhere we don't now, and bound to a chair, with sacks over our heads. That is the solely definition, of being captured." Jack said to Ben. The only thing that made it possible for Jack to know where Ben was - were his voice.

"Hey, it was not so bad, I was hit so fast, that i didn't even feel it. Except now. Because I have a bulge, that hurts, really, really much. But also, how would you then explain where we are?" Ben said.

"I don't know, somewhere that actually makes sense!" Jack replied, now getting angry at Ben.

"That's what I am asking you about. Where are we that makes sense, mister genies!" Ben said now also getting angry.

"Would you just shut up, please!" Jack yelled at Ben.

While they continued their argument and Carla was lost in her thoughts.

Was that city that they saw real? What if Ben is saying the truth? But what if he isn't? What if the people that have captured them is going to hurt them? Where were they?

That kinda thoughts was roaming around her mind.

But the thought Carla was most thinking about is what happened.

She remember that they were walking down the usual street on their way home from school. They were talking, when they heard a honk behind them, and when they turned around….

Carla's mind snapped, now having a solid idea of what happen. She now knew….what was behind them. Something that's on the road. Something that honks. Something that have two bright lights on front.

Carla's thoughts was interrupted, when something that sounded like a door opened up at there left.

Jack and Ben's argument completely stopped, and the three of them turned their heads in the direction of the sound.

They could hear footsteps, with some being loud, going closer to them.

When the footsteps stopped, they could hear breathing.

"Now you're going to see, that I`m right, that we`re not, trapped in some magical place." Jack said, convinced that it was humans that had walked over to them.

Jack then continued, fully confident that he was right.

"Now there going to take off these bags, and were going to see the sick people that have kidnapped us, okay? Not some Cheetahs, not some apes, not some moles, and Not, some drago-OH MY GOD!" Jack screamed, probably using all the air in his lungs.

The scream completely surprised Carla, because she had gone into her thoughts again.

Only two seconds later, both Ben and Carla got their bags off, revealing a grey stone room, and a wood table in front of them. And in front of the table, three dragons. A yellow, blue, and green. The yellow dragon was standing in front of Ben. The blue one in front of Jack. And the green on, in front of Carla. On there left and right, there was standing some humanoid like moles, with brown fur, gold armor, and spears.

Carla opened her mouth in surprise, and was nearly going to faint. She then tried to close her mouth again, but to no use.

"I wonder what god they could refer to. It would be a great benefit to find out more about this god. Maybe it could be some kinda human ancestor? Do you three mind, if I ask a couple questions abou-" The yellow dragon said, eager and filled with energy, nearly not even stopping to breath. It was nearly impossible for Carla to follow his words, before he was interrupted by the blue dragon to his left.

"Would you shut that mouth of yours Volteer? If you forgotten, We're interrogating our prisoners." The blue dragon said to the yellow dragon, which name was apparently Volteer. Volteer in response rolled his eyes and stopped talking. The blue dragon said the last part whispering but Carla,Ben and Jack could still hear it.

Jack nervously leaned over to Ben and said nervous and whispering to him, while still keeping his glance at the dragons.

"Said that we were prisoners." And then leaned back over to his place.

The blue dragon turned his head to the green on and said:

"What do you suggest we do, Terrador?"

The green dragon, Terrador, in response, turned his head to the blue dragon, and said with an old and wise voice:

"What do you think we should do, Cyril?"

Thank You for reading this chapter, I hope you will make a review. I would appreciate your opinion on this story, and what you think. I would also like to say thank you to those of you that have followed my Fanfiction account, and those who favorited my story. See you in the next chapter!

(When it comes out)