Hi guys!

Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I love reading them and they really are the only thigns that keep this story going! Thank you so much!

Just a quick question, is everyone still interested in reading this story? I've noticed that recently there seems to be less interest and I was wondering whether it's because it's a busy time of year with exams or whether it's simply gone on for too long and people have lost interest. Please let me know!

Answers to reviews:

- I was both influenced by Revenge of the Sith and by Fate of Ten. I've taken a few ideas from both but elaborated it to fit this story.

- I'm sorry if the chapters are too long. It's hard because some people love longer chapters and others don't. I can try to reduce them, but it's also hard for me, as it's getting to the pint where there's a lot of action now.

Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 24 – Ancient Evil

Ella

I'm having another vision, another memory. Another moment that changed the world and led to the destruction of Lorien. As normal, the usual nerves and anticipation sets in, as the colours swirl around me. As soon as the scene focuses, and the images no longer blur together, I gasp in shock. I stare around, unable to believe this latest setting. It's one I know well, too well.

It's my home.

Despite being over a century older in real life, it's barely changed in the last 100 years. The estate is in a small valley, with the grey, lifeless slopes surrounding the house and grounds. The nearest town is a good hour's walk away at least. I stand on the long gravel driveway leading up to the house, and I take in the huge wall surrounding the estate, the iron gates open for once. They were always shut when I was younger, banning me from leaving the estate. I shudder to the see the curved iron, the metal roses and thorns intertwined on the gates.

The house itself is as ominous as I remember; three stories tall, imposing windows and a huge oak front door. There's a porch over the front of the house, with columns holding up a few balances. It should be a beautiful house if not for its imposing, ominous look. It's the ivy and vines covering the house and the overgrown plants in the front garden, which makes the house creepy. I shudder, wrapping my arms around myself.

Walking up to the house on the gravel, nostalgia floods though me. I think of the heavy, dark wooden stairs, the gothic-style furniture and the dark rooms with the shadows everywhere. The cellar where I was convinced there was a ghost. The house gave me nightmares as a child, and it felt as if there was some dark aura over it, lurking in every corner and waiting to strike. I'd even thought it was haunted when I was younger. Now that I know this was where Setrakus conducted his experiments makes me understand my earlier fear. Maybe I could sense the unnatural tests that had taken place in the past. Maybe his crimes really had haunted the house.

I turn to see Pittacus and Loridas walking towards the house on the gravel driveway. I hadn't even noticed that they were even here. As I take them in, I notice there are other people here too; some are taking pictures of the house and the gardens, others are stood by with notebooks out, and others are carrying boxes out of the open front door and to the pods parked nearby. It reminds me of the one time a mog was murdered in town and there was an investigation with all the mogadorian officers taking notes of everything.

"Have the investigators found anything?" Loridas is asking.

"Mostly just notes and journals. Nymeria took them all for analysis," Pittacus replies. "She wouldn't let me see them. She said I wasn't ready to read it," There are lines on his face, as well as pain and grief. He's taking everything badly, I can tell.

"Good," Loridas nods. "Soon this will all be behind us and we can work on a brighter future in a better Lorien," He looks around and I watch as more investigators take pictures. I can see a few heading into the house, talking grimly amongst themselves. I don't even want to imagine what they found.

"How is Celwe taking the news of his execution?" Loridas asks.

"Not well," Pittacus shakes his head. "She blames me. She says I should have reacted sooner,"

"So should she," Loridas points out. "She knew him best. She was the only one who could have stopped him truly. I think she blames herself more than anyone else," He says softly.

"But she's right," Pittacus protests. They've reached the iron gates and he stops, staring at the house. I don't think he's even looking at it though; I think he's absorbed in his own memories, his own past.

"When we were younger, I knew he was jealous. He was always jealous of me," Pittacus admits. "When I got my first legacy, when I won the scholarship to study at the LDA…" he trails off, lost in his memories.

"That's hardly your fault," Loridas points out. Pittacus shakes himself a little, blinking quickly.

"But instead of sorting out the issues, I ignored them. His jealousy and anger grew and grew and I did nothing!" Pittacus scowls. "I had so many chances to reassure him that he was as good as me, if not better, and I never did,"

"Pittacus-" Loridas begins.

