It took more to convince Marian to stay out of the cell then it did to convince Revenar to lead him into it. Though it had been an amusing argument between the two right up until Lucivar slapped a ebon gray shield around her and her two sisters along with an aural one. And that was when Revenar almost said that it would be alright if they came in, almost lied and said that it would be safer if they came with them into the cell. In fact he would have if he hadn't noticed Aleanna slipping behind him hiding from the warlord prince. If he hadn't noticed that Lucivar had crossed over into the killing field.

Not wanting to meet that temper on that field he too calmly said. "So are you going to see where this damn chain leads, or are we going to scare my niece some more?"

Lucivar turned slightly. Her fear was spiking his temper. But the fact that she was a child was pulling at him in a different why. He had never harmed a child, and would never harm a child. He took a deep breath then cursed that he did. The rancid smell burned through his nostrils and into his chest. Coughing he said, "Show me"

Aleanna stayed near the chairs as Revenar led Lucivar inside.

They had to pass through the wall that wasn't really a wall at all. It was however a very elaborate illusion spell that had been created by a very gifted black widow. A very powerful black widow that would have died thousands of years ago.

The portion of wall they walked through was a door on this side. A poorly made wood door that now was beginning to fall apart. That now had mold and mildew growing on it. That was now only adding to the stale odor or the room.

Revenar made a ball of witch light revealing his entire cell. His small single bed was pushed up against the far wall at the foot was where the chain connected to the stone wall. To the right was the sink and toilet. To the left was the poorly made dark wood desk that held a half burned candle and some papers scattered about.

This was his home. No, not home but where he had lived for more years than he cared to remember. This was the room where he had not made the transition to demon dead but rather to guarding. This was the room where he last seen his mother. And until today he thought it was going to be the room that he died in.

Lucivar took a step in front of him. The smell of fresh blood flowed across his nostrils before it vanished. The seasoned warrior wanted to know why he smelled blood. Wanted to make sure his cousin would go and have that wound treated. The cautious man who had been tied up here decided not to ask but he would probe. Or at least try to.

Revenar opened his inner barriers just enough to taste the air. Just enough for him to feel the strong, not black shield around Lucivar. Enough to feel a second shield but he couldn't taste the depth of that shield. Frustrated he gave into his eyrien training that wounds were cleaned then treated. "Your bleeding puppy."

A lie would burn all trust that he was trying to build. But the truth would have him looking like a needy male who had to be protected, and for an eyrien warrior that was not an option. In a low growl, Lucivar said, "I know."

There was a warning there, one that said not to ask, but he was his father's son and his cousin was the son of the high lord so he dug in his heels, " I may not been able to follow Eyrien protocol as it pertained to anything for the last 50,000 years but your …….."

"It's not a wound that can be treated so….. I can leave you here and go see if the healer outside that door has more skill then a black jeweled Witch or….." he paused watching Revenar take in what he was telling him, " I can see what needs to be done before my sadistic brother gets down here."

Sadistic? Surly not…. No it couldn't be, "Prince Sadi?"

" you heard of him." down here and locked away you heard of him? The rest was said in his eyes. In the way he stopped moving when the question was asked.

Nodding his head he said, "I heard of him. Mother night, who hasn't heard of the Sadist?" he let silence fill the room before he added, " his mother is…… broken… isn't she?"

"Tersa? Broken…. yes but still very, very gifted."

"She's terrifying when she's riled." Revenar added dryly

And that got Lucivar's full attention. His head shot up from where he had been inspecting the chain. Surprise filled his voice, "and when did you meet Tersa?"

"Two years before Aleanna was born was the first time. I think she was shocked to see me. She covered my mouth and said the whispers are talking and to be still."

"Yeah … Tersa…does that... "He gave a half laugh then added, "what happen?"

"Nothing. Whatever she had been listing to stopped, and she looked at me and said when the child was born my wings would be needed. That I had to protect the child. Then she disappeared into the dark.

"She came back two years later. Hekatah thought I was looking too un-kept and decided that I needed exercise in one of the hunting camps. I never made it there. The man driving the coach stopped suddenly the next thing I remember the door was open and the two armed escorts in the coach with me were …. Um… tore open and their guts were spilling on the floor."

