Patron Series

by LauraLynn

*CHAPTER 14 UP* The continuation of Patron!!!!!!!! BOY is it gettin big!!! R/R

11. Patron11

Patron 11

Previously: Oh how to describe the adventures the gang has had. Crazy, simply Crazy. But now Lord Mozenrath is home with his demonic girlfriend Chroias and his free willing slave Nefret. Rejoining the tale now are Mozenrath and Chroias's twin children Zak and Trist. And joining them are their respective loves Domdi and Apepe, who happens to be Nefret's half brother. Throw a lovers fight in the mix and you get utter chaos! Lets watch....



Chapter 228 (by Chroais)

Mephistopheles grinned as he watched his new mistress with Nefret. It had been a month since they'd gotten to the Citadel and the new kitten was as intimately acquainted with it's structure as any inhabitant. In fact he did love the whole place, it reminded him of the place where his mother had kept them. 'Besides are were so many fun things to play with' He though and sank his claws into the folds of Mozenrath's turban. Chroias still hadn't learned to mind speak with him like Kal could with his dad, but she'd get it. Settling down and gnawing on the ruby in the hat, he saw Mozenrath coming and prepared for their usual debate.

"Roi! Get your new pet the blazes out of my turban!" Moze dove for his hat and Mepho took a swipe at his hand. He wouldn't really be stupid enough to strike the hand the fed him, but it was still fun to see how close he could come. He let out a casual growl and settled down into the hat, giving Moze an I-dare-you-look. The same kind Nef frequently gave him.

Chroias walked over and managed to scoop the cat from the hat with only a few claw marks to her. Really they weren't much more then the same kind of marks she and her brothers used to give each other when they were play fighting. She kissed him on the top of the head and Mepho calmed down. "Oh Moze lighten up. He's just being a cat."

"Yeah. Like he was just being a cat when he shredded my robe, like he was just being a cat when he decided my throne was his. Just being a cat when he decided that our bed was his sleeping mat!" Mozenrath grimaced. He and Chroias had been directly in the middle of something when the little devil had come romping in and jumped up on the bed like he owned it. "He even decided that Anubis was a chew toy." Really the dog's tail wasn't what he was concerned about, but she cared more about Nefret's friendship when it came to something like this.

Anubis came out of his hiding place at the mention of his name and Mepho immediately went for the tail. Anubis yelped but spun and gently tackled the kitten with one paw, holding him securely without really hurting him. A pleasant smile came over the dogs face as the kitten gave playful snarls and gnawed at the paw.

Nefret grinned at Mozenrath. "Anubis can take care of himself. You know Moze you've kind of been on pins and needles lately. You too Roi. A lover's tiff of some sort?" she said suggestively.

"None of your business." Mozenrath snapped and Chroias snapped at him.

"She didn't do a damn thing! You're just so bloody stuck in your own self that you don't think of other people!" Chroias's pale face had turned beat red about the edges.

"I only think of myself! If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black!" Mozenrath got closer to his lover. "You're the one who's so damn hard to please!"

"I don't ask that much from you!"

"Like hell you don't!"

"You're the one who decided to quit!"

"Its not like I had a choice!"

"Oh didn't you!" Chroias was nearly an inch away from his face now and boiling mad.

"Well you weren't doing much to help." Mozenrath stated in his calm and ever right voice.

"Wasn't doing" Chroias brought her hand against Mozenrath's cheek. But instead of the usual slap from and angry female ,it was the hard on punch of a seriously pissed woman. "Of all the nerve!" she grabbed Mepho from under Anubis's foot and stalked off down the corridors with him.

"Ummm Ok. Should I.."

"Nefret. Do NOT try me right now."

"OK. I'm just gonna go now."



Chapter 229 (by Nefret)

Nefret spun the fork on the dinner table, an exercise of complete boredom. Finally with a sigh the hand supervising her head slipped away and she laid her head on the table eyes closed and stayed that way. Neither Chroias nor Mozenrath had been seen since that afternoon. Nefret knew where Moze was alright, the one place he always was when he didn't wish to be social, locked away in his lab, safely out of the reach of reality. Nef hadn't tried to make contact with either of them, Mozenrath for obvious reasons. She would have liked to talk to Roias but the demon had oddly vanished from all the common places. It was now apparent neither of them was going to join her for dinner and a kick in Nefret's stomach announced it was time to stop waiting for them and chow down.

"Muuhhhh." Came the half grunt half moan to Nefret's left. "muuummmm." The mumluck pointed to her plate than jerked his thumb to the door.

To call a mumluk articulate would be a terrible lie, but strongly enough, after a while you start to understand them. Meal tray in hand Nefret slowly climbed the steps to the lab. With a knock she slipped the door open and backed in trying to keep the best to level the heavy tray. Mozenrath's shoulder's visibly stiffened when his minion kicked the door closed behind her.

"Must you do that?" He growled out remaining hunched over his work.

"And if I hadn't would you'd have nit picked about leaving the door gaping?" Nef coyly asked as she dropped the tray on a nearby table.

Mozenrath's shoulders quaked a bit, a sure indication of infamous silent chuckling. With slow steps he turned around and paced heavily to her. "I'd thought you'd be smarter than to test me at a time like this. But than again you're just a mindless low class slave girl."

The words left a sour taste in Nefret's mouth. Verbal poison was all it was. "I'll not be your punching bag Mozenrath. I'll hit back. And with what's going on between you and Chroias I have plenty of ammo." Nefret put on a smart smile that was just asking for trouble.

"You know NOTHING about it!" He was coming dangerously close to making physical contact now.

"Uh huh. Supper is cold."



Chroias, much to Nefret's surprise, was sitting at the dinner table when the girl got back. The demon seemed to have been in quite a tiff before; it showed in the tension of her muscles and the darkness of her eyes. But she was smiling now. "There you are! When I came down and didn't see you stuffing your face I immediately thought the worst." The demon's Grin widened.

"And when you didn't come to dinner to play footies with Moze under the table I started to suspect something serious was going on." Nefret mused as she sat down happy to have someone to eat with even if she could still feel the demons anger simmering under that cool exterior.

Chapter 230 (by Chroias)

Chroias smirked gently, trying to keep a cool head. After all Nef was her friend and she needed a friend right now. Picking at the food on the plate with only half a heart, she zapped Mepho up on top of the table as Anubis joined them. The kitten had been playing nasty games with the hound and she wasn't in the mood to separate the two. "You know Nef I didn't mean for you to get caught in the middle of this."

Nef smiled. "What ever made you think I was in the middle of anything?" "Moze's yelling from upstairs." She scratched the kittens head. "What did you do?"

"I committed a horrible sin of kindness and brought him dinner." She sucked on a grape before pulling it into her mouth. "So do you wanna tell me what's going on between you and Moze?"

"No." Chroias said shortly but Nefret wasn't put off. Sometimes Chroias could be just as bad as Moze when it came to keeping the wrong things secret.

"I just kinda noticed that you've started sleeping in your own room again and Moze had taken to walking through the halls at night." She picked up an empty wine glass. "And he's drinking more."

"Of course he is." Chroias was just gonna let her take that as she may. "I notice your still wearing some of the future stuff."

Nef grinned. She'd taken to wearing a mishmash of the futuristic clothing and her old Egyptian stuff. It was just so comfortable. Even Moze wore some Levi brand jeans instead of his oversized trousers. He'd said they were comfortable. Still kept his blue-black top though and of course the gauntlet. "I couldn't help myself."

"I know. I'd forgotten how comfy future clothing was." She pulled at her tight skirt and fixed her halter-top that Mepho had been yanking on. "How bad of a mood is he in?"

Nef didn't have to ask to know who she meant. "Bad. Like usual he won't say anything about it, not to me. But if going by that standard then everything's normal." Anubis put his head in Nefret's lap and she fed him some strips of meat to calm him down. "Why doesn't he want to talk about it?" Of course Chroias kept her head down and petting Mepho. "Ok. If I can make a guess at what's going on, will you tell me?"

Chroias nodded slowly, unsure of how this was going. Mepho snagged her necklace on his claw and growled happily.

"Ok. is the gauntlet acting up again?"

Chroias shook her head,no.

"Um, dreams going astray?"

Head shake no.

"Planning to go on a world domination spree and simultaneously forgetting to thank you for magical assistance?"

"Yes. But that's not the problem."

Nefret geared up to ask another question but a knock at the door interrupted her.

"Auntie Nef We're back!!!"



Chapter 231 (by Nefret)

With a nearly girly trill both girls jumped up and padded to the door. Behind it lay The twins and their perspective lovers. Domdi smiled sweetly and Apepe leaned on the doorframe with an undeniably pompous grin. Chroias pulled Zak into her arms for a hug that made the young man blush in slight humiliation before the demon traded with Nefret for Trist.

"Exuse me. I'm family here!" Apepe growled out with false bravado. "You gota get your priority's straight sister 'o mine." He lovingly punched Nefret's shoulder.

Nefret pulled back and slugged him in the arm right back. Apepe made a small sound than smiled as Nefret nestled into his arms. "You gota learn what's good for you." Nefret sighed. At her brothers questioning look she smiled. "I have a feeling you'll understand soon enough."

Mozenrath had howled and growled when Nefret insisted he forget the cold tray she had brought him earlier and join them for dinner. Well not so much insisted as shut the book he was studying and made sure he pursued her down to the dinning room. She only narrowly escaped his wrath when the doors were flung open and the sorcerer's children fell upon him.

"Daddy!!!" Tirst cried in an almost childlike voice as she burst from the room forcing Mozenrath to let his minion inch away from the corner he had pinned her in.

"Trist..." That was all the sorcerer could get out before he was enveloped in the thin pale arms of his daughter and assaulted by the strong-armed pats of his son. For the first time in days Chroias saw her lover smile, not that she gave a damn really...

After a while Mozenrath unhooked himself from Trist to greet Domdi. Of course she was just a commoner, in normal circumstances her inclusion in the family would send him into fits, but she was a commoner with a genie! "Domdi my child how's that genie of yours?"

"She's still steaming a bit." Domdi laughed slightly and snuck a look to Zak.

Mozenrath smirked than his eyes caught on a not so welcome sight. Apepe, another commoner, had no assets to his name and was very unlikely to ever earn any. To make it all the worse he was his slave's half brother. He simply just wasn't good enough for his daughter, who would ever be? "I'd suppose YOU'RE here to see your sister. There is no other reason for you to be standing in my domain." Moze sneered.

"Ah yes sir. My sister." Apepe pulled Nefret to his side and simultaneously pinched Tristram's rump. Luckily the slight twist in Trist's face went unrecognized by Mozenrath.

Dinner was going well, as well as can be expected for the dinners. Mozenrath kept giving Apepe warning glares and there was an usual silence between sorcerer and demon but Tris and Zak filled it with an account of their last few months and of course the gang had much to tell the twins. Moze was right in the middle of recounting the escape from the prison when a monotone voice broke in.

"It didn't happen that way." Chroias droned not bothering to look up from her plate.

"Excuse me? I think I remember what happened." Moze's mouth had formed a tight line and his brows shaded his eyes and he looked down the table at Roias.

"It's alright to admit faults sometimes Mozey dear." Chroias smiled a smile that showed off her fangs to perfect effect.

Moze was about to retort when he caught his dinner guests giving each other looks. Looking away Mozenrath took up a new subject. "More wine now." He ordered Nefret and shoved his glass towards her.

"We have none to give." Nefret replied shortly. "One bottle doesn't stretch well between 7 people. I'll send a mumluk to the cellar.."

"I said I wanted it now, not ten minutes from now. Never mind!" Moze snarled harshly and grabbed the glass back deliberately scrapping the base hard over his minion's knuckles.

Zak and Trist exchanged a look as their Auntie pulled her hand under the table. Chroias had turned a beet read. "The bottle stretches even less when one person has already had three glasses of it." The demon's eyebrows rose at Mozenrath, making it all to apparent who she was talking about.

"Yeah, well you need to be drunk to do some things." Mozenrath snorted and sat back, arms crossed and lips smirking.

"And might I add it takes a few strong drinks to make some things attractive." Now it as the demons turn to assume the victory pose.

"Exactly the reason I've had a nip at dinner for the last few years." Moze mused.

Chroias had just opened her mouth and everyone could tell she had a real dozy on her mind. Trist and Domdi bit their lips, Zak cocked his brow, and Apepe sat on the edge of his seat. The demon's fangs glinted as her lips began to form a sound.

"We have pastries!" Nefret jumped up suddenly and grabbed the plate stuffing a sugary treat securely in her friend's mouth. "Nasty neh?" Nefret smiled nervously at the glaring demon.