"No!" Pittacus snaps. "No more excuses! I am to blame for this! I was there that day, Loridas. I was there the day he murdered Priscilla!" He turns away from the gate, raking a hand through his hair.

"I knew," he admits. "I knew something was wrong. He was too calm, too controlled, and I knew something had happened. Especially when I noticed that Priscilla had been stabbed in the back and not killed by blaster fire," he meets Loridas' eyes. "I just didn't want to accept it. It would shatter everything I thought I knew,"

"No one blames you for that," Loridas replies softly. "No one would blame you for wanting to think the best of your friend," Pittacus sighs, looking away again and back at the house.

"If I had just paid attention though," he says. "Later on, with all his preaching about equality between Loric and Garde. He's never cared that much about the social order and equality. I should have known he was saying it for himself,"

"We all should have known," Loridas places a comforting hand on Pittacus' shoulder. "But we all believed he would be a better man than he was. We were all fooled,"

"But I knew him!" Pittacus sighs. "He was supposed to be my best friend and I was supposed to know him better than anyone. How could I have been so wrong?" I can't help but agree; even without hindsight it would be obvious that Setrakus was going to be a monster.

"And with his research," Pittacus clenches his fists with anger. "I knew he was up to no good but I ignored it for seven long years. Seven years I left it, hoping it would disappear and I wouldn't have to worry," Pittacus admits. Loridas might not blame Pittacus, but I do. He should have known. He should have seen what was becoming of his best friend.

"We cannot change the past, Pittacus," Loridas finally says. "Instead we must prepare ourselves for the future," He turns towards the house again and they restart walking. Pittacus keeps his head down, as if unable to see what's in front of him.

"How can I ignore our friendship and sentence him to death?" Pittacus says. "I know I must but I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can ever truly accept what he is," I want to slap him into sense, remind him what a monster Setrakus is.

"You have no choice," Loridas says. "You must,"

"But he's my friend," Pittacus protests.

"Was," Loridas corrects. "He was your friend. Now he is a monster who murdered an Elder and violated Lorien. He does not deserve your mercy," Pittacus nods but I can see he's not entirely convinced. I know he still thinks that Setrakus can somehow be saved, and that he can be the one to help him. It makes me feel sick to see his naivety. His stupidity.

"Sir," An investigator walks up to them, his face grim. "There's something you have to see,"

"Of course," Pittacus gestures, with a guarded look on his face, preparing himself for what's to come.

The man leads them around the house and I know instinctively they're heading for my back garden. It's a large stretch of grass from what I remember and there's nothing of excitement out there. I follow them, a horrible sick feeling running through me. I watch an investigator stagger around the side of the house, clutching at the wall, and bending over. I look away as he throws up, retching noisily. Nearby, another investigator kneels on the ground, his face shiny with sweat. I start to feel even more nervous, dread building up in my stomach and sending sharp prickles of fear throughout my veins.

"Don't go," the kneeling man whimpers. "You don't want to see," Pittacus clenches his jaw, taking a deep breath.

"I must," he vows.

They head around the side of the house and I don't fully understand the scene at first. It's another crater, another hole in the ground, although nowhere near as big as the one on the island. It's so strange to see the area that I used to play on dug up. Pittacus and Loridas walk over, looking into the hole, but Loridas immediately staggers back, his face white. Pittacus takes a deep breath, leaning over. I hear his gasp and I walk over slowly, not sure that I want to see what's in it.

But I must.

I have to.

I look into the crater, crying out instinctively when I see the bodies at the bottom. I feel such a strong pang of horror run through me as I stare at the mass grave. I press my hand to my mouth, staring horrified at the range of bodies. Men, women and children. And there are so many. I think I'm shivering and I can taste bile at the back of my throat, as tears form in my eyes. Children. There were children. I feel so sick and I want to throw up to, want to forget this memory that's burned into my mind. But all I can see are the bodies in the hole. They weren't even buried properly.

I stagger away from the edge of the crater, sobbing quietly. I press a hand to my mouth and I notice that I'm shaking; my whole body is shaking. How could he do this? How could he harm and kill innocent people, especially children? What was the point? I wipe away the tears with shaky fingers, breathing quickly. Nothing prepared me for that. I thought that even he wouldn't do that far. I start to feel a sickening anger, a terrifying hatred that's so strong I feel like I could burn up with it. This monster continuously murders people, children to get power.

