A/N: Whew! Long chapter. Compared to the other fics, though, that's nothing. *grin* You guys have sat through longer, I know. Enjoy and please review!

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Lecia scowled as she looked at the map, tracing the lines with her fingers and trying to see past Val's wing. I think we need to head south, she called to the dragon, looking behind her briefly. Gorran was peering at the earth below them, Kerra gripping him firmly from behind. The girl had her eyes squeezed shut, her face pressed against Gorran's back. Her fingers were white where she was gripping him, and she looked absolutely terrified. Of course, she looked like that every day. Alfred was seated behind her, occasionally rubbing her back and murmuring to her.

Even more south? Val rumbled, and she reached down and stroked his feathery neck. A sound thundered deep within him, sounding almost like a purr. Okay, okay, he grumbled, and tilted his wings as they changed directions.

They flew for a few more hours before Val started to fatigue, but by then they were over the ocean. The sea stretched beneath them like a blue, shimmering canvas, uninterrupted except by the occasional gull or boat. Sunlight glinted off the water, forcing her to squint, but she finally spotted what she was looking for. she cried, her voice ripped away from her by the wind of their passage.

None too soon, Val replied, and began his descent, his dark wings unfurling to their full length as he commenced gliding.

Lecia laughed, thrilled to be at their destination, and turned to grin triumphantly at her brother. His amethyst eyes were wide, his fiery curls whipping about in the wind, exposing the two small moles on his forehead, near the hairline. His full, red lips parted in an answering smile, his eyes sparkling. She wanted to gather him up and hug him like she did when he was a truly little boy. She was about to do just that when Val uttered a cry and lurched to the left, sending them into a spin. What's wrong? she shouted over the wind.

Got hit, he growled, flapping madly with his good wing.

Lecia clenched her jaw. They were too high for magic, and Val's efforts weren't doing anyone any good. She saw Gorran giving her a serious, flat look that was far too mature for his young face, then she moved her attention to Alfred, who already had his little sister in his arms. He caught her eyes, then glanced back toward the island they were rushing toward. he yelled, pointing at the sand.

Lecia's head whipped around as she focused on the beach, only to see it covered with hundreds of black, formless shapes. The things had glowing eyes and scrambled over one another, sometimes even merging into one another before clawing their way apart again.

What are those? Gorran shouted, face pale as his hair whipped about in the wind created by their fall.

Lecia replied just as another spell was launched their way. Lecia growled and quickly cast a barrier spell. And they're going to try to shoot us out of the sky! Get ready to bail from Val when I give the word.

You're going to just abandon me? Val roared, flapping with renewed vigor as the earth rushed up toward them.

Lecia yelled. Transform into a human just before you hit, and I'll take care of the rest.

She waited a few more seconds, watching the ground intently, then screamed at Gorran to cast his strongest spell. He threw an ice arrow into the midst of the Monsters as Lecia grabbed him and hugged him to her body. Alfred looked at her, still clutching Kerra, and glanced at the ground once more. Lecia cried, and jumped from Val's back, quickly casting a levitation spell. The four of them landed in the clear space created by the ice arrow, although it was slippery, and Lecia turned just as there was a flash of light, Val's human body appearing. Ray Wing! she screamed, sending all the power she could toward Val. He grunted, but his fall was arrested and he hit the ground gently.

Are you okay? Gorran asked, rushing over to the boy and casting a healing spell.

I'm fine, Val snorted, but his golden eyes were narrowed in pain and blood spurted from beneath his fingers.

Can you fix that? she asked her brother, who nodded silently. She looked at Alfred, who had set a pale-faced

Kerra on the ground and was holding up a barrier spell, glaring at the black shadowy Monsters throwing themselves against his magic.

Where are we, Lecia? he hissed between clenched teeth.

Wolfpack Island, she muttered, then opened a hole in Alfred's barrier.

What are you doing? he and Val cried simultaneously.

A few of the Monsters tried to attack her, but she blew them away easily. she shouted.