Chroias pulled the treat out of her mouth and chewed daintily. "Scrumptious."



Chapter 232 (by Chroias)

"Ok dear sister be honest." Apepe asked as soon as Chroias and the twins had snuck out of the way. "Are the lovers having a slight trist?"

"You are not being helpful!" Nefret slapped him lightly and frowned as Mepho hopped up in her lap. She petted the cat absently. "And the worst part of it is Roias won't say a thing about it!! She just won't! And of course Moze is absolutely a well of information."

"Isn't he always?" Apepe gave his sister a hug and nodded up the stairs. "I'm ummm.." he searched for an excuse. "Gonna go explore a mite."

He retreated up the stairs and a moment later Nefret detected a giggling from somewhere upstairs that had to be Tris. "Just what I need. Those two getting caught by the Master." She growled at Mepho and put the cat down as Anubis strode on her heels, whining to help his mistress's frustration.

"Nice to know somebody still cares about me!" Nefret said and put the heel of her hand to her head. Truly what was going on between Moze and Roi was none of her business, but then again they were both her friends, even if Moze would never admit it. The only problem was what to do about it? It would be so much easier if they would just tell her what was going on!



Later that Night:

A sudden crash woke everyone in the Citadel. Nefret stuck her head outside the door and saw Zak and Domdi (from the same room), push their heads out. She also noticed that domdi was clutching desperately to a flimsy robe. Tris and Apepe (also from the same room) stuck their head out the door. As soon as Apepe noticed that the noise was comeing from Mozenrath's and Chroias's room he ducking into Nefret's. "Hey sis, mind if I crash here for a while?" He grabbed a sheet to cover himself, which told Nefret exactly what he's been doing with Tris.

"Crash as long as you like, but shut up." She listened to the voices which were growing steadily louder. Straining her ears, Nefret could only make out bits and pieces of the conversation.

"Look..not my fault...happen to..men at some point!"

"That's....point....it's more....!"

"Well if you...be that way...out!"

"..my room.!"

Another sudden crashing and the sound of a door being flung open. A bump, thud and a smack resounded and the whole group heard a grumbling as foot steps plodded down the stairs. Everyone ducked into their rooms and watched as Mozenrath's shadow passed by the doors and into alone of the guest bedrooms further down the hall.

"Oh dear me now." Apepe said sarcastically. "Trouble in Paradise"



Chapter 233 (by Nefret)

Trist stared vacantly ahead as her auntie carefully braded her hair. The next mooring had dawned gray and dusky as it always did, but something else hung in the air besides the misery of the gloom and doom of the Black Sands desert. The very air hung thick with tension. Like a rope that had been stretched to tight, the slightest pull could snap it bringing all those balancing precariously on it's perch tumbling into utter chaos. Everyone could feel it and Nefret especially was walking on eggshells from the moment their feet hit the floor out of bed.

"Auntie.." Trist's voice suddenly broke the spell that had settled into the silent spaces.

"Don't ask me Tirst. I know no more than you do." Nefret sighed and smoothed braids she had just finished. "It seems so cold in here now." Nef crossed her arms more out of a supernatural chill than the climate of the room.

"Oh." Trist seemed disappointed. "Well I have a felling it's about."

"Hey." a sharp whisper brought both of the girl's heads whirling around. Apepe peeked in the door before sauntering in casually. His super short hair was in the unusual state of perfect order and his little goatee groomed into a neat little triangle extending from the lower ridge of his lower lip. He'd put on his best kilt and a belt sash he'd found in Nefret's old trunk. He stuck a little pose and smiled. Trist bit her lip to surpass a giggle and Nefret's breath stuck. How odd, he looked so much like her.. Their father... and so much like her. "I happened to notice Zak taking Domdi out for a morning stroll and I though madam might like to do like wise." Apepe held out his arm like the true gentleman he wasn't.

"How.. Thoughtful of you." Trist giggled and did a little curtsy.

"Sis would you..?" Apepe turned suddenly to Nefret.

Nefret caught the slight look of brave sacrifice Trist gave her. With a sighing smile Nef sat down. "No Peppy. You two have fun. I have things to do."

And the lovers were off arm in arm to an undisclosed location. Nefret jumped as a sardonic laugh ran out. It was failure yet unnerving at the same time.

"Ah young love." Chroias appeared from the shadows. She looked like she was in less than a good mood. "Everywhere I turn it's young sweet DAMNDABLE love!!!" The demon threw herself in a chair and rubbed her temples vigorously.

Nefret bit her lip if she would be lashed out upon is she spoke up. "But it's not in your own bedroom?" The words just slipped and Nefret immediate regretted them when she caught the demons' glare. "Oh girl, I'm sorry but when you two shout it from the roof tops it's hard to shut your ears to the arguments at night."

"Ha, I guess we've been in fine form. So you know all about it?"

"No, just that you two have hit a milestone in your relationship." Nef admitted. Chroias's brows crooked. "Love goes through stages ya know. The honeymoon is over sweetie. Welcome to the wonderful world of lovers quarrels and cold nights."

Chroias gave a rueful laugh. "Dear sweet Nefret, you talk like you're an old woman. You've never even made it past young foolish love." The demon's fangs sparkled as she gave a broad grin.

Nef gave an indignant shriek and jumped her friend pillow in hand. Both girls struggled with each other, each getting in a good few bats with the pillow all the while laughing hysterically. It as like the tension had broken but it brought only relief.

A sudden yell stiffened the air again and all tension returned full force and then some. "NEFRET!!!!!!!!!!!" The voice carried long and loud though the halls of the Citadel.

Both girls slowly nudged open the door of the great hall to find Mozenrath hunched over the balcony. "Nefret," Moze growled out with his back turned to the door. "Would you mind telling me what your idiot of a half brother is doing with MY daugher in the garden?!"



Chapter 234 (by Chroias)

Chroias didn't wait for her friend to speak up. "OUR young daughter is simply taking a stroll with a pleasant young man on a pleasant day. Much like WE used to do!"

Mozenrath stiffened. "Well that is not entirely my fault."

"Unlike some things." Chroias snorted and turned around to the garden. Nefret shrugged her shoulders and started to follow.

"Umm do me a favor and don't get into a spat unless I'm out of the way." She murmured to her friend. Chroias laughed slightly and nodded.

"Excuse me." Zak punched his head out of the bushs. "I heard pops yelling. He isn't headed this way is he?" a slightly worried look crossed the youngsters face as Domdi's head popped out of the bushes. She blushed as she saw her lovers mother.

"Mrs. Chroias, umm.I.sorry." She feebly tried to apologies.

Chroias shook the apology away. "I wasn't trying to catch you two or anything darling." She rewarded the young woman with a pleasant smile. "Unlike some people, just because I can't get any doesn't mean others can't."

Nefret winced. "Ouch! Harsh, Roi." she took her friends arm and lead them off in to the garden. "I really wish you two would find a resolve for this. It's driving me absolutely mad!"

"Why? Just remember Nef, you've got twenty more years to go before you settle with love. Just try to keep you're a bit fresher then mine."

"That! That's what's driving me crazy!" she pointed a finger accusingly at Chroias and the demon balked in surprise. "Don't you dare think you fool me for a instant little Miss Demon of Hell!"

"Tarturus."

"Whatever. Don't you think I watched you two every now and then?" Nefret pointed to where Mozenrath had been standing. "In the throne room when you thought I was in the kitchen. You two get so close when you think nobody's watching." Nefret picked a blue-black flower from it's place in a bush. "I've seen how much you two love each other. You even told me once how much you do. If you can tell me why can't you just say it to one another?"

Chroias seemed chastened. Her tail dropped a bit and she heaved a sigh. "Nef it's not that simple. You said it yourself. I'm a demon."

"So?"

"So it's not the same. Admitting that you love some one for a human is so easy. You can look them in the eyes and admit that you feel for them. That you're willing to give your heart to them, to spend the rest of your lives and share their soul." Chroias spoke so poetically.

"Well, we don't all take it quite that seriously. But I get your basic point." Nefret began to pluck the petals off the flower.

"Well for a demon it isn't as easy. You see." She took the flower from Nefret and crumbled it into blue dust. "Demon's, no matter what home we claim, don't have souls."

Zak sighed in content as Domdi rested her head on his chest. She smiled secretively at him and flipped her hair back in that easy manner she had. They'd only really been "lovers" for the past week or so. Now he understood much better why his parent were miserable now. They weren't leaning on each other like they should be. Thanks to Tris's telekinetic/telepathic link with their parents, he'd been letting her really information about how things were going to him. But her telepathic powers were not strong enough to break the secret section of their minds.

He hated that. Not being able to see what she could see.

"Zakurum!" His fathers voice rang through the air and Domdi jolted from her position.

"Shuuush." He touched a hand to her and Domdi's slender,(and unclothed) body disappeared. "Zak zapped some clothing onto himself and stood suddenly out of the bushes. "Yo dad!"

Mozenrath spun around suddenly. It's a good thing to, because Tris and Apepe slipped around just as he turned in the other direction. "there you are. Come with me to the lab."

""Wha, why?"

"Because we've been gone far too long. It's time to put you through a few tests. See how much you've been practicing on your ability's."

The look on Zak's face could only be described as pure fear. He hadn't been very ardent about his magical feats while in Agrabah. It had just seemed better to keep his abilities a bit out of the way. Easier to deal with Eden's dislike of him. "Um Dad maybe we could hold this off until a better moment."

But his plea was ignored. Mozenrath grabbed his son by the arm and pulled him off.



Chapter 235 (by Nefret)

"Pathetic!" Mozenrath snorted as Zak plucked the flower that had shot out from behind his ear. "You failed miserably. If that had been a stronger spell I'd have taken off your ear!"

"Well maybe than I could get some peace." Zak mumbled under his breathe. But he knew he deserved the tongue-lashing. He was the child of a demon and the greatest sorcerer of their time and he couldn't block a simple flora spell. It was a good thing his father had decided to start off with a harmless spell worthy of a court jester.

"Maybe you just need the challenge." Mozenrath rubbed his chin and hummed. In a split second his hand had been thrown up and a bolt zoomed at Zak's head.

Zak gritted his teeth and balled is fists. The air around him became as thick as pea soup and the bolt stuck in the mix. Hovering there as a burning blue-black ball of death. Mozenrath smiled proudly as did Zak.

"HA! I. Ohh." Zak's shoulders suddenly collapsed and he bent at the waist a bit, the air lighted again and the bolt swept to his head. Only a quick decision to drop the ground saved the young boys head from laying in smoldering heap miles away.

After the initial panic/relief Moze growled and slammed his fist against a nearby table. "How did you become so idle?" Mozenrath suddenly sneered knowingly. "Ah that's the hitch. It's the problem with all great men. They are MEN." Moze threw himself in a chair thoroughly disgusted with himself and the inherited faults of his kind. "No matter what level we ascend to our instincts hold us back. Even you, my son, fall victim to this filthy human trait." Mozenrath sneered and looked out the window. This flaw he was denouncing was of course the male infatuation of the fairer sex. "It distracts us, keeps us from reaching our true potetional. It weakens us, makes us soft. A dark little demon in our hearts that temps us and makes us lazy and preoccupied." With sudden inspiration Moze jumped to his feet. "Than we shall over come it and reach level yet unknown!"

"Father." Zak seemed to have an unsteady curious as to his fathers intensions.

"We shall not leave this room, we shall not lay eyes upon the enemy, we shall not fall to their charms until we have both bested our personal best! It'll be a long night."

Zak sighed and leaned against the wall, this wasn't good, not good at all.



Nefret winced as a bang came from the lab. True to his word Mozenrath had locked the lab door and kept Zak a near prisoner. Even Nefret, hardly considered more than a girl, was denied entrance and dinner had to be carried in by a mumluk. Nef suspected if Mepho or Anubis had been female they'd be shunned as well. Men are a strange animal, Mozenrath the strangest of all.

Through the Egyptians open door Chroias could be seen making her way down the hall, stopping briefly at the lab door to stare wonderingly at it. Probably more out of concern for her son than for want of Mozenrath.

"Roais." Nef called.

"What's up girl?" The demon sauntered into the room and sat down on the bed.

"Brush my hair?" Nefret thrust the brush at the demon with a pleading look. Chroias rolled her eyes but consented. Nefret smiled softly as the demon ran the brush through the thick curls. If the men of the house were going on a testosterone jag it was only fair that the other half should indulge in a bit of feminine pampering. "Roais." Nefret's voice was relaxed on the point of being asleep. The demon hummed in response. "Is it possible to grow a soul?"

"No. Your born with it and you die with it. Hopefully." Chroias added as Mumluk passed by the open door.