I will kill him for this. I will make him pay for this.

"Why?" Pittacus rasps. "Why did he have to do this?" He falls to his knees next to me and I see the tears on his cheeks, the horror on his face. He never thought Setrakus could do this either.

"They were innocent," Loridas whispers, looking as horrified as I feel. "And there were children,"

"For his experiments," I turn to see a woman standing nearby. She's dressed in a deep blue robe and her face is stern. She clutches some books and by the whiteness of her knuckles, I can tell the scene affects her too. But she's better at hiding her horror.

"What do you mean?" Pittacus asks hoarsely, his eyes fixed on the mass grave. He can't seem to tear his eyes away from it.

"The diaries," she tosses some to the ground by Pittacus. "According to them he had managed to draw out a tiny part of Lorien's entity. He tried to channel the energy into the Loric," she looks down at the grave and profound sadness fills her face. I watch as she takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself.

"First he attempted with the adults because they were strongest," she continues. "But with their deaths he realised that it would never work; Loric only develop legacies when they're younger. So he moved onto children, so they would have time to adapt to the energy,"

"The energy burned them up. Most were Cepans, some were Garde but nonetheless they were not supposed to hold such power," she rasps. "They couldn't handle it and it killed them,"

"He will pay for this," Pittacus gets to his feet slowly, clenching his firsts. "If there was any doubt, any resistance in my mind, it is gone. He shall die for this," Loridas watches him carefully and then nods, turning away from the scene. I can tell that it's taking all his energy to hold his emotions in, to hide his sickness from the others.

"Loridas," the woman seems to see that he's close to breaking down. "Tell the men to call for back-up. We're going to need more people to clear this up," she says, her tone softer towards the end.

"Of course," he whispers. He moves away slowly, still in shock. But instead of grief, I just feel angry. Maybe it's wrong not to feel any grief, but I just feel disgusted and angry and hatred. I want to kill Setrakus, hurt him badly for what he's done.

Pittacus will clearly fail his task of killing Setrakus. But I will not.

The woman watches Loridas go, turning back to Pittacus. He's still stunned, still staring at the grave, and there are more tears on his cheeks. He doesn't seem to feel the same anger as me, the same burning desire to kill Setrakus. I know like that can only be a bad thing. The woman looks down at the books and then with a flick of her wrist, they're suddenly alight, burning to ashes. Pittacus doesn't even say anything; maybe he wants their evil memory burnt too.

"We have no need of them," she says. "The bodies are evidence enough for a death sentence. We don't need to read of his victim's sufferings before their deaths,"

"I know," Pittacus whispers.

"Besides, their families do not need to learn of it either," she adds.

"Of course," Pittacus mumbles.

"You must be the one to kill him," the woman says to Pittacus. "You are the only one strong enough,"

Pittacus draws in a shaky breath. "I know, Nymeria,"

"Do you?" she says sharply. "I don't think you understand the threat he poses to Lorien, the threat he poses to our future,"

"What do you mean?" Pittacus asks wearily.

"He was planning a revolution," Nymeria turns away from the grave. "He was going to get Ximic with his experiments. Then he was going to kill every Elder and rule as a dictator, with his family ruling after him. A whole dynasty, he said in his notes," her voice turns mocking at the end.

"Of course he was," Pittacus smiles but there's no joy, only pain and grief. It's more like a grimace.

"You were going to be the last to die," she adds. "So you could watch the destruction first and then die a long, painful death," she says matter-of-factly.

"I didn't expect anything else," he sighs, as if broken. I wish he would feel angry, determined to fight and kill Setrakus, but he just looks pathetic. No wonder Setrakus was somehow able to come back and defeat Lorien. It makes me hate Pittacus too.

"You must kill him," she says again, walking away from the grave. "Or he will destroy Lorien,"

"I know, Nymeria," he says wearily. "I will do it. I will kill him," he promises. She nods, pursing her lips and I can see the relief on her face. Maybe she doubted in him too. I understand her doubts, her fears, because even now I feel like Pittacus won't do it. It's too personal for him.

"There's something you should know," she finally says.

"What now?" Pittacus asks heavily. "What else could there possibly be?"