Daemon glided up behind Revenar and placed a cold hand on his shoulder as his crooned, "I didn't realize we were having story time."

Lucivar caught a good look at his cold, dark eyes. Knew enough to know who he was dealing with and luckily also knew Daemon was only wearing his red. "Our cousin is telling me about Tersa."

Daemon's hand relaxed, "then continue."

Clearing his throat he continued, "Tersa only said that the child was coming and that I needed to go. I knew she meant Aleanna so before I spread my wings I asked how I could ever thank her. She asked that I make weapons for her boy."

" and she retrieved them when?" Lucivar growled.

Revenar hesitated. He didn't like the look in Lucivar's eyes. Nor the blank face of the sadist. Realizing he had to answer he finally said," just over a year ago."

"Mother night. I'm going to throttle her." Daemon stared to swear then turned and looked how pale Lucivar was becoming. "Aright prick , your wife needs something to do that will get her out of the basement."

"I'm fine Bastard."

"Let me rephrase this, get your wife and her relatives out of this house Yaslana. NOW!" Daemon put enough force behind the last word to make the room shake slightly. Shake enough for dirt and dust to fall from the ceiling.

Dusting some of the dirt of his shoulders and out of his hair Lucivar growled, "fine."

After Lucivar stormed from the cell Revenar growled, "you shouldn't….."

"He's Eyrien I know, but consider this he has until we get to the Keep to look as he did when he woke up this morning. Besides him seeing Tersa this upset would only distress him more."

"She's here?"

"Yes she is. Now before I see what I can do to these damn webs I need to know something."

"Aright."

"The cook said Aleanna's mother died during the witch storm, but Peyton said…"

Revenar let out a small breath as he softly said, "he killed her. Slight her throat from ear to ear. He tore out the healer's heart. Damn It I heard stories about you through the years, but what he did to the two of them…."

"I see. Then who did die two years ago?"

"The witch I took her too decided she wanted help. So she took Aleanna to an aristo witch. Well it wasn't until she started showing how gifted she was that the witch decided to sell her to Dorothea. Then I guess that was about the same time everything was put into chaos.

"The basement was sealed shut so only Hekatah and her bitch queen could enter. The prisoners were forgotten about and died where they were left. Burned themselves out trying to escape. Then about a year ago Tersa, Came here. She came in this cell and asked if the weapons were done.

"I could have killed her for asking that when ….. When all of them were still ….. Well you can see for yourself."

"So My mother came here." I'm going to do more than throttle her. "Then what?"

"I gave her the weapons Lucivar has with him now. Then she took my face in her hands and said that she couldn't help me yet. She said the threads weren't in place yet."

"That's all?"

"There was more but that's personal."

Daemon nodded with understanding. Then went to examine the chain. Glanced back at Revenar who was watching with anticipation. All to knowing asked, "when was the last time you were not chained up down here?"

"A little more than two years ago….. Why?"

Daemon's lips twisted into a lazy smile. A red flash of power flowed from him hit the chain as it turned to a strand of rust. A small tug and it snapped free from the wall "you could have done that you know."

"The webs. I tried. I swear with my grey I tried."

"The webs were built to absorb darker then red and reflect less then red. But the red itself was the key." Daemon got to his feet and came closer to the puzzled eyrien, "you didn't spend much time with black widows did you?"

"no." no he didn't, but this was something he was going to correct. And if his uncle was willing he would learn how to guard against any web a black widow could create.

Standing no more than an arm's length away of Revenar , Daemon let his inner barrier open just a crack . Just enough to feel the depths of the webs, just enough to feel the strength of the spells. Then cursed himself for draining his black. Cursed himself because he had sent his brother away when his jewels could have helped. He could call for his brother. He could ask him to return but…. He felt the web again. … No Lucivar had already sacrificed enough because of demented witches, and he would not sacrifice his brother's jewels.

He took in a deep breath then coughed from the stale, rancid taste that now clung to his lungs. Coughing he said, "I can burn out most of the webs, if you trust me."