"But If you have no soul it's impossible to love... And you love, you love the twins, me. Moze. How can that be if haven't grown a soul?" Nefret pondered.

"You confuse the soul with the heart Nefret." Chroias slipped the brush through the curls once more before continuing. "They aren't' the same thing." With that the demon mussed the hair she had just put into order and hugged Nefret's shoulders. "Sleep well little minion."

Long after Nefret heard Chroias leave her room she remained still and silent. Truly, as Chroias had said, she was confused. It was the Egyptian conviction that the heart was the seat of the soul. That it dwelled within the rooms of the vessel and rule over the body and mind from that sacred fortress. If her best friend had no soul how could she have it in her to be kind and loving? How could she sit and brush her hair without harming a hair on her head. Perhaps since her heart had no ruler it ran wild. This would explain why the demon could be smiling one moment and sending her enemies to hell the next..

Nef sighed and got up. And here she thought she had been taught every square inch of love, ha! The moon had caught the glint of the gilded idol of Hathor gracing the dressing table. If Nefret had found herself in such turmoil over love back in Egypt the solution would be so easy. The time-honored tradition of sleeping in the shadow of the great statue of Hathor and looking to your dreams for guidance. "To bad I'm stuck here." Devine inspiration struck. Grabbing the stature Nefret set it on the windowsill so that the shadow it cast fell upon the foot of her bed.

Night hours passed on and the moon rose high in the sky. With it the silhouette of the gilded goddess crept up the blankest covering Nefret's form until, just before midnight, it reached Nefret's head and shaded her eyes. The closed orbs opened with a brilliant sheen and Nefret smiled a smile of enlightenment before drifting off again.

Chapter 236 (by chroais)

"My father has completely lost his sanity!" Zak felt firmly convinced of this fact as Mozenrath repeatedly drilled him on incantations, reverse spells and enchantments. They'd been in the lab, locked up tight, no entrance save for mamlucks for near two days now. And quite frankly the separation from Domdi was causing more then one "distraction" in Zak's mind. Timid knocks at the door were answered by grunts from Mozenrath and pleading eyes from Zak. Mepho and Anubis seemed to be the only one's Mozenrath would allow in the room. And Apepe, well what would he want in the room for. He had a nice warm female body to snuggle up to at night instead of a hard spell book. Of course Zak knew the only answer to it, getting mom and dad together. But unfortunately it was hard to get anything together when you were stuck inside a lab.

"Zak? How's everything holding up?" His sisters familiar mind voice rang inside his head. Thankfully the one female contact his father couldn't shut out was the connection between him and his sibling.

"Nothing much. Dad's ranting about the evils of estrogen and such and if I have to look at one more spell I may just throw up on him."

Tris's mental scoff resounded in Zak's brain. "I'd love to know what he thinks he knows about estrogen? When's the last time he was a woman?"

Zak laughed out loud and Mozenrath's head snapped up from his book. "I assume you found a spell on draining blood from a body amusing?" his eyes brow shot up and Zak hid the blush along his cheek line.

"Sorry dad. Just thinking about something." He professed innocently and Mozenrath scowled.

"Sorry son, there's just too much of me in you to pull of innocent." He crossed the room and looked at his son. "Mind showing me what your reading?"

Zak paled,(if that was at all possible). "Dad come on. Why would you be interested in.." But it was too late. Mzoenrath's gauntleted hand snapped forward and in a flutter of plastic removed a small paper back book from behind the spells. He calmly turned it over in his hands and read the cover out loud. "Playdespot?" he glared at his son and opened up a page to where a scantily clad woman sat with an inviting look. "I'm assuming you read this for the articles?"

Zak tried to find an excuse without sounding sarcastic. "Well dad I am half human. And as you just managed to remind me, a male."

Mozenrath fumed. "That's no excuse! This is exactly what I'm talking about! You and that Domdi girl are the exact reason you've been lax in your spells!!" he tossed the magazine aside like a dead bird.

"Now hold up. Don't shove Domdi into the middle of this!" Zak stood in front of his father. Truly he could stare Mozenrath in the face between then Tris could, but his father still had a inch height over him. At this point in time he'd have given anything to close that distance.

"I'm not dragging her into this! You brought her to this citadel!" Mozenrath launched back at his son. "And the least you could have done was warn me you were coming!"

"And since when does a son need permission to come and visit his family? Zak's voice was turning shrill and his green eyes were begging to glow. "Your just jealous because mom threw you out of the bed!"

It was Mozenrath's turn to blush now. "She did not throw me out! I walked out!"

"I'm not blind nor am I incompetent." Zak threw back. "Look just go to mom and say your sorry. What ever you did can't be THAT bad! Can it?"

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Tris wandered the halls with Her aunt. They had a lot of catching up to do and Nefret was willing to talk more then her mother was. "I've tried getting through their minds to find out what's wrong. But I think mom's got a block on me like dad does."she gestured and a couple of cream puffs came to them.

"Well don't look at me. I'm not the one with the powers now am I." Nefret munched thoughtfully and scratched Anubis's head. "Come to think of it with the way your father's drilling Zak I wouldn't want to have any powers."

"You know maybe I should try to talk to him. I've always been good at quelling his temper." Tris offered and tapped her foot. "Then again with the way he's feeling towards females right now I doubt if I'd have much luck."

"So do I."

"Well we've got to do something.! I hate seeing mom and dad like this. Their miserable without one another. It's like their sould have been separated!" Tris flouned out of the room leavening Nefret to wonder.

"Too bad she doesn't know." Nefret chewed on a strand of hair. "To bad I don't know enough to help her." As it was, Nefret had begun to wonder. If Chroias didn't have a soul, then what about Zak and Tris? They were half human, did they have half a soul. Somehow she didn't think it worked that way. This whole bloody this was libel to drive her insane.

"Nef girl you in there?" Chroias's voice called from behind her and Nefret yelled back as she turned.

"Yeah I'm.." and that was as far as she got before her mouth feel open.

Chroias's hair was gone. Well not completely gone. There as almost half and inch on her head and it had been shaved around her ears. A single forelock curled between her eyes and her horns, which had looked considerably smaller under all her green lock, now seemed to stand at least five inches from the top of her head. She looked, punkish!

Chroias smiled at her friend. "Well?"



Chapter 237 (by Nefret)

Nefret stumbled to her feet and circled her friend in shock. No, to be sure it wasn't' that she'd never seen a bald woman before. It had been quite a fashion trend in Egypt for the last few hundred years. It was just the fact that some hair was still left and that it was standing on en was what got her.

"It's..er.. You missed as spot. If you shaved you head to wear ." That was all Nef could say. It was the only reason she had ever known for bold heads. The only reason she didn't let the temple shave her hair is because she disliked her wig so much she spent most of her time without it.

"A wig?! And cover this up?" The now punk demon scoffed and sashayed to the nearest mirror to primp herself leaving Nefret to contemplate the new look from the back.

The Egyptian was on the brink of collapse. The entire world had gone mad! Completely and utterly mad!!!! It was just. unnatural, even for them. She had tried to keep a stiff upper lip and the sense of reason through it all but that obviously wasn't getting her anywhere. The strain of trying to stand under the typhoon of chaos was breaking her. It was just better to let go and be swept away. "It's great!!" Nef ran up the mirror to admire Roias's reflection. "A nice alteration on a classic! Ya know I was thinking maybe I need a new look."

"Perfect!" Chroias grabbed Nefret's head and began inspecting her hair. "Here's what we do, shave one side short, put spots on it, and dye the end black and."

Nefret, terror in her eyes, ripped herself away from her friend and backed away slowly. "Actually I was just thinking of new eye makeup up and maybe more earrings.." Nefret was halfway across the room now holding her hands in front of her.

"Your so boring!!!!" Chroias huffed.

"Yeah, but whey you find a look that works you gotta stick with it." Nef tipped her hips and struck a pose. "Lucus, Don, disgusting despots. The Nef charm hasn't failed yet!"

Chroias growled playfully and ran at the girl. "I think Moze is right, you do have to be taken down a notch or two!" Both girls screamed and laughed as they tore up the halls, Chroias with scissors in hand and Nefret with her arms plastered over her hair.



Mozenrath looked up suddenly from his book as the shrill noise passed dangerously close to the all male restriction of the Lab. Zak, who was in the middle of writing out his last will and testament, nearly launched himself at the door. For days his only company had been his father and a few assorted mumluks. Oh and Trist when she could tear herself away from Apepe. The friendly sounds of the female voice of his mother and Aunt was like the smell of a feast to a starving man.

"Listen to them!" Mozenrath snorted sharply bringing Zak to attention. "Women. Vain, self-consumed, dim-witted, Delilahs! Thy have no substance, no common sense. They are willful, faithless, bullheaded. if you let them son. Don't make my mistake. I have women taking over, roaming the halls, redecorating.. About then Zak started to block out the raving of his father. Instead the looked inward. "Tritst you gota help me before I throw myself off the balcony." The boy pleaded in his mind hopping his sister would pick it up.

"Well before you hurt yourself let me tell you there's hope yet. Aunt and I have been speaking, we've go a wicked plan."

Chapter 238 (by Chroias)

Chroias caught up to Nefret and held the scissors threatening over her head. "Come on now, maybe a bob cut would be cool! I'm sure Don would approve." She snipped the succors playfully but put them on a table.

Nefret breathed a bit of air and gasped. "You and Moze have really gotta start sleeping together again. You've got way to much energy now then you ever had before."

Chroias snorted, "I haven't noticed a change" she growled, suddenly no longer in the mood for play, and began to walk off. She didn't want to admit it, but Nefret was telling the truth. She missed the cuddling, (amongst other things),the all nighters and the bit of actual talking they managed afterwards. It had been those rare moments when she could get him to open up that Chroias had realized how much she loved him.

Nefret ran up after her. "OH come on. Denari for your thoughts?"

"Just reminding myself how hard it is to be a woman living with an impossible man."

"You and every other female on this world." Nefret smiled and wrapped her arm around Chroias. "Don't brood over things, you look too much like Mozenrath when you do." At Chroias's hurt look she hugged her. "Come on now. Don"t worry about this little thing. Everyone has lovers tiffs now and then." She tugger Chroias off to her room. "Besides from as much as you and Moze resemble rabbit's, he can't hold up in the lab forever!"

IF only Nefret could have known how very right she was!

Mozenrath shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He'd already shredded the magazine his son had, not that he would have looked in it in the first place! But some things were getting tense.

When he'd caught Zak with that cheesy thing he'd only been half angry/half sympathetic. After all, his son was a young man, he had urges same as any other. And he himself hadn't even hit his thirties and here he was, confining himself like some white haired old nit!

Mozenrath looked at the door. Never before had it seemed so far away. And after the door was three flights of stair and a hundred feet to the sweet bliss of his bedroom and Chroias. Oh the image of her in bed with him. Grinning in the casual way she had, her eyes half lidded and blankets covering about that much. Her milk white arms wrapping around him and" Mozenrath shifted in his eat again and growled, chiding himself on his thoughts. This wasn't the first time he'd let his mind stray from magic in the past few days. And every time it did stray he seemed to get a little further along in the fantasy. Zak had even caught him wearing that dopey smile in his face and taken the opportunity to try and talk him out of all of this.

Mozenrath glanced over at his son. Zak's head had fallen to the table and a small amount of drool had begun to push forward. He mumbled something that sounded like Domdi and then smiled to assure Mozenrath that was exactly what he'd said.

Sneering, Mozenrath walked over and popped his son lightly on the back of the head. Zak shot up so fast he fell of the chair and grinned awkwardly at his dad. "Um hi, did I miss anything overly exciting?"

Apepe hugged Tris's body to him. A self satisfied grin on his face. "Oh man, now I know why Moze is so upset as to not sleeping with you mom anymore." He grinned and Tris slapped him gently.

"Apepe! That was absolutely tactless!" she chided and started to move away.

"Now hold on!" Apepe grabbed her arm and pulled her back down with a laugh. "I didn't mean it that way. I'm just saying that he's understandably miserable without her, just like I'd be without you."

"You know you really are an artist at that." Tris smirked and kissed him.

"At what?"

"At being charming!"

Chroias sat at the dinner table chatting with Domdi. With Zak being stuck in the lab nonstop, poor Domdi had to have become miserable by now and was blushing every time he was even mentioned. Chroias had decided to take the opportunity to get to know her son's lover a bit better. Nefret was of course standing by, after all, a full grown demon, not to mention a full grown demon mother, had to be somewhat intimidating.



Chapter 239 (by Nefret)

Nefret could see Domdi shift in her chair as Chroias leaned over making it quite clear she wanted the girls undevided attatnion.