"He experimented with Raylan," she says. "He gave him legacies when he should have none,"

"Invisibility," Pittacus says, resigned. He's still stood by the grave, still refusing to leave it.

"You know," Nymeria realises, pursing her lips. "You knew beforehand?"

"I didn't want to believe it," he whispers. "But now I have no choice," Pittacus looks down at the ground and I can see the mental battle within him; he wants to believe the best of his friend, despite everything he's seen, and yet he knows the truth.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asks. Nymeria sighs, watching as the wind catches up the ashes from the now destroyed notebooks and they flutter through the air.

"Because Celwe and Raylan must hide," she says at last. "Setrakus cannot know where they are or even if they're alive," she says. "It is absolutely essential,"

"But he's dead anyway," Pittacus protests. "Why does it matter what happens to them? They're no threat. Celwe would never do anything,"

"It's not them I'm worried about," Nymeria replies. "It's Setrakus,"

"But he's a dead man walking," Pittacus shrugs, not understanding the threat. It's reassuring to see that the other Elders aren't as blinded by friendship but it's maddening that none of them knew. None of them did anything.

"No," she shakes her head. "Nothing is certain. I do not trust that man to give up without a fight. We must hide Celwe and Raylan," she says sternly.

"He might have followers, Pittacus," she continues. "If he does, then they will go for Celwe and Raylan to continue the dynasty that Setrakus longed for. If this is the case, then they must be hidden,"

"Very well," Pittacus agrees. "If you believe it is best, I will hide them. Then I will tell him that they are dead," he says heavily. Nymeria nods, her eyes on the grave and I can see that same sadness on her face, in her eyes.

"It is the only way we can be safe," she whispers. "It is the only way,"

Xxx

The scene changes all of a sudden, the mass grave and house fading into darkness as new images swirl around, forming another new scene. I blink a few times, trying to focus in on this new setting, as the horrible disorientated feeling sets in. I take a deep breath and then the image starts to focus, the colours forming one solid picture. The horrible disorientating feeling is suddenly gone and I relax, looking around me.

I think I'm back in Celwe and Setrakus' house, the one where they live, not the evil one where he conducted all of his experiments. I'm in a huge impressive sitting room; it's an open space with a grand staircase taking up the centre of the room, with doors and corridors leading off to other parts of the house. There's a sitting area with large cream sofas and a coffee table, all arranged around a huge fireplace. The most impressive part of the room is the large glass wall and I can see the beautiful countryside, the garden leading off to the forest a couple of hundred feet away.

"What do you want now?" Celwe sits on one of the sofas, looking outside. Pittacus sits nearby, rubbing his hands together nervously.

"I came to see how you are," Pittacus replies. "I was worried about you," Celwe smiles bitterly, looking outside, as if she's enchanted by it.

"I'm fine," she replies and I can tell at once that she's lying. I can see that this is hurting her far more than she ever imagined it would and it's taking everything in her not to break down in tears. I think Raylan is the only thing keeping her going.

"Celwe-" Pittacus begins but she interrupts before he can talk.

"How will he die?" she demands. "How are you going to kill him?" I don't think she wants to know, more that she has to know.

"It'll be quick," Pittacus promises. "I won't let him suffer," Celwe sighs harshly, looking down at her hands.

"Tell me why you're really here, Pittacus. This isn't just a social calling," Pittacus sighs, running a hand over his robes, as if to calm himself.

"I need to move you and Raylan to a safe house," he says softly. I watch as Celwe grips her hands together, trying desperately to keep her emotions under check. I wonder just how hard this all is for her.

"No," She shakes her head. "This is my home, Pittacus. I'm not going to leave because of him," she says firmly.

"It won't be permanent," Pittacus urges. "Just a week, maybe even a few days," he adds.

"Why do we even need to go?" she demands, standing up. "What's the point?" She begins to pace, across the room, her movements jerky.

"He's dangerous," Pittacus replies.

"He's locked up with guards there every day!" Celwe snaps, pacing around. "I'm not even allowed to see him! Why is it so essential that we hide from him?"

Pittacus sighs. "We don't trust him. Nymeria is trying to take every precaution," he explains.

"In case he gets free?" Celwe stops in front of Pittacus. "You think he's going to escape and then come after me?" Pittacus doesn't reply and she laughs in disbelief, turning away from him.