The Monsters renewed their attack with increased frenzy, snarling and clawing at her as she blasted them away mercilessly. She looked about, realizing they had landed quite a distance from the large mountain in the center of the island, but off to her right there was a weathered bungalow, nearly wrecked. It occurred to her to wonder who could have possibly wanted, or even attempted, to live on an island with a Monster lord, but then her attention was drawn back to the Monsters swarming around her. she bellowed and began to gather the energy for the Dragon Slave, feeling the power build in her veins until she was fairly crackling with it.

I think you've killed enough of my minions for one day, a low, smooth voice said, and the figure of a large wolf suddenly appeared in the midst of the shadow Monsters. The wolf was suddenly bipedal, with huge wings and white robes. A crown of golden spikes adorned its head, and then just as suddenly the whole apparition was gone, a tall, slender woman standing in the sand before her. Lecia felt her mind reeling, wondering if the first two images had just been hallucinations.

Val let loose a low growl behind her. Who are you? she heard Alfred say.

The woman's golden eyes swept over the group, her wolf's ears twitching slightly. You keep strange company, Granddaughter. A dragon, two white magicians, and a little boy.

The boy is Gorran, my brother, she explained, certain that this was the woman she remembered from her early childhood. The term woman wasn't precisely accurate, though, since she knew the Monster didn't actually have a gender.

The woman raised a golden eyebrow and shook her mane of golden-silver hair. She walked through the sand towards them, although her sandals made no imprint as she moved. Stopping a few inches from Gorran, she looked down at the boy, the markings under her eyes crinkling slightly as she smiled at him. Yes, I can feel his father's contribution, she murmured. She extended a tanned, slender hand, her golden bangles chiming with the motion. Hello, Gorran, she said softly. I am Xellas Metallium, the Greater Beast, your grandmother.

Gorran scrambled to his feet, his amethyst eyes wide, and gingerly took her hand. He shook it once, then bowed deeply. Lecia smiled to herself, remembering her father's lessons on how to deal with a Monster lord. Oddly enough, those lessons had focused more on manners than on displays of power, since Monster lords could sometimes be bested by pandering to their egos alone. Very pleased to meet you, Grandmother, the boy said, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead.

Xellas chuckled and withdrew her hand, her eyes smiling as her face settled into an impassive expression. I assume you didn't come all this way to meet me, she said. Nor, I suppose, to sacrifice the dragon to me. I haven't seen an Ancient dragon in a long time. I thought they were all dead.

I'm the last, Val grated, slitted eyes flickering.

Fair enough. I'm almost the last, Xellas replied. Only the three of us left, although we're in better shape than the dragons.

Val opened his mouth to say something, and Lecia quickly stepped in. You're right, Grandmother, she said. We came because we hoped you had information about our father.

Xellas stood silently for a moment, her stillness unnatural, and her eyes slowly examined the youngsters before her. she murmured, pointing at Alfred. You're the scrying boy.

The color drained from Alfred's face, but he executed a neat little bow just the same. Yes, ma'am. I apologize for prying.

It was on my request, Lecia added.

Xellas regarded them all coolly for a moment more. No harm done. I behaved rather rashly, I'm afraid. I take it you were not too troubled by the repurcussions of your spying?

We handled ourselves to the best of our ability, Lecia answered smoothly.

The corner of Xellas' mouth curled upward. The expression would have made her even more radiant, had she been a human woman, but beneath her cold, golden eyes the effect was somehow sinister.

Do you know where Daddy is? Gorran blurted.

Come this way, Xellas said with a gesture. It's impolite to chat outside.

Lecia herded Val and Gorran while Alfred gently lead Kerra over to the Greater Beast. Xellas motioned with her hand and the chiming of bangles, and Lecia felt a tingling in her spine. They stood in a large hall, the walls dark save where torches burned in ornate sconces. Although the lack of lighting was difficult to adjust to, there were numerous hangings on the cavern walls