"How are you holding up dear. You look.. Pale." The demon observed. She failed to notice the reason for Domdi's sudden pailor was probably caused by nerves.

"Oh about as well as you are I suppose. we are in the same boat. but you always look that way." Domdi suddenly blanched when the demon raised an eyebrow. "I mean pale, you always look pale. since you are a.. your.. You." If it wouldn't have made her look stupid the girl would have slapped herself in the head. She had never felt this nervous around her lovers mother. But now that the support of Zak was gone and the demon had been in less than happy the past few days, plus her certain discomforts, Domdi felt like every cell in her body would shake apart. She glanced to Nefret for help. The Egyptian in her reasoning simply raised the glass of wine and sipped it. Domdi taking the advice to heart gulped down her drink.

"So you and Zak, you've been getting seriouse huh?" Chroias nudged the girl. She had gotten considerably less tense in the past few moments.

"Yes. Seriouse." Domdi turned a lovesly shade of pink. Both Roais and Nef looked at each other and gave an eyeroll. "This seperation is hard. But his studies are important. I woudn't want to place myself over his education." Domdi said bravely in an attempt to gain browny points.

"I would." The demon muttered. "Tell me dear. Do you devote yourself to my son. Do you cook for him? Domdi's shoulders slumped in something like disgrace. "No, I cant really cook you see.."

"Uh huh." Chroias broke in. "And do you clean up after him?"

"No."

"Do you even do his shopping and pick out his clothes?" Chroias seemed to be getting edgy.

"No." Domdi was shifting away in fear.

"I see." Chroias leaned dangerously close to the girl and her eyes shifted to Nefret.

The Egyptian's nervouse frown turned to a smirk when she saw the look in the demon's eye. She was enjoying this!

Chroias had to smirk herself. She was enjoying making Domdi squirm a bit. Not to be mean, it was just in her nature. "Wonderful!!! God girl! I wouln'd abide by my son dating a timid, weak minded, little servant girl who jumps to her man's beck and call. I cant stand the type that servile type." Chroais giggled and turned to Nefret. "Sorry no offence to you girl."

"None taken. Well if you'll escuse me I think I'll go do something servile now." Nefret grinned as she left the room. It seemd Domdi and Chorias were going to get along fine now, she felt no guilt about leaving them alone.

"Now that's funny. She left right in the middle of dinner." Domdi observed after the door closed.

"Tell me about it, she didn't even finish eating! For Nefret that's unheard of." Chroias commented. Both remaining dinner guest looked at each other and shrugged.



Chapter 240 (By Chroias)

Nefret hurried through the halls of the Citadel like a ferret on speed. She carried a specific parchment in her arms as she went past the doors of the lab and knocked timidly. she could only hope this plan would work. Tris had already agreed to help, as had Apepe. Well not at first, but Tris had 'talked' him into it. She mentally berated herself for even thinking of such a plot. Mozenrath was more then likely going to skin her alive for so much as thinking of it. If it wasn't for the fact that she cared so damn much about the two of them she never would have...

"Yes...? Oh it's you." Mozenrath sneered as he saw Nefret. "What does she want/" he asked as Zak tried to peer out from behind him.

Nefret scoffed. "Don't look at me like that. It's not my fault you two had a falling out!" she snapped back at him. "If you'd just stop acting like a spoiled child who'd been sent to his room..." she broke of at the infuriated look Mozenrath was gaing. "Well anyways Chroias isn't wanting to talk to you. She's speaking with Domdi and I think zak would be a major comfort to the girl right now." Nef smiled ...grinned actually. "We both know how intimidating Chroias can be."

Mozenrath grumbeled something and stoped Zak from exiting."Zakurum,you stay here." he ordered and zak gave his father a surly look.

"OH come on pop. HAven't I earned some time off for good behavior?" Zak pleaded with his father. His green eyes begged as he widened them.

"No! And you won't be getting any time off unless you can start putting your nose to the books and learning those spells!" Mozenrath pointed a finger towards the table and Nefret started to go after him. If she couldn't get at least Zak pulled away from his father this plan would hinge on disaster. "Oh no! Unless your going to volunteer for an experiment you can just..."

"Dare I ASK what's going on here?"

"Mozenrath's head spun. Standing less then four feet away was his offspring Tristram

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Tris stood there, tapping her foot and wearing a simple slip, meaning that she had obviously just come from a visit with Apepe. Mozenrath's eyes took one look at his daughter and his fatherly instincts took over.

"What on Earth are you doing trapping around the Citadel in that?" He swung his own cape off his shoulders and flung it around hers. "Especially with him around." he nodded down the hallway at Apepe and suddenly stopped trying to cover his daughter when he saw the state of Apepe.

Apepe hadn't noticed the father yet, He was calmly redoing his pants with a pleasant smile on his face and humming a cheery tune. Obviousely he had come to see what was talking so long. "Hey Tris, what's the hold..." Apepe looked up to see Mozenrath starring at him with a miz of pure shock and vile, seething hatred in his eyes.

Apepe immediately backtracked. "I mean...umm. Tris how nice to see you...here...in...this Citadel...with your father." He looked up at Mozenrath's face and tryed another grin. "Too late for that isn't it?"

Mozenrath was sure his eyes were turning pure red and his ears were smoking. "Tris..."he said in a tightly controlled voice. "Go into the library with you brother."

"Moze don't you think your..."

"Nefret! You get in there to. I don't want any interference." Mozenrath jabbed a finger at the big door, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on Apepe.

Nefret didn't take a second oppertunity. "Come on." she ushered Tris into a room.

"Sis!" Apepe begged desperately.

"Sorry. You got yourself into this." Nefret grabbed Tris's arm and had to shove her into the room to get her to go.

Zak poked his head out. "If I were you, I'd run very very fast."

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Chroias and Domdi had just begun to get into an intelligent conversation when Apepe came barreling down the stares at top speed. Mozenrath right on his heels.

"Get back here you little waif. I swear when I get a hold of you!" he was about to fling an enormous fireball at the boy which surely would have incinerated his head when Chroias stepped in front of him.

"What in the name of the gods is going on here?" She yelled at Mozenrath with her fangs bared.

Chapter 241 (by Nefret) *Updated!*

Mozenrath put on the brakes at the sight. He stopped short of impaling his head on her fangs. "Out of the way woman. This is a fathers responsibility!"

Chroias nearly fumed. "Well FATHER do you need reminding of who exactly bore the pain of birthing those two? Two words for you Moze, fangs and horn!"

With what little dignity he could gather the sorcerer pulled his back up to a proud stance and lifted his head. Apepe had sidestepped, putting the table between himself and his willing assassin. Moze caught him with a glance and sneered. "This.. BOY has been defiling my daughter! This common, filthy, low class, bastered child has been WITH my daughter." Moze was unable to bring himself to name the act his sweet innocent daughter had been involved in.

"And you just now caught onto this?" Chroias chuckled mockingly. "What did you think he moved to Agrabaha just to be closer to his sister?"

Mozenrath's nostrils flared. "Forgive me. I though my daughter might be a bit more reserved than her mother."

It was a wonder the entire citadel didn't explode with the way the demons eyes flared. Her nose almost bumped with that of Mozenrath's as she closed in. "You never seemed to complain much." Each word was pronounced with burning clarity.

"It's hard to complain when you cover my mouth with." Mozenrath's eyes suddenly flashed up from the demons face. Apepe was nearly escaped out to the kitchen door. Taking his steps in wide breaths Mozenrath caught the boy by the cheep bead pectoral he wore with pride. "You BOY out!! I want you out of my Citadel, out of my land, and out of Agrabah!" Mozenrath's fist twisted snapping the thread that held the beads together. Multi-colored balls bounced over the marble floor like so much rain. The lose shown in Apepe's eyes. "Out of Arabia period! Do you understand? You will return to Egypt to the hellish little slum you came from. And never return or I will break more than your jewelry." Mozenrath's face was so close to the boys the words hit him in hot bursts.

Apepe, for his nature, was surprisingly genuine in the proud look in his eyes. "I have vowed never to return to my fathers land until I can bring my sister through the gates at my side."

Mozenrath chuckled disarmingly. "Such a poetic speech for a man who cant even write his own name." The sorcerer's aggressive intent suddenly returned. "Than don't go home little boy, but go someplace just as far." He backhanded Apepe into the wall.

Chroias had never really connected with the boy, but he shared her friend's eyes, and now they were closed in pain. "You will not!" the demoness exclaimed as she grabbed Mozenrath's shoulder and whirled him away from Apepe. "You will not throw him out." She yelled as Mozenrath was unable to stop himself and crashed into the dinning table.

Mozenrath stood back up with unexpected dignity. "You wish him to stay, have him. But when I inevitably end up killing him the blood will be on your hands!"

Chroias looked to Apepe. The youthful ignorance shown in his face. It was a matter of honor now, Apepe would stay and Mozenrath would end up killing him. What Chroias did next was for everyone's well being. "Get out of here Apepe. You're no longer welcome."

The boy nodded with respect. "As you wish Lady. I'll just say goodbye.."

Mozenrath caught him before he got to the door. "You will not."

"My sister than! You will let me say goodbye to Neffie."

"No. I will not have her involved in this." Mozenrath pushed Apepe to the front door.

Apepe walked out on his own will but not before adding his final thought. "Your just afraid of her."



It was a good thing no one had gone to say goodbye to Neffie, because she wasn't at home. Using the combined powers of the twins she'd taken a nice little trip to Tarturs. More specifically she had gone to visit Chroias mother.

"So you see Lady Persephone, I need your help. For your daughter." Nefret added when the skeptical look came across the goddesses face.

"You're asking for something that could leave my Chroias very vulnerable. I worry about that." Her honey voice rang.

Nefret smiled. "In my hands Lady, there is nothing to worry about. I would as soon as sacrifice myself as to give her a scratch. I love you daughter my Lady. And Mozenrath loves her, we just must intervene to let the latter feeling be known. You have not seen how miserable she is. I have."

Persephone nodded with a graceful smile and stood. "This way Nefret." The goddess lead the little priestess to a large golden vault and returned holding a golden box with a precious grip. "I'm sure you'll recognize this." Persephone sighed as she opened the box doors.

Nefret bolted as she object came into view. Inside was a winged sun disk wrapped in two serpents. "Yes. A Ur-Uatchti." This symbol was scatted all over Egypt, above temple doors, hanging on necklaces, painted on walls. It was a protection against underworldly creatures.

"Not a, THE Ur-Uatchi. The original produced by the god you Egyptians call Horus to defeat the evil demon god Set. It leaves all demons and those not of a light god helpless as lambs." Persephone closed the doors and approached Nefret. "I entrust this to you child. You must hide it and do not open the door unless you intend the consequences it brings. You must understand this will effect my grandchildren, Zak and Trist, as well. They must not handle it. Only you, mortal and priestess of the good Hathor should use it."

Nefret received the gift with true humbleness. And as the twins energy swept by her she thanked the goddess.

"Get what you were after auntie?" Zak asked as he reached for the box.

"I did. Lets hide it under my bed and go see if Apepe is still breathing."



Chapter 242 (by Chroias)

Nefret hated to do this to Chroias, she really did. But she was at her last constraints. They were not only driveling her crazy, but the effect had spread to their own children and even her own family. Poor Apepe was meeting Tris tonight in a safer place, and Zak had wisely decided to haul Domdi out of the Citadel and set up camp in one of the village houses below. Nef was only half sorry about this, it would have been nice to have a bit of company for this little excursion.

Clutching the object from persephione close to her, Nefret snuck closer to the room where Chroias was sleeping. Once, she hadn't been able to pass this room without hearing something that would make an innocent woman blush and run for cover. Now it was filled only with the soft noise of Chroias's breathing and the wind sweeping thought the window.

Nefret entered the room quietly and took a look at her sleeping friend. she looked so peaceful, so at rest. Except for the frown on her face and the shiver that caressed her skin every time the wind touched her. She mumbled something in her sleep and turned over, a small bloody tear crossing her face.

Nefret felt her heart clench for her friend. Sympathy had never been her forte, at least not one she showed. But well, she'd do anything for her friend. Holding the object above her head, Nefret did what she had to do to make the effect complete. the wind tore into the room, tossing a vase to the floor and scattering the petals around Chroias and Nefret like a whirlwind. yet despite the noise, Chroias only twitched an eyebrow and moaned. A thin, whispy trail of green and yellow pulled out of the tips of her fingers and entered the stone slowly.