"You are unbelievable!" she snaps. "You said you were going to protect me! And now you're worried about him coming for me! For Raylan!" she shouts, running her hands through her hair in agitation. I can see the thin control she has on her emotions, on herself.

"I am trying to protect you!" Pittacus stands too, holding his hands out. "This is the only way I know how!" Celwe breathes heavily, shaking her head. I can see her blinking frantically, as if to stop the tears in her eyes.

"Do you know how hard it is?" she whispers. "Raylan asks for his father every single day. He wants to know when he's going to come home," she angrily brushes away some tears.

"I know it's difficult," Pittacus begins but Celwe whirls around, a furious look on her face. It stuns Pittacus into silence and I know he's never seen this from her before.

"No you don't!" she shouts. "How am I to tell Raylan when he's older that his father was a murderer! That he committed treason and was executed as a result! How am I supposed to tell him that?" she demands. Pittacus shakes his head silently, pain and grief on his face.

"I don't know," he replies. Celwe makes a funny sobbing noise, sitting down heavily on the couch and burying her head in her hands. I can hear her sobbing quietly, and her shoulders shake with her crying. Pittacus shifts as if to go over to her but then changes his mind, staying where he is.

"I know it's hard," he says softly. "I know you've lost your husband and Raylan his father, but I've lost my best friend too. I've lost the only friend I thought I had," Celwe shudders but doesn't look up, as if unable to face the truth.

"I think of all the times we had, the memories we shared," Pittacus continues. "I know it will be the same for you and I understand that you refuse to believe what he is, what he's become. I know you're suffering from the same denial I suffered and it's understandable. How can someone like Decimus become the monster he is now?"

"He's not a monster," Celwe looks up, her eyes red and her cheeks tear-stained. Her hair is ruffled, strands clinging to her cheeks. "He's not a monster," she protests weakly.

"Yes he is," Pittacus says firmly. "He murdered an Elder when she was defenceless. He betrayed the sacred rule of Lorien by attempting to wield and harness Lorien," he takes a deep breath. "You have to forget the old Decimus. He's gone, Celwe, he's not coming back. The man you loved is a monster," he says. It makes me glad tat he's finally realising it, that he finally sees the truth.

"But it's hard!" she cries. Pittacus stares at her firmly and I can see he wants to help her, comfort her but he doesn't dare. Instead he just sits down heavily, sighing deeply.

"He murdered dozens of innocent children for his experiments," he says firmly. Celwe gasps, shaking her head at this new information.

"No," she whimpers.

"Yes, he did," Pittacus says firmly. "I saw the grave with their bodies. Nymeria read his journals about his work. He murdered those children for power…Celwe, you know as well as I do that those are not the actions of someone who can be saved,"

Celwe is shaking so hard that I think she's about to collapse. She shakes her head, tears streaming down her face, mingling with the grief, the pain. There's realisation there too, though. She knows. She knows that Pittacus is telling the truth and she hates it. I think she hates herself for not doing anything.

"He experimented on Raylan too," Pittacus continues. "We need to take him in, attempt to cure him," Celwe looks up sharply, her face almost numb with shock.

"What? Why?" she demands.

"Because he cannot handle the legacy, he was not made for it," Pittacus explains. "I'm worried it will burn him up. You said so yourself that he can barely handle it," Celwe sobs, pressing a hand to her mouth to muffle the noise. She shuts her eyes, shaking her head slowly.

"Move to our safe house. It won't be for long, I promise. We're just trying to protect you," Pittacus says gently. Celwe takes a deep breath, and then stands up. I can see her trying to control herself, trying not to show any emotion.

"I'm sorry for those poor children," she says. "And I'm sorry for everything else he's done. But Raylan is my priority and I have to look out for him. I will not uproot him because of that monster,"

"Celwe, please," Pittacus stands up too, reaching out for her.

"He can be taken for healing, or whatever it is you're going to do," she continues, but her voice shakes. "But he will stay here, with me. I will not let that monster ruin what we have left of our lives," she turns to go.

"You're making a mistake," Pittacus says sadly. "Celwe, if he escapes, then you're a dead woman," he tries one last time to persuade her. She freezes, her back stiffening with his words.