Trust? Was he insane? He just spent over 50,000 years being held captive by someone he should have been able to trust. Not that he ever did trust her. In fact he never really cared for her and had always thought of her as nothing more than an aristo whore but that wasn't the question was it. He looked into Daemon's eyes. Looked behind his eyes. Whatever Daemon was going to do it was a bone in his throat but he felt he had to try. Looking into those eyes Revenar understood something that no one else could, Daemon didn't trust, was afraid to trust but had asked because they both needed that trust.

No words were spoken. Revenar opened all of his inner barriers. All of them that led to his inner web, to his Self. Almost slammed them closed when he felt Daemon pass through the first barrier. Almost closed them when he felt that cold burning rage. In one breath he felt Daemon burning through the webs. Through the spells the next breathe nothing. No sound, no pain, nothing.

Slowly he opened his eyes not remembering fully closing them. Not remembering falling to the cold floor. He breathed in as his body fought hard to remember how to breathe, how to think. He fought to get to his feet now seeing Daemon lying on the floor. Watched in horror as his chest didn't rise with breathe. Watched as his pulse slowed to an almost stop.

He didn't think of the webs that had held him to that room. Nor the chains that had been on his wrist, on his ankles. He didn't think of using his jewels to help his cousin. But he did think long enough that the high lord's mirror needed help. He needed a black widow…….

Tersa stood in the door way of the cell. Had watched as her son drained what was left of his red jewel. Watched as he came so close to breaking it. At that moment had slipped under his weak inner barriers and knocked him out. "Stupid male." she muttered. Now watching as both men laid breathing so lightly on the floor.

She couldn't help him before, but she could help him now. She could help both of them now. She could help her boys.

She had never felt the black jewel . Had never known what power it could wield. Had never needed to know…. Until now.

A soft tap of the jewel and a black ripple flowed through the room. Another tap this time the power was directed at the sleeping eyrien. The deep webs began to burn.

Another tap now directed at her son. Her heir. Not directed at his body but at his chalice. At the Self he had buried away in the abyss. The Self she was holding on a strong web, one he could not break. One only Witch could break but it would destroy her as well.

Softly she brushed against Revenar's inner barrier. Just enough to cause him to stir. As she scurried out of the room she looked back once more. Her son was safe, his chalice was safe. But she had one more web to revel. Her web. Her dream. And then the house would burn.

Revenar rushed to the top of the stairs. He knew he could find someone who could help Daemon. How did he know his name? No one had told him….. No he would think about that later. The Dea al Mon prince …. He wore the grey …. One grey thread so it must be……

He followed it. Didn't think to see if the thread was male or not. Didn't care. He pressed against that strong inner barrier and waited.

Karla felt the urgency of the brush. Felt the grey power behind it. Knew it wasn't Chaosti. Knew because she had sent him to the Keep and he should be there by now. Knew it wasn't Peyton because he was still lost somewhere in the abyss. She felt the tap once more. Swore then open it just enough to find out who it was.

* Daemon needs a healer.*

Cold fury was returned on the thread. Not a males rage… mother night he thought this was queen's rage. Cold merciless rage. Rage that could destroy long before reason was ever known. * Where is he?*

* In the basement.*

* are you with him?* if you're not then you should be … was the warning

* I will be in a moment. Communication threads don't work well down there.*

The thread closed. Karla called in her war blade, her hunting belt. Her glacier blue eyes were cold with fury. Khary and Aaron snapped to attention. Lucivar felt the hot rage wash through him. Keeping his voice as level as he could he managed to say, "Lady, what's wrong?"

"Stupid, idiotic male." she gripped her war blade tighter" Aaron where's Kaelas?"

"He says he near the back of the house. Ladvarian is with Tersa."

"Have him meet us in the basement."

He had seen Chaosti briefly after he had been down stairs. Chaosti had been pale and scared. Well maybe not scared but spooked. He had warned not to go down there. Not to let anyone down there. And now… "and Lady who is us?" please let it include Lucivar.

"You and me. Now move it prince." Lucivar made a movement that said he was going to try and come. "Sit your ass down Yaslana." the blade of her hunting knife pointed at him as he lowed himself back down in the chair that someone had acquired for him.

Jaenelle was scary when she was cold …… Karla for wearing a lighter jewel then his queen was much, much worse. In fact he was beginning to think that she had been born the wrong race. He was beginning to think she would have made a better eyrien warrior, then a grey jeweled queen. But that was something he would keep to himself.