Chroias whimpered once as though in pain, and then settled back down. Nefret looked down at her friend and gasped. She looked different, smaller somehow. Her horns were almost nonexistent, her hair looked bleached and limpas even her strong frame seemed to have become weak in seconds. For a moment. Nefret regretted what she'd done, she didn't know Chroias would look so...helpless.

Nefret looked at the magical piece and saw it glow a soft green and felt the warmth and strength from inside. She calmly reminded herself that this would be worth it,if only she could be sure this was working!

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Apepe pulled Tris close and brought his lips to hers. he wanted to make this time last, since at any moment Mozenrath could walk in and fry him on the spot. he could be sure what this feeling was yet. he'd always been the sort of fellow who'd taken things for granted. Lived for the moment, and finding girlfriends had certainly never been a problem. Tris certainly hadn't been the first lover he'd ever had, but well, there was something very different about her.

Could he be...in love?

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Zakurum touched Domdi's stomach and pulled her in for a second kiss. She was so soft, so tender., no wonder he had been miserable being stuck in his fathers lab! It was almost enough to make one forget the fantastic pleasures of the flesh. Slowly, he leaned over to Domdi's ear and sang softly.

"I could stay away, just to hear you breathin. Watch you smile while you are sleeping, while your far away and dreamin. I could spend my life in this sweet surender. I could stay lost in this moment forever. Every moment spent with you is a moment i treasure. Don't wanna close my eyes, don't wanna fall asleep. Cause I'd miss you baby, and I don't wanna miss a thing." he watched as she turned over and smiled gently.

"You are such a little shit." she slapped him lightly and brought her kiss down.

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Nefret snuck into the room Mozenrath had 'moved' into. She half expected him to be awake, but thankfully found herself wrong.

Mozenrath was asleep on his desk, head lolled on a book and eyes closed gently. Nefret had to admit, he was handsome when he wasn't trying to be tyrannical and overthrow the seven deserts. She ruffled his hair and smiled when he grumbled and adjusted his turban without thinking or awakening. The candlelight flickered over the pale features, and Nefret could see a wetness on his cheek, just the barest flicker of water there, it trickled down from his eyes, over his cheek, past his lips, and onto his chin where it darkened the paper bellow.

Nefret shook her head. She had always suspected there was more then a simple lovers connection between the two of them. Now she was positive. 'If only they wouldn't be such idiots. If only they could just be close again.' she shook her head and began her work. As she finished, she could see Mozenrath hadn't moved from his position. Slowly, she grabbed a sheet from the bed and flung it over Mozenrath's body gently, removing his turban and kissing his forehead gently. After all, she loved him as much as Chroias did, only, in a different way.

Work finished, Nefret left her 'master' alone, to brood over his dreams, and hopefully...his love



Chapter 243 (by Nefret) The red eyes of the demon slid open and she breathed heavily. "What is this?" Even those words brought her to exhaustion. The simple act of breathing made her ribs ache and threaten to collapse. Slowly she turned over and wet her lips in confusion. "Nef. Tris. Zak." Each name came out no more than a strained grunt. The demon closed her eyes to think. 'What is this, what has happened to me?' A panic seized the demon's mind. She thrashed to the best of her ability. The act was now desperate and mindless, panic had claimed her mind and, coved in soft sheets and the luxury of her soft mattress, the demon wondered if this might be a dream. Nothing seemed quite real, that is until her hand bashed into something solid. Tossing her head to the side the demon was brought into harsh reality. In the nightstand stood a knife dead on it's end trapping a scrap of paper. With a whine Chroias ripped the paper away and held it limply above her eyes.

"Your friends and children have fled in fear. We have Mozenrath at the old tombs in the western black desert. If you wish him safe come for us, and prepare to pay heavily for his life."

Chroias had to read over it a few times before the meaning stuck in her mind. This was a ransom note. Mozenrath was in danger. They'd kill him. Whatever had happened to her must have happened to him. He was helpless. He'd die, and he'd go thinking...

Chroias's red eyes welled up and she looked away. "He'll die thinking I hate him." The thoughts whirled in the demon's mind. "No, it can't happen this way. I have to get up. Get up Chroias!" The demon grunted and groaned as she forced her weak body to sit up and flung near lifeless legs over the edge of the bed. "Come on you bloody." She sucked in her breath and swung up on her feet. It seemed she had triumphed for a few moments as she remained upright. The moment she made a move, however, she lost her balance and would have crashed to the floor if she hadn't caught herself with the night stand. "I cant.." The demon cried in the feeblest voice she'd ever possessed.

A sudden sound renewed her efforts. Outside a horse neighed and a long high-pitched female yodel rang out and the beats of horse's hooves burst out. "Oh no you don't. You're not taking him so easily."

Using the walls as support Chroias plotted down the halls as fast as she could following the sound to the west end of the Citadel and exiting the building through the kitchen and beside the main stables. Against the blaring of desert wind Chroias could make out two mounted forms on a sand dune out into the desert. The demon squinted to block out the gray light of the sky the figures were plastered against.

One seemed to be male, in a black turban and a windstorm guard covering his lower face. The rest of him was covered in miles and miles of black fabric made up into coats, vests and shirts. His pants were equally immense and ended in black boots shined to the max. He seemed a proud figure as his body followed the nervously pacing of his horse to perfect grace.

Along his side was a figure that the demon took for female even if she was coved from heads to toe. Her hair was sheltered under a long black head veil that draped around the small of her back. Her face was covered in a redishbrown veil carefully embroidered in gold. The rest of her ensemble included a red tunic top with flowing sleeves that reached her knees but was split up the sides allowing her to straddle her legs over her mount. Her black flowing pants and tiny red curled slipper barely showed. The only flesh the demon could see were the smoky eyes peeping between the head and face veil and the fingertip that clutched the reigns were stained red with henna.

The demon stared the girl right in the eyes in a glare of sheer death. The veiled woman smiled. You couldn't' see her lips, but her eyes narrowed and creased, a define smart-aleck smile. Suddenly the girl gave a sharp yodel and flipped her horse around galloping out of sight below the dune as her male counterpart followed.

"Oh no you don't." He demon growled out as she thrust herself at the nearest horse from the stable. With a cry of effort the demon pulled herself up on the mount and nearly collapsed over the horses neck. But she managed to kick the horse into a swift gate. It didn't take long to reach the crest of the dune and below on the desert basin appeared the two masked villains. The black coats of the male whipping around and the voluminous veils of the female ride the wind. Chroias was breathing heavily and gripping the mane of her mount in a death grip but she refused to give up the chase. She know where they were heading, the western desert, to the old tombs.

The veiled woman looked behind her as she bounced upon her running horse. She grinned and whipped her head back around. "She's right on our heals."

The man in the black turban grinned at his half sister. "About now Mozenrath should be finding the ransom note for Chroias. Our two accomplices will lead him right after us. We'll all meet at the ruined tombs and have a surprise reunion." He chuckled and whipped up his horse.

"We're awful you know that?" The veiled woman looked back and noticed the demon was gaining on them quicker than was expected. Throwing her head back she kicked up her horse and gave out a yodel that bounced off the 4 corners of the desert and enticed the demon.



Chapter 244 (by Chroias)

Mozenrath groaned and tried to lift himself to the desk. Absently, he noted he'd been covered with a blanket. His whole body ached as he cracked his neck and stumbled over to a mirror. "Oh my head!" eh growled. "Roi..." Mozenrath stopped dead in the middle of yelling for her. He grimaced and remembered she wouldn't come to see what was wrong. Scoffing, he spun around and threw open the windows. the moon glowed on his face, outlining it dramatically as a horse neighed bellow.

'A Horse?'

Mozenrath looked down bellow to see two figures riding on a horse bellow. A man and a woman from the looks of it. The man was doned in well designed appeal. A pair of black pants with silver lines streaking through them and small mirrors imbedded in the fabric. His chest remained bare but an elaborate headdress and face make covered his features, all save for glowing green eyes. A long scythe, like the one's that death is always depicted carrying, was held in his hands and he swung it around twice, the pointing it towards the Citadel.

The other, the woman, seemed to smile at him from a distance. She wasn't as well dressed as the man, but it was obvious she had a confidence above his own. her clothing was what could be described as a formfitting burka, covered every inch, and yet still showed everything. It's color was that of a midnight when evil comes and hatred roams the land. She lifted above her head a bow and notched an arrow to it.

Mozenrath heard the sharp sound of the arrow go whizzing past his head and saw the note attached to it's wood. He spun back around to see the man with the scyth swirl it in the air once again. A wild glow went through the air and the horse vanished without a trace.

Mozenrath hurried over to the note. He yanked the arrow from the wall and ripped the letter from it. As he opened and read it, his face filled with fear. It was short, but to the point

'To the Lord of the Black Sands,

We have your woman ,the demon Chroias. Come to the catacombs and face us as a man would, or we will make her death ring through the seven deserts.

If you bring the wench, she dies.

If you bring the children, she dies.

If you being the boy, she dies.

You have till dawn. Follow the magic.



Mozenrath clutched the note in his hand and incinerated it in moments. He could follow the magic trail left behind easily. But that was not his first concern.' They've got Roi.' his mind wandered.' Dear gods they've got Roi.'

Mozenrath felt a wet stain cross his cheek and shook his head. Whipping the tear away. He and Roi had been in dangerous situations before, but they'd always been...together. But with the falling out, if she died...

"No!" Mozenrath shouted aloud. "I won't let her die like that!" he called and transported himself to where the strangers had been. The air stunk with a magic unfamiliar to him and he sneered at it's presence. "And when I get a hold of those basterds. I'll make them suffer as never before!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two strangers watched from a dune far enough away that he could not see." Perhaps we went a might to far?" the man questioned.

The woman swung the bow over her back "No. We've gotten him angry. That was our intention. He will follow the magic we left closely. So I'd suggest we begin to leave a trail for him, lest he walk to our very mouths."

"Oh you are really enjoying this too much."

Chapter 245 (by Nefret)

Chroias was tried when she arrived as the catacombs. She began to worry she has come to the wrong place. Somewhere along the line the two Bedouins she'd been following disappeared over a sand bank and where not to be seen again. Still she brought her hoarse to a halt at the catacombs gate. Nervously it paced as the demon scanned the scene.

"No sign of.." She broke off as something red fluttered behind the gate. As if she realized she had been caught the female Bedouin sauntered into view between the gateposts. Roias's eyes narrowed as the strange figure stood there with that same eyes only smile. Chroias waited for the next move, waited to see Mozenrath anywhere, in chains, beat up, bruised and bleeding, as long as she could see he was alive. The impertinent girl only stood there. smiling.

"We'll you wanted me, here I am!!!" The demon screamed out over the sands. The girl nodded slightly and turned on her hells breaking into a run to the underground labyrinth. The demon growled and hit the sands. Her strength had returned slightly, though not from the physical capabilities, it was all mental now.

The catacombs were lite only by tiny far spaced wall sconces but Chroias could here the slippered feet beating ahead of her. Putting on a burst of speed capable by only one in a rush to save her most beloved Chroias rounded the corner and caught the Bedouin girl by the arm. She didn't even make a gasp, her mouth stayed clamed shut.

"Where's you pretty tongue now?" Chroias swung the girl around to face her. The girl shut her eyes and ducked out to way in a near graceful roll. The demon was not put off however. With a one failed swoop she kicked the girl to her knees and raised her fist. "I have no time to play with you!"

A male grunt rang out as something flowing and black swept in front of the grounded girl. A solid built forearm blocked the punch from hitting it's intenended victim. Chroias growled as she forced herself to stop, it was no use wasting what little strength she had left. Even if she had hit the girl she probably wouldn't even had made a bruise. In the time afforded to him the male Bedouin picked up his partner and they were off again down the corridor. Not even a retaliation. They could both see the demon was weak and vulnerable, but neither attempted an attack.

"Cowards." Chroias growled as she began down the hallway again.



Mozenrath rode his horse to the catacomb gates. The kidnappers stood on their mounts just feet away. Moze looked around for any signs of his love. None. That worried him the most. Chroias would have put up a fight, but there were no marks in the sand, no scratches on the wall, and for that matter no scratches on the kidnappers.

"By your lovely invitation I guessed you wished my presence?" Mozenrath quipped. Both masked strangers nodded. "Not talking eh? Not very good hosts are we?" Moze suddenly advanced on the two.

The male whipped up his arm in such a way that it brought Moze to a dead stop. He carefully configured his fingers and a streak of magic appeared to form letters. "follow us." Spelled the swirling threads. Both villains burst into dust and as the sparking particles formed a tight ball Moze reached out to capture it. just before he laid a hand on it the ball of magic zoomed into the catacombs.