"I have more faith in him than to kill his own family," she finally replies. She turns a little, to meet his glance and I can see regret on her face. This is hard for her but she believes it's right. I don't know whether to pity or hate her.

"Please don't," Pittacus whispers, tears in his eyes. She shakes her head, smiling sadly at him.

"I'm sorry, I really am," she whispers. "I think your problem is that you believe the best in people, Pittacus, and they continue to let you down," she says with a heavy sigh.

"Good luck for the execution," she whispers, her voice breaking. She turns and hurries away, pressing a hand to her mouth.

Pittacus watches her go and then shuts his eyes. I expect the dream to end, to change to something else but it carries on, as if it isn't' over yet. I watch in confusion as Pittacus stands, checking to make sure Celwe has gone. He seems to be hesitant; nervous and unwilling to do something but then he takes a deep breath, steeling himself. He walks over to the stairs softly, resignation and regret on his face.

"It's me who's sorry," he whispers.

I follow him as he climbs the stairs quickly, making sure to be so quiet that Celwe doesn't hear. He moves down a few corridors, so silent I barely hear him, and I don't have time to take in the wide corridors, rooms and suites branching off into other parts of this huge mansion. I barely take in the opulent furnishings, the suites and many rooms signifying the money in this place. Pittacus stops at one door, which doesn't seem so abnormal, but he takes a deep breath, knocking softly.

"Come in!" I hear a child call quietly.

Pittacus enters the room, forcing a smile onto his face. He shuts the door behind him, but I'm too focused on the boy playing on the ground to watch Pittacus. Raylan sits on the ground by his bed, playing with some wooden toys, but he beams with he sees the man enter. Pittacus takes a deep breath, struggling to control himself.

"Hi Raylan ," he says softly.

"Uncle Pittacus!" Raylan replies. "Have you come to play?" he demands. Pittacus kneels down on the ground, shaking his head. He absentmindedly strokes Raylan's hair.

"No," he says softly. "I've come to take you for some treatment. I've heard you're having trouble with your legacy and I'd like to help," Raylan looks up at him with big eyes and then beams.

"Ok!" he beams.

"Don't tell your mother," Pittacus warns him with a smile. "It's going to be our little secret. We're going to surprise her, ok?" he says.

"Ok!" Raylan laughs, looking up at him as if Pittacus is his idol. Pittacus' jaw works and he looks down at his hands.

"Go and give your mother a hug," he says and I can hear the convinco in his tone. I don't know how but I just know. "Tell her you love her and then return to me. Do not tell her I am here," he says. Raylan nods, and then scampers out of his room, obeying Pittacus at once.

Pittacus shuts his eyes and moves his hands, almost as if he is pulling something out of the air. I watch in fascination, as something seems to form in the air in front of him, growing thicker and denser with every hand movement. Colours swirl together, the air moving quicker and quicker, and Pittacus groans very quietly, as if this is too much for him. I gasp in amazement, as a form of Raylan begins to appear in the air in front of Pittacus, and I realise he's replicating my father. I watch as the replica becomes thicker and sturdier, lifelike and even starts moving like a real boy.

Pittacus stops and the replica stands in front of him. It's breathing like a real boy and if I didn't know better, I would say that this is Raylan, the real boy. Pittacus smiles sadly and then makes a hand gesture. The replica suddenly falls to the ground, lifeless. I stare in horrified fascination as the body pales slightly, and stiffens a little, looking like a corpse. Dead. The replica is dead.

I suddenly realise what Pittacus is doing. He has to hide Raylan, so he's going to pretend that the legacy burned him up too soon, killed him. Celwe will have to believe her own son is dead for Raylan's protection. It's the only way that Raylan and the rest of the family will be safe and it's the only way to stop Setrakus. I feel tears in my eyes at the thought of Celwe's reaction when she sees her dead 'son'. No wonder Pittacus looks so sick. But I know that she will never realise the truth; the replica is too realistic.

"Uncle, I'm back!" I hear a pattering of feet. Pittacus turns to see Raylan standing by the doorway, staring at the boy in the ground.

"What is-" Raylan begins but Pittacus makes a swift hand gesture. Raylan's eyes roll back in his head and he slumps to the ground, but Pittacus catches him before he hits the floor. He tenderly lifts Raylan into his arms, blinking back tears.

