Chapter 26

After the first hour, Harry's fists were to sore to pound on the door anymore. After the third hour, his voice died. After the fifth hour, fatigue won out and he had to sit down. He didn't know what he was going to do. He had a thought and got back up to his feet. He walked to the door and concentrated. If he could get out, then he could run. He'd learned how to use his mind to unlock locks at an early age so he concentrated. He shot fire out of his hand and it hit the door lock, dead on, and then fizzled to nothing.

"SHIT!"

He spun around as he heard a noise. It was totally dark in the room, so much so that he couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. He definitely heard something, though, and anger and hatred rose to score his throat as he recognized who the voice was.

"You son of a bitch," he said to the dark room. "What the hell do you want? I can't get the damn crown if I'm a prisoner. What the hell is your problem!"

Aiden walked up to Harry and glared at him. "You don't have to get me the crown wizard. I know where it is and I know how to get it back."

"Then why the hell am I here? Why have I been beat half to death more than once? Is Bob ok? He'd better be you ass hole or I will......" He yelped in pain as Aiden sent fire shooting into his chest. He hit the floor hard and laid their panting and trying to catch his breath. Aiden walked up to him. "Get up!" Harry looked at him like he was crazy. He didn't think he could move but fearing that the dark wizard would shoot him again gave him the incentive to do as he said. Slowly, obviously struggling, he got to his feet.

"Bob is a pain in the ass. My man went to visit Susan to tell her it's over between them."

"You're going to let them go?" Harry was hopeful, but all hope fell when he saw the wizard's face. "I'm going to let Susan go. I don't need her anymore."

"What about Bob?"

"I have a personal vendetta against Bob just at the moment."

Harry grinned, despite himself. "He got away from you didn't he?" Aiden smirked. "For now, but enough about me."

"Fine. If you knew where the crown was, why did you do all this?"

Aiden took a deep breath. "My brother has the crown."

"What? You have a brother?"

"Yes I have a brother but he is a lot worse than I ever thought about being. You'll meet him soon. Our father locked him away along with the crown so he could control it and us."

"Then why?"

"Because he wants you. When he get's what he wants, I'll get what I want and then they'll be hell to pay." Harry stared at the man before him. Fear creeped up his spine as he asked the question that he really didn't want to know the answer to.

"Who is your brother?"

"Elial," Aiden said simply and Harry stared. "No way! Elial is just a story." Aiden grinned. "No, Elial is my brother and he wants you. You have to go through my father to get to him though, because Elial and the crown are locked away. If he get's you, he can drain you of your powers, take your soul and then be set free. In exchange for me bringing you here and helping to release him, he'll give me the crown." He looked at Harry and laughed at the look of utter despair on Harry's face.

"If Elial is real," said Harry. "That means that...." He looked at Aiden not finishing.

"That is correct. Lucifer is my father and he wants you first."

"Why?"

"You are sort of a legend around here. You're a powerful wizard and with the right, shall I say, training, you'll be a great addition to the dark side."

"What? I won't turn evil, are you crazy!" Aiden glared at Harry. "You'll do as you are told wizard. Lucifer has ways of persuasion that I just as soon not elaborate on. I want you to be surprised." He walked toward the door.

"Wait a damn minute," yelled Harry. "You can't leave me in here. I won't serve the dark. The white council will have my head, not to mention that it's just plain wrong. I won't do it; you're going to have to kill me!"

Aiden laughed. "When my father and brother get through with you, there won't be enough of you left for the White Council to get a hold of. Goodbye Dresden. I'll be seeing you soon, if you survive the conditioning that is." With that he turned and walked out right through the wall.

"Wait! You can't leave me here!" He screamed as he began beating the door with his fist again. "NO! Bob if you're loose where in the hell are you! I could use your help buddy and quick!"