Feeling none much for games Mozenrath took off after it with a curse that would burn the ears of an innocent one. The sparkling thread of magic made up what light lacked in the catocomes as it slowly burned out of the atmosphere. Ahead Moze could hear the metal grind of the scythe running against the walls. It was close now, he was closing in.



The demons breath baited as the heave boot sounded interlaced with tiny pats of soft souled slippers echoed louder off the walls. There were still close Any closer and she' be able to see them.



Mozenrath grinned as her came to a turn in the hall, just beyond that he could hear his two "leaders" resting. The tap of the scythe as it was rested on the wall was a dead giveaway.



Chroias grasped the wall as she caught breath. She sucked it in as a noise came from just behind the corner. Whispering. An evil grin graced her face.



Moze swept from behind the wall in a lunge but caught nothing but air. He looked up in confusion.



Chroias bolted from the wall and swung into the next hallway fully expecting to encounter the Bedouins. Nothing. She looked ahead of her in awe.



Before each of them lay a room, a wide room, completely empty. Each wall was perforated with carved inlets holding skeletons. To many to count. The morbid display of life's remains wasn't what brought a smile to the sorcerers face, nor was it what brought the tears to the demons eyes. At the opposite end of the room the lovers could see each other, standing in the doorway.

"Roi." Moze breathed as they both fell into a run into each others arms. "I thought they'd killed you! When I got the note I."

"But it was ME who got the note. You're the one who was kidnapped!" Chroias pulled away. Something didn't feel right here.

"No, It was you!" Mozenrath's lips pulled down again. "You always have to turn things around!"

"I do not, I came all the way out here I think I know who was kidnapped and who wasn't!" The demon's face left little to discuss. Now that it seemed they were both as safe old animosities arose.



Four masked villains watched from a ledge above. The man with the scythe dropped his head in this hands. "Those two."

"Well lets carry this thing out." The woman in the burka motioned the man in the black turban with a wink.

He smiled and winked back before turning behind him to pull a heavy leaver. With a groan and a burst of dust the walls came to life. Slowly they slid together, sliding over the only exits and leaving an ever shrinking box. Chroias and Mozenrath stopped their bickering to notice they were about to be squished.

Chapter 246 (by Chroias)

The two villains who had been leading Chroias stopped as they watched. "Are you sure they can pull this off?" the female asked with a voice only half afraid. "Chroias is so weak, and Mozenrath doesn't appear to be faring well either." she spun a wooden staff in her hands. the plan was far from over yet, and now was only the beging.

"They will be fine. Both are resilient." the male with the scythe cleaned his nails with the blade. "Besides, one won't let the other die."