"I'm sorry," he whispers once more. A few tears escape and streak down my face as Pittacus opens the window, leaving the room. I watch as he floats in the air, Raylan in his arms, and then he flies off as quickly as possible.

The images start to fade away, signalling the end of another dream. But just before it changes completely I hear a scream, a female scream. It sends shivers down my spine and makes more tears come to my eyes to hear it. It's the scream of a woman who has just lost everything, lost the person she loves most in the world. It's the scream of a woman who's just discovered her dead son.

Xxx

I'm in a dark cavern and I immediately realise that I'm back on the island, where Setrakus attempted to harness Lorien. It's dark though: it's nighttime and I can only see by the few, controlled fires dotted around the crater. I can see what used to be the machine that Setrakus worked on, now a lump of melted metal in the corner of the crater. Ruined. Destroyed.

There's a movement in the middle of the crater and I squint in the darkness, trying to see who it is. I gasp as I watch Pittacus approach Setrakus, who attempts to crawl away. His throat is bleeding, and he's still horrifically burnt from his fight with Pittacus. He grips the sandy floor of the crater, as he drags himself along painfully, trying to get away from Pittacus.

Pittacus holds this rope noose, made out of a material I've never seen before. I instinctively know, and I'm not sure how, that the rope is made from a material from the Vonon tree. No legacy can heal a wound from this tree; only time can do that. I also know that Pittacus will have used his Dreynen to sap Setrakus of all his legacies to protect himself from his former friend. It unnerves me how I know that almost at once, as if someone else is telling me.

"Please stop talking," Pittacus al but begs, his voice hoarse. I can't see his expression well but I can hear the pain, the grief in his voice. I know at once that Setrakus will be trying to stall Pittacus, try to make him remember the old Decimus, their old friendship.

I know it works too.

"It's not my fault that you and the Elders cannot accept progress," Setrakus rasps, wincing as he tries to move away from Pittacus. "All I was doing was attempting to achieve progress! Equality between Garde and Cepan!" he starts to cough and I can see blood on his hands. Pittacus falters, looking down at the noose.

"Murdering children is not progress," Pittacus grits his teeth. I bet he's trying to remember every evil thing that Setrakus has done but he doesn't seem to find it easy. I don't understand why not.

"How is it fair?" Setrakus continues. "Having a caste system of Garde and Cepan? Having Lorien choose who is better and who is normal? How is it fair to have a system of Gods and mortals?"

"We are not Gods!" Pittacus yells. "Only Lorien has the power-"

"The power!" Setrakus snorts. "Destiny, nature, fate…we are beyond that! We must accept science and progress! We can and we will control Lorien! If you follow me, we can make a better Lorien!"

"Where you murder innocent children?" Pittacus scoffs.

"They were mistakes," Setrakus lowers his eyes, as if deeply sorry. I don't believe it at all. "I wish I could change that, more than anything," he whispers.

"If we followed you, there would just be death and destruction," Pittacus scoffs.

"Lorien chose me! Lorien gave me the power of Dreynen, the power to control all legacies!" Setrakus cries.

"One minute you denounce fate and the next you use it for your own benefit!" Pittacus snaps. "It makes me sick. You make me sick!"

He advances towards Setrakus with the noose and I can see terror in Setrakus' eyes for once. He thought he might be able to win Pittacus around, might be able to show him the 'true way'. I will Pittacus on, will him to get the deed done, even though I know that won't happen. Pittacus moves forward and Setrakus claws his fingers into the earth, trying to drag himself back. He takes a few deep breaths, and one hand goes to his neck, as if to protect himself.

"I remember when we were younger," Setrakus rasps. "You would tease me about how I had the most useless legacy on Lorien," he whispers. Pittacus clenches his jaw, and his hands tighten on the noose.

"You said Celwe and I were made for each other. She, without any legacies, and me with the most useless one," Setrakus laughs sadly. "I said that I could learn a lot from you…that you always knew the right thing to say," Pittacus takes a deep breath in through his teeth, the sound making a whistling noise.

"The past is in the past," Pittacus says but his voice is strained, not matching his words.

"I remember our university days," Setrakus continues, edging away from Pittacus. "I would do all the studying and you would be out in the Eternal Gardens, flirting. You would have to use telepathy in our tests to get the right answers," he adds.

"Stop it," Pittacus says hoarsely. I can see his jaw working, his quick breathing and I know he's trying so hard not to remember the happy memories of the two of them. He's trying to remember that Setrakus is a monster, not the best friend he once had.

"And my wedding day," Setrakus chokes up and even I'm not sure if that's real or not. "You were my best man…how did it go so wrong?" he looks up and there are even tears in his eyes. "We failed each other," Pittacus shakes his head and I can see he's close to crying too.

"You ruined it," Pittacus says. "You were the one that made this happen," But even I can hear the doubt in his voice and I know he doesn't believe what he's saying. He thinks that he could saved Setrakus. He thinks this is his fault.

"I had you and Celwe. I had Raylan. I've lost everything," Setrakus whispers, seeing what I have. "We…we can go back to how things were," he says, sitting up more. I watch as he winces, unable to hide the pain.

"We can be brothers again!" Setrakus grasps out for Pittacus. "We can be a family once more! I can change!"

"Stop," Pittacus lunges forward, managing to loop the rope around Setrakus' neck.

Setrakus doesn't even fight it. He just slumps down, allowing Pittacus to tighten the rope around his neck so the blade cuts in. It should be quick but I can see that Pittacus is struggling, unable to fully kill Setrakus. He seems to have forgotten everything evil that Setrakus has done, every evil crime that he's committed. It's like he's seeing his friend in front of him, the best friend he failed to save. Pittacus just sees a man that he didn't help.

"Do it," Setrakus rasps. "Go on, do it,"

Pittacus tightens the rope a little and Setrakus wheezes, a small whimper of pain escaping his lips. A few tears even leak from the corner of his eye, and his body tenses in pain. Pittacus stares down at him, stricken and lost. He knows what he has to do. He knows what he must do. But, and it's like I can read his mind, I can see every good memory of the two of them running through his mind. He can see the regret, or fake regret in my opinion, on Setrakus' face. He can't bring himself to kill him because that will mean he will never redeem his friend.

And that's all he wants to do. He wants to help his friend.

"There will be two moons tonight," Setrakus says solemnly. "I remember we used to go to the celebrations, brother," he whispers, watching Pittacus with tears in his eyes,

Pittacus makes a choking noise and then loosens the rope, throwing it away from Setrakus. He staggers back a few steps, looking around him in despair. I want to scream at him, tell him what is going to happen but it's too late. You can't change the past. And I can even understand it, as much as I hate it. If Marina suddenly turned evil and into a monster, even then I wouldn't be able to kill her. She would still be my sister, no matter what. I hate that I understand why Pittacus couldn't kill him.

Even worse Setrakus knew Pittacus' problem and used it to save his life. It makes me hate him more.

"I will clear this all up," Pittacus gestures around him. "I will destroy it all. There will be no memory of the evil experiments that you have committed," He believes that once everything has gone then Setrakus will be healed. He believes that this will all be over.

"I will change," Setrakus says, and I know it's a lie. But it seems to reassure Pittacus, who relaxes a little.

"I do not want to kill you," Pittacus says. "I do not want to be a murderer like you. But I cannot allow you to stay here. You must be punished for what you have done,"

"You are therefore banned from Lorien," Pittacus continues. "You have committed treason and are exiled from Loric soil. You must leave tonight and never return," I can see that he believes this crime to be even worse than death; that to be exiled from Lorien is a torturous death. He believes he is doing the right thing.

"And if I do return?" Setrakus croaks, rubbing his neck. I know he's trying to appear pitiful and in pain but he just disgusts me, cowering like that on the ground.

"Then I will kill you," Pittacus warns.

He turns away before Setrakus can say anything else but I can see his pain, his grief. He doesn't want to have to do this but maybe he thinks that this is his way of making up for his supposed failure in the past. Maybe he thinks that Setrakus will become a better man and will try to make up for what he's done. Maybe he thinks that with this good deed everything will turn out ok and things will be solved. Pittacus doesn't seem aware of the huge mistake he's making.

On the ground, Setrakus smiles.

So hope you enjoyed! The backstory is almost at an end and then back to the modern-day Lorien.

Please, please review! I love receiving them and it really makes it worth writing!