The woman nodded. he was right, she hoped.

~~~~~~~`

Chroias snarled and immediately felt strangled. She feel to the floor and tried to breath with little success. "Moze..."she coughed out.

"Chroias what's the matter with you?" he snapped, trying to edge the concern out of his voice. The minute he touched her he found out. her skin felt like dead leaves, she seemed smaller, weak even. As she stood, Mozenrath realized they no longer looked eye to eye, but he now hovered over her slightly. Worry creased the line on his face. "Roi.. what's wrong?" he stated with only half the arrogance he'd had before.

chroias shrugged his hands off. "No time." she gestured with her magic and shook when it did not respond. "You have to get us out." she leaned against a rock for support and looked pleadingly at him.

Mozenrath nodded and put his hands to the wall, in a sudden surge, the walls lighted up with blackness and exploded into the dust. he shielded Chroias from the falling rubble and leaned over her while she collected her breath. "So..."he tried to think of something to say when he caught sight of her new hairdo. he toyed with the lock of hair for a moment and smiled. "Is that a new look?"

Chroias grinned weakly. "Yeah.Ya like?"

Mozenrath felt himself blush brightly. "Roi..I am sor..."

"Don't you dare..." Chroias motioned to him. "Talk to me like I'm dying. I'm just not feeling so good." she started to sit up and moaned in pain.

Mozenrath brought his arm around her waist and helped her to her feet. "What happened. why can't you move right?"

"I don't know. One minute I was fine, and the next..."she shrugged. "I'm sure it has something to do with those strangers! I swear when i get my hands on those little shits..."she made a slicing motion through the air that made Mozenrath grin.

"Now there's the demon I'm spending my life with!" he kissed her cheek gently." But in order to..."he made th slashing motion." We have to find them first."

"That's our cue."

The four villains appeared in the slash of a scythe and a wave of green magic. "You speak of us sorcerer." the one with the Smokey eyes said in a slited and roughly accented voice. "You have found your lover again. Now do you wish her powers returned?"

Mozenrath would have surged forward, but couldn't, not and leave Chroias practically defenseless. "What did you do to her." he flung up a ball of magic and the man with the scythe swung, deflecting the energy and sending it into the sands.

"No attacking." the man said and flared his green eyes at the sorcerer.

Mozenrath growled something under his breath, something that promised an ill fate for the scythed man if he ever got a hold of him. "All right. How do I get her power back?"

The man standing beside the girl with the smoky eyes motioned to the door. "Go through our catacombs. Only by working together can you find what you seek?" as the man spoke the burkaed woman seemed to be concentrating slowly the group levitated into the air.

"Wait." Chroias managed. "Why did you bring us here? What is the point of all this?"

The group didn't answered. Simply vanished the way they came, by scythe and green magic.



Chapter 247 (by Nefret)

"I don't' like the look of those 4 at all!" Moze mumbled as he shifted his shoulder as to give Chroias a stronger support to lean on. "The guy with the scythe looks awfully shady. And don't get me started on that girl with the bad accent!" The useless chatter wasn't much more than a distraction from the danger and dark of the catacombs.

"I'm confused by their agenda on the whole!" Chroias snorted. "They don't seem to want to hurt us, yet they get us out her, helpless and going around in circles! I can't figure out what the hell they're after!"

"That's the part I'm worried about." Moze growled as he stopped and leaned Roais against the wall. "We'll find out soon enough, I can feel it in the air." Moze almost shivered as a creek moaned from the wall and the scatter of mice echoed around the narrow hallways. He turned back to Chroias, who was grinned in a silly way. "One good thing did come out of it." He leaned in.

"And what's that?" the demon tipped her head and softly smiled.

"You'll let me do this again." Moze whispered just inches from her face and leaned in for a kiss.

A stifled female giggled echoed dimly from above. It was quickly squelched by a clap, no doubt the sound of hand clasping over the amused woman's face. "It seems were being watched." Chroias pulled away and looked up.

"kinda makes it exciting huh?" Moze gave a rouge wink that made Chroias half smile half scowl.

"I suppose we.." Chroias suddenly broke into a coughing fit.

With worry twisting his features Moze picked up Chroias arm again and slung it over his shoulder. "We better find our power again. In whatever form it may be in." The demon nodded in agreement.

The man in the black turban shifted uncomfortably. "I don't think it's wise." He grumbled as the man with the scythe began to mutter a few word.

The scythed man stopped mid spell to look suspired at the other man. "They must rely on each other for this to work."

The turbaned name turned suddenly and wagged his finger. "You don't poke a lion even when it's caged! 'Cause when it gets out.." he didn't finish, he didn't have to him meaning was clear.

The woman with the Smokey eyes patted the turbaned man on the back and rubbed his shoulder lovingly. "There once was a lion with a torn in it's paw, and a mouse came along. The lion growled and bared it's teeth at the rodent. But when the mouse pulled the thorn from his paw he was nothing but grateful."

The black turban bobbed as the man gave a defeated nod. Scythed man smiled and began his spell again.

Mozenrath had noticed Chroias leaning on him more and more, and finally he just swept her off her feet despite her abjections to being carried. After a while she got used to the idea. "These old catacombs must be from when the city was populated.. The names are along the skeleton bed. Abdul Has.." Chroias suddenly stopped as Mozenrath lunged forward. "Moze, what is it!"

The sorcerer blinked three times quickly and opened his eyes as wide as they would go. "The lights have gone out! I can't see my hand in front of my face." Moze explained as he set the demon down.

Chroias looked around in confusion. The sconces weren't all that bright, but they still burned. "No, Moze, the light is still on. Can't you see?" She turned to him suddenly.

Moze fumbled and rubbed his eyes. "Yes I hear the crackle of the flames now... I just. cant see!" The sorcerer was in panic now.

Chroias grabbed his hands and lead him safely to his knees beside her. Carefully she inspected the orbs of his eyes. "Moze, your eyeballs. they've gone completely black!"

Moze, strangely, seemed to relax at that. "Than it's only a spell. I was worried I'd actually gone blind." He ran a hand through his ruffled hair. "Well now what? You down and I can't see."

Chroias kissed his forehead. "I have an idea. Pick me up. I'll tell you were to go. I'll be your eyes. You just walk.



Chapter 248 (by Chroias)

Mozenrath scooped Chroias off her feet and held her carefully in his arms. It felt good to have her solid, yet feminine body close to his again. If things worked out right, they be even closer to each other tonight. He grinned thoughtfully and clutched Chroias's body tighter. "So I've got a seeing eye demon now. Where do we go from here?"

Chroias looked out ahead of her. Normally, with her demon eyes, it would be like hawk vision, but with her powers depleted, it was no better then a normal humans. Squinting in the dim light, Chroias could just make out the turns and twists. "Ok walk forward till I tell you to stop."

Walking just straight forward was difficult, even by placing one foot directly in front of the other he had a difficult time. And having to balance correctly with Chroias's added weight wasn't making the task any easier. Oh Gods it was going to feel good to lie down in a warm bed tonight with Chroias snuggled up beside him.

"Ok stop." Chroias said and tapped him to make sure he heard. "Pivot on your left foot and move a step or two to the side."

"Which side?"

Chroias though for a moment and tapped his shoulder. "This side."

"Okay." Mozenrath carefully shifted Chroias's weight and managed to turn the corner easily. "I never realized how much energy went into something typically so simple!" he complained and Chroias hugged onto his neck.

"Ok. We've got a straight hallway for a while, but afterward i can see five or six doors. Don't know which one to go through." She sniffed the air for traces of the four who had lead them here.

"I can't sense them either ,not even my magic is giving off any but the slightest wisp of mana trail around here." Mozenrath grumbled something and moved forward with Chroias clutched to him. He could feel the soft lock of her punked hair close to his face and smelled the vanilla shampoo she used all the time. He laughed softly.

"What?"

"You don't have any hair left and you still washed it?" Mozenrath kissed her forehead and Chroias muffled a giggle.

"OK. So I like a clean scalp." She tapped his right shoulder. "There's a door on this side."

"Describe what it looks like."

"Big, made from mahogany. Got a small inscription on the place where the key should be." she leaned closer and Mozenrath knelt carefully so she could get a better look. "Shoot. It's in Egyptian. Of all the times not to have Nefret around!"

"What does it look like? Describe the pictures on it." Mozenrath waited while Chroias told him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They make a pretty picture like that." The tall man standing beside the red clad girl spoke.

"Yes." said the green eyed one. "It's good to see things getting back to normal. Or at least as normal as they ever get for us."

Smoky eyes clapped her hand on the green eyes male. "Don't worry. Perhaps when all this is through, things will calm down."

Everyone looked at her, shock evident in their eyes.

"Or not."

"Don't fear." The burkaed woman put an arm around her. "After this semi- domestic dispute, we can handle anything."



Chapter 249 (by Nefret)

"Bird, err. Mouth? Horned snaked, and a little squiggly line!" Chroias ended her squinting and looked away from the inscription and back to Mozenrath's face. He was deep in concentration, his now blackened eyes closed tight.

Many a time did Moze watch Nefret squiggle down her hieratic, a fast way of writing hieroglyphics, but his interpretations were very poor. "Damn that girl for never explaining it to me! I swear she did it just so she'd have her own secret language to mock me with."

"So you don't know a single word of what the hell this says?" Chroias sighed.

"Here..place.....in..dark ... lies.. Father.of..you. ruler. land.. Here be..Deeeessst." Moze pulled out the word as he interpreted the inscription. "Destine!" He suddenly jolted, nearly dropping Chroias.

The demon held on tighter and smoothed his ruffled hair. "Shhh.shh. Don't take the inscriptions so literally. We both know were Distain is."

Mozenrath put up a stiff upper lip to cover for his earlier jumpiness. "I know perfectly well! This must have been the tomb the old nut prepared for himself. Bastered will never lie here in peace." Moze grinned at the thought.

"Why would her have it written in Egyptian? Not very Muslim of him.." Chroias snorted.

"He was no saint." Moze mumbled, but refused to delve into that. "The old coot was obsessed with the magic of Egypt. He felt Hieroglyphs held magic in their very script. I'd listen to him babble on about how all the best spells were out of Egypt. That's why I went to Egypt myself to get a piece of magic. Funny, I ended up with a curse."

Chroias hit him playfully. "You don't hold onto a curse so furiously as you do with.." The demon pulled and soon the creek of old hinges told Mozenrath the gateway was opening. "we must have just enough to unlock it..Oh." The demon let out.

"What, what is it?" the sorcerer stretched his neck around as if he could actually see any better from a different angle.

"An amulet, in midair.. Glowing.. Green and blue." Chroias broke off as the amulet began to slowly spin. A beautiful winged sun wrapped in snakes. It looked familiar somehow.. "It's beautiful."

"I'll take your word for it." Mozenrath laughed and proceeded carefully into the room. "What else is around?"

"Just an empty sarcophaguses.. And a plaque written in Arabic this time." Chroias pointed out almost cheerily.

"Congratulations!" a voice suddenly echoed. "You have made it leaning upon each other." The voice the seemed to resonate from the walls was spoken in a horrid accent, rough, with a high pitch. "Upon the plaque is a bit of wisdom from our lord Imhotep. It wouldn't hurt to read it." The voice started to fade.

"And will that bring us back our power?" Moze yelled out, warning the voice he wasn't done with her.

"There is truth in it." Was all the voice said before vanishing completely.

"Could they be anymore vague?" Chroias growled. "I hate it when villains try to be so mysterious. So cliché."

"We'll make everything very clear when we get a hold of them." Moze grinned and made a slashing sound.

The demon's fangs shone in the dark as she grinned. "I guess I'll be reading this one." The demon cleared her throat and took up the stone plaque. "If thou desirest thy conduct to be good, to set thyself free from all that is evil, then beware of greed, which is a malady diseaseful, incurable. Intimacy with it is impossible. It maketh the sweet friend bitter, it alienateth the trusted one from the master, it maketh bad of father and mother, together with the brothers of the mother, and it divorceth a man's wife." Chroias was taken aback for a moment. "Boy that Imhotep was sure a..."

She was cut off as the amulet began to spin faster and tiny spider webs of magic snaked from it.

Chapter 250 (by Chroias)

The manna flow coming from the deceptively small item drove both Mozenrath and Chroias to the floor.The green light illuminated the tomb, filling all the cracks with it's almost solid streams. Eyes still blinded, Mozenrath could only try to feel through the manna with his undersences and try to determine the cause. "Chroias!" he called into the force and felt the smooth texture of her skin graze his. Gripping, he felt her hand close around his own and heard a soft sigh. "Roi?"

"It's me." she whispered back. "Moze...whats happening?" she clutched his hand almost fearfully. "The power inside that thing is my own, it's so familer." Chroias tried to sit up but slumped against Mozenrath's body., too weak to stand.

"Roi? Roi!" Mozenrath shook her, feeling fear as she did not respond. He lifted his head to the sky. "You wanted us here for a reason! Now damn it what was it for?" when No one answered, Mozenrath let his power fly. With no eyes to see, and with the manna flow confusing his undersneses, the shot was harmless." Say something!

"We needed you to see." said a soft, accented voice from above.

"See? You blind me and expect me to see?"

"Some things are better seen, when ones eyes are closed." The other voice, more masculin, but just as sympathy filled as the female one.

"You can not always expect to be a tower sorcerer. Even with the tooth around your neck your might strength will fall and then where will the tower of power fall?" This voice was familiar, whispering to him like an old friend.

"Remember sorcerer. Every tower has a structure, support beams, a good base, and of course, the stuff that holds it together. Every tower needs these to survive." This voice had an air of arrogance about it that nearly matched his own. "With this, a towers remains are there, even when the might structure itself has gone."

The manna flow around the room changed as the voiced seemed to dissparear. Now it was only the light of Chroias's magic, bathing them both in it's brilliance.

Suddenly, Chroias shot up from his arms, raiseing her hands while her eyes seemed closed in pain. Mozenrath groped for her, but still without his eyes, could only use his remaining undersenses to see feel what was happening.

The outstretched hand acted as lightning rods, the green beams connecting with them and jolting through the demoness's skin. Her eyes shot open, glowing a brilliant red as her horns glowed for a moment. For a moment, time seemed to halt on everything save Chroias. Her green hair became the bright, vivide emerald green it had been before. Her horns grew and her body became more solid as her tail whipped about like a striking snake.

The green magic finished flowing into Chroias's body and she slumped to the floor, feeling like an old friend had returned home.

"Chroias." Mozenrath questioned as the world around him became fuzzy. Light began to push through in his eyes and soon shapes began to play through. "Roi.My visions coming back."

Chroias turned to look at him. the spirals of black that had once been his eyes were whirling away.

"Mozenrath." she jumped into his arms and brought her lips to his.

Mozenrath smiled between her kisses. "My visions back..."he said softly. "And I gotta say...you look beautiful." his grin turned mischievous as his hand found a resting place.

Chroias giggled. "Okay. Now that's enough. Lets get outta here and find those basterds who brought us in here!" the reddish glow in her eyes returned and Mozenrath felt a familiar feeling in his chest.

"Oh you won't have to search far for us!" said a familiar, and sarcastic voice.

Both Mozenrath and Chroias stood to meet those who had attacked them. Mozenrath's gauntlet began to glow sadistically. "Okay. Who wants to be first."

Surprisingly, none of them looked the least bit afraid.the one with smoky eyes nodded, and all of the villains whipped off their head dresses.



Chapter 251 (by Nefret)

The burka fell away to revile Tirs's sweet young face. "The support." She whispered with a little smile. Oh they thought they were so cleaver.

"The base." Zak boasted as he pulled away his headdress. By this time the demon's and sorcerers eyes were wide and unbelieving.

"The tempest." A gruff voice rang out as the black turban and face covering fell off Apepe. "Your always trying to keep me out." He grinned.

The woman in the red elbowed him before slipping off her face vile and slipping off her black headdress. Purple curls came into view. "The structure." Nef voiced proudly. Damn proud. Their plan had worked perfectly. Now they just had to face what it brought down on their pretty little heads.

Mozenrath's lips moved soundlessly for a moment as he searched for something to say. "You all along.. Did this?!"

"Are we in trouble daddy?" Tris put on the puppy dog eyes and her lips quivered.

Moze turned to her and wagged a finger. "No no, don't you dare.." Moze looked to Chroias then back to the group. With quick steps he grasped the amulet and wagged it accusingly at the group. "And this? Do you know what you did? Do you have any idea?? You left Chroias helpless as a kitten! What if something had happened! What than?!" His voice was growing steadily more intense and even Zak had to wince as it rung in his ears. "Who's smart idea was this?" the sorcerer held thrust the amulet at them so hard it nearly flew out of his hand.

"It was my doing." Nefret confessed.

Moze whirled to her and grabbed her by the shoulder. "You? You could have killed her! What if someone had taken advantage of her powerless state?" Moze was on the verge of breaking her bones. Chroias sprang into action to save her friend but Nefret waved her off.

"Never, my lord, was she powerless. Never was she without her demon powers." Nefret hissed out.

"Liar! Than how do you explain that she was pail, cold as ice, and limp as a rag doll?" Moze was inches from his minions face. "You took her power."

"Yes, indeed I did. But not her demon born powers." Nef smiled faintly.

"You're speaking in circles. She possesses no other powers, what's in you head girl?" Moze backed her into the wall. Again Roias, and even the twins looked to want to help. But again Nefret waved them off.

"The power you gave her." Was the simple reply from the Egyptians lips. Moze looked utterly confused. "Over the years you've contributed much to the fabric of her being. You gave her strength of body and of mind. Emotional support, knowledge, awareness, self-confidence, meaning and built her person. That my lord, that power is what I took. I left her without all you gave her. You need each other. You've always known that, you just needed to acknowledge it."

Mozenrath's face turned blank and his shoulders slumped. The sheer realization of what had happened just hit him. Were he and Chroias really that entangled that without each other they'd be so weak? Had it really taken his own children and his slave girl to bring him, the greatest sorcerer in the seven deserts, to enlightenment? His grip lessened. "From the mouth of babes..." He whispered and turned to Chroias.

She two seemed distressed. She had always counted herself as a strong completely self-dependent demoness. Now it seemed her strength was thanks, in part, to another. A person she needed desperately.

"Comes the truth." Chroias finished Mozenrath half voiced thought. They smiled at each other but a sharp sound broke the spell.

Apepe cleared his throat in discomfort. "Well old girl. Maybe we should be heading home and letting the love birds.er.." He put his arm around Trist but Zak took them away before Moze could land into him.

"Why that little.." Moze grumbled.

Chroias laughed and pulled Mozenrath into her grip. Just out in the desert echoed an old love song sung as loud and obnoxiously as it could be.

Chapter 252 (by Chroias)

Nefret walked down the stairs, graceful as ever and holding some equipment for Mozenrath in her arms. Apparently whatever he was doing now needed the liver of a goose, the spleen of a horse and the intestines of a half dead skeleton. Nefret, practiced by now in the art of assisting Mozenrath with magic, managed not to hurl as she deposited the ingredients at the table beside the lab. she knocked on the door and listened to see if she could discern what he was doing.

Suddenly, the door was flung open and a cloud of foul smelling gas flung itself outside the entryway. Nefret covered up her mouth with her jacket,(the one she'd gotten in the future),and covered her mouth and nose just in case it was poisonous. The gas blew past her as she flung her hand out in front of her to ward it off. A sudden thought sprang to mind. If that stuff was deadly then Mozenrath...!

No such luck. A few moments later a very nauseated looking sorcerer emerged and immediately began inhaling clean air. Mozenrath didn't look too well. His face was twice as pasty as normal and his hair had curled itself tightly around his head in little corkscrew curls. His eyes had bags under them and his clothing had apparently been bleached by the substance. "Oh great Allah!" he gasped into the halls. "Oh it was NOT supposed to do that!"

"I gathered." Nefret helped him to stand and pulled him away from the smoke. "Where's Chroias? I thought her powers helped you from destroying yourself and blowing up things when a spell went wrong."

"It does. But she decided to sleep in late today." Mozenrath, despite his color, suddenly seemed to blush. "We were um...up late..."

"Save it nature boy. I guessed the two of you would have some catching up to do." Nefret smiled in her quirky way. "So everything's all settled in the romance department."

Mozenrath nodded in affirmation. "Yes. I am, admittedly, glad to have Chroias back in my 'good graces' again."

That was a little more then he'd intended on saying, but what the Hades, he was in a good mood despite the small lab disaster. He smiled slightly and turned to look at Nefret. "Anyways, did you get the ingredients I as..." his eyes transferred from her face to her hair. "Oh my." he said, more then half amused. "I didn't know it could have that effect."

"What...what effect?" Nefret looked at his clothing. "It didn't bleach my hair white did it!" she said in a panic.

"Oh no! Nothing like that." The smile on Mozenrath's face could have been taken straight off a cobra. "Your fine I promise."

Nefret grabbed the front of his shirt. "What happened? What did that cockamamie spell of yours do?" ded for it to do. Nef i just didn't know it would..."Mozenrath, no longer able to hold it in, busted out laughing. Nefret truly began to panic now. "What! Come on tell me what did it do" she raised her fist threatingly.

Mozenrath, unable to speak, simply conjured a mirror and handed it to the panicking Egyptian.

Nefret dropped her masters collar and looked into the mirror.

~~~~~~

The scream was what woke Chroias from her sleep. "Nef!" for fear that something had hurt her, Chroias threw on the robe she kept beside her bed and rushed out the corridors.

~~~~~~

The scene she met would have been funny, if it were not for the fact that Nefret looked as though she might just kill Mozenrath if she got a hold of him. The Egyptian priestess had a rather large book in her hands, a rat tailed towel in the other, and a head full of bright orange hair. Every time she got close enough, Nefret would snap the towel forward, catching her masters rear.

Chapter 253 (by Nefret) *updated*

Moze was in a struggle between regaining his position of power and dodging the smart smacks from Nefret. "No will you." Moze managed to growl out before another slap hit him. "Just stop!" He yelled as the towel caught him again. He was able to capture it on it's retract. "I'm your master if there's any whipping to be done I'll be the one administering it!!!" He firmly planted his foot down making sure to put his minion back in her place, under his thumb.

Nefret looked to the ground and whimpered a bit. Such a pitiful sound. Moze even though he was about to go into a laughing fit felt a slight twinge as that pitiful sound ripped into his heart.

"Oh look Nef, it isn't that bad Certainly no more strange than your normal purple.." He approached her and caught a curl, pulling it and letting it bounce back.

That's just what Nef wanted, when Mozenrath got close enough and his guard was completely let down her hand shot up and connected solidly upside his cranium. Moze lunged forward in surprise and Nef decided another whack was in order. In fact once her hand got going it had a mind of it's own.

Moze took about 5 hits before managing to thrust his head in the air far above that of the shorter girl. His wrath for such an insubordination would have normally been quick and harsh, but when he looked down and saw Nefret's face and orange head he couldn't help but chuckle, she made such an interesting face when she wanted to rip your throat out.

Nef bit her lip and turned to Chroias with a helpless look. "Kill him Roais, kill him now! For me!" She half begged half demanded. The demons lips curled a bit though you could tell she was fighting it all the way. The Egyptian seemed taken aback.

"You said you wanted a new look." The demon's lips tried to pull straight but lost the fight. "It's new alright."

Nef threw up her hands and turned on her heels. "I get you to back together and this is what I get?" Nef marched out of room but not before throwing a goose liver at him.

Roias carfuly oppend Nef's door, afraid of what she'd find. The hinges creeked painfully and Chroias winced at the sound. A growl sounded from inside, it was apparent being ginger wasn't going to make matters better or worse so the demon flung open the door and strolled in like nothing was wrong. "Hey girl how are you."

Nefret looked up from her own relfection in the mirror to the reflection of the demon. She expected to find laughing eyes and a mocking smile and that's exactly what was there. "I suppose you find this funny?"

"I do." The demon giggeld out and was able to catch the vase that was thrown at her. "Hey now, don't get bent out of shape!! It can be fixed.. Somehow.."

Nefret nodded slightly and went back to work. "how the hell do you tie one of these bloody things?" The now ornange haired girl let her ands wain from around her head hopping the stirp of cloth she'd tried to make into a turnban would hold. It didn't.

"Here I'll do it." Chroias smoothed the hair back and started to wrap.

The Lab had been partially cleaned by the mumluks. Partially because the sorcerer didn't trust the half minded shambling around some his most prize possessions held on the shelves. Nefret would have to clean it up when she came out of her mood. A female 'ahem' rang out.

"Please let that be you Chroias. My head can't take any more bashing today." The sorcerer groaned and rubbed his temples.

"Want me to kiss it all better?" came the answer. That right there told Mozenrath who was in the room. Chroias slipped her pale arms around him. "mozy dear what was in that spell."

"Oh the normal.." Moze was cut off as Chroias released him suddenly and hopped up to sit on the desk.

"you realize of course you'll have to find the reversce spell and hope you don't screw it up just as much as you screwed up the original." She demon tipped her head and smiled one sidedly

"I did not screw it up!" Moze fumed. "It was just a bit of experimental improv." He explained with a wave of his hand. "And must we change Nef's hair back. it makes me laugh. Ya know Nef makes a much better jester than a minion."

It as Chroias's turn to slap him upside the head. "well she'll become a pretty good murderer if you leave her that way.." Chroias looked away and crossed her arms in a way that told Mozenrath his fate if he didn't do what she wanted. The cold shoulder and a cold bed.

He looked down at his books. And gave a grumbling answer. "okay.."

Chroias's fangs glinted as she smiled and threw her arms around his shoulders. "Oh and try not to tease her at dinner tonight." Chroias whimpered. Mozenrath's eyes bugged and he bit his lip. She was asking the impossible!

Chapter 254 (by Chroias)

Nefret washed her hair at least twelve times that night, but all she'd managed to do was give the stuff a glossy sheen and give her skin a red tinge.Beside,her head was starting to hurt. Sighing, she leaned back on the bed and looked at the mirror. her hair looked like a sun disk or something. twisting on curl around her finger, nefret contemplated following Chroias example and shaving her head.

"Hey Auntie. Can I come in?"

Nefret turned around and scowled at Zak. "Fine great, just another person to tease and make fun!" she threw the turban at his head. "Go away."

"Awww come on auntie. It doesn't look that bad.Domdi says you kinda look like a sun goddess." Zak had hoped to brighten her spirits and it worked. Nefret smiled at the corners of her mouth and nodded. "I knew something was up when dad seemed in too good of a mood today. Especially since Tris and Apepe haven't come out of their room all night."

Nef smiled and hugged a pillow. "So I take it he's okay with their dangerous liaison?"

"No. But he has found out that their isn't much he can do about it." Zak grinned at his fathers inability to refuse his daughter anything. "I just hope she's using that contraceptive spell she found in the library."

"They have those?" Nefret asked and raised an eye brow.

"Oh yeha. Dads got a spell for just about everything. Conterceptives, virtility..." Zak ducked the pillow.

"Stop. Don't need any more info thank you." Nefret sipped at her wine and tasseled her hair. "Sun goddess huh?"

"Yep."

Nefret heard Zak walk out of the room when the idea clicked. If Mozenrath had spells like that stocked up in the library, he might have something that could at least lessen the humiliation of this. Jumping up and rushing past Anubis, Nefret headed for the book room.

Anubis looked at his mistress. he knew, from a dogs point of view, about the hair fiasco. he'd wished he could do something to help, but from a dogs point of view hair color wasn't that big a deal. He'd love Nefret anyways.

Chapter 255 (by Nefret)

"Oh look I can make a mans finger turn into a nematode with just bats eye and dandelion fluff." Nefret mumbled as she looked flipped thought the book. The Egyptian girl looked at her hound with a raised eyebrow. "humm.. maybe later."

Anubis rolled his eyes and plunked down with a huff. Despite her years serving by Mozenrath's side (if you could call what she did a service) she was no magician and this little minion dabbling in her masters arts could prove fatal.

"Or we could give Mozenrath a major case of oozing acne. Oh maybe we could rot out his teeth and." Nef was getting a malignant glean in her eye close to the one Moze got at the thought of taking over Agraba.

Anubis whined and nipped at her heels. This had the desired affect as Nefret flinched and came down off her high.

"All right, all right! I know what I'm here for." Nefret flipped to the back of the book. "Besides he really didn't mean to do it. But he deserves something that will at least make him sorry for taunting me!" Nefret finally found the chapter ton hair and started skimming muttering all the way about various punishments she'd like to administer. Finally a page came into view marked simply "hair." A few pages more reviled an illustration of a pearl enameled comb with a short passage underneath. "Comb of Truth in Nature: forces natural dominance over all things deviant."

Anubis, in the strange dog way he had, gave a look that said "sounds like just the thing we need."

Nefret's eyebrows arched as she caught the meaning of the look the dog gave her. "Ya know dog, sometimes I think you're more than you seem."

The teeth of Nefret's ivory comb scraped gently over the table as she picked it up gingerly. It had been a gift from the priests of the Dendea temple at her 10th birthday. It must be said Nefret's father's death left he near penniless and everything she owned was in one way or another a gift. But she treasured a few over all: a few items of jewelry (most of all the onyx ring) her best dresses, a few luxury items she had received from Chroias, and this comb. "I don't have much of an idea what I'm doing with this spell." She muttered as she fingered the scrap of paper she'd written the ingredients on. "Moze wouldn't mind would he.." Nef wondered as a nasty grin came over her.

Nefret carefully creaked open the door of her master. Thankfully the chamber was empty of human and demon life. Her nose wrinkled as she stepped lithely over several.. Items.. left scattered on the floor from the night. On the table near the window sat innocently what she sought. A simple carved comb of fragrant wood belonging none other the Mozenrath.

Nefret picked out a few stray ebony hairs and held the comb in front of her face. "I just hope he doesn't have lice."

A gang of 6 sat at the table, Mozenrath, Chroias, Zak, Tirs, Domdi, and amazingly enough Apepe sat hunched over the very end of the table. The absence of a certain Egyptian minion had gone by without a second thought. She was after all expected to brood over her new look for quite a while. Dinner was going well since the man of the table was in an all to good mood. The gleaming grin on the sorcerers face dropped as a bang rang out. Now since everyone but one was present and accounted for the culprit of the noise was easily discerned. "Nefret!" Moze roared out.

For the second time in just a short 48 hours the lab lay in ruins, this time more completely than before. The gang hadn't seen it yet but just coming down the hall the level of destruction was evident by the smoldering door lying on the ground. Smoke poured though the blasted gap. Something else poured from inside, deliriously happy bows of laughter and the unmistakable sound of a jig being preformed from inside.

Mozenrath's lips tightened into a scowl. "She had better discovered how to make lead into gold for this!"

Chapter 256 (by Chroias)

Nefret mixed up the thick substance in it's jar as it began to froth and smoke. She didn't dare smell it for fear that she might faint and Anubis was beside her on the floor, whining curiously at her. Mepho trod over beside her, curiously poking around at ingredients. He seemed to have a knack for clawing at her hand when she was just about to make a mistake. The cat was a pain, but anyone who could assault Mirage was okay in her book.

A blackish mushroom cloud went up from the concoction and turned a deep, purple color. "Hummm." Nefret said, unsatisfied. "A bit lighter." she rummaged thought the ingredients until she came upon the powdered doves feathers. she sprinkled a bit into the concoction until the second cloud plumed, reveling a rich, plum shade of purple. "Perfect. Hey I'm getting good at this." she grinned at Anubis who rolled his eyes. "Fine, hey nobody asked you."

Nefret turned the concoction over and let a glop of it fall into her hair with a sickening smack. It felt like drool, but if it worked she'd take anything. Picking up the gadget she'd found to help her with this, nefret began to chant the words in a slilted voice, as one who didn't know the language well. "Kc'iuq pu em pleh dan e'moc esaelp. Kc'erw a si ri'ah ym ytuaeb fo sydal ho!"

Her head began to tingle pleasantly as she shivered with the sensation.It felt like a million tiny fingers were massaging the gel into her head. Humming happily, she sat in a chair to wait.

And the door busted wide open, Mozenrath and Chroias standing on the outside.

"Moze!" Nefret said and tried to grin.

But it was apparent that her master was in no mood for joking. He looked from the bubbling concoction on Nefret's head, to the ruined test tubes and cylinders on the table, to the mess she'd made of the area, and then to the gloop she'd managed to get on the book. He looked at his minion with those stunning black eyes. One motion with his finger telling her to come to him was all Nefret needed to know she was in deep.

~~~~~~~~

The ugly color was gone from her head, and that was about the only thing Nefret had to be cheerful about. Mozenrath was drilling the punishment down on her hard. she'd already managed to clean up the work area of all that foul smelling stuff. But Mozenrath hadn't been satisfied. She'd had to re- alphabetize the library, replace the ingredients she'd used, cook dinner, polish Mozenrath black wood throne, and then confined to quarters for the next two days. She twirled a lock of hair in the miror. At least her hair had come out of this alright. It's wonderful purple sheen was back and that gloopy stuff had given it wonderful body and a glossy shine.

She was putting the last coat of wood polish on the throne when Chroias walked by. The children had left soon after dinner, sensing that a nasty conversation was in the air and had telepathically said goodbye to their favorite aunt. "Little brats only wanted to avoid my guilt trip looks." Nefret mused in her mind as Chroias picked up a rag and began to help her polish the chair.

"Well was it worth it?" the demoness asked and arched an eyebrow as Nefret flipped her hair.

"Oh most defiantly." she grinned." I have my beautiful hair back, the kids are gone, and it seems like the Citadel is settling back down for a while." she sighed as she polished the seat. "I hope he sits down and gets polish all over his robes." she muttered and Roi laughed.

"Well you did get that stuff out of the lab without permission. I don't even do that." Roi said and helped with the armrest.

"Like you need to!" Nefret convicted. "Anywho, I was going to clean it up when i was done. He didn't have to get so jumpy." she flexed her hands. "My fingers are near worn to the...stubs." she avoided using the word bones for the moment in case Mozenrath happened by. No use pushing things.

"I know. I went along behind you too make sure nothing got accidental. Some of that stuff you were using is deadly when mixed improperly.'" she gazed at her friend with the same kind of love she'd have shone a sister. "You know thats part of the reason he was so mad. He was afraid you might have mixed something incorrectly and he'd have found charbroiled minion."

"I figured just by that look. I don't like being treated like an incompetent around you all." Nefret patted Anubis on the head and Chroias scoped up Mepho.

"Nef you're not incompetent, far from it. You just aren't..."she searched for a kind word. "fluent in what we do. Moze has taught you a bit and given you a ring to protect yourself." roi mentioned and looked at the little used trinket.

"But it's not enough. I DO NOT want to be a sorceress, but I'd like to know something!" she growled.

"Well work on that later. Moze say's he's got one more job for you to do before you are sentenced to your room." roi teased her friend. "I'll come and help if ya want."

"Thanks." Nefret said, meaning it. "Nice to have a friend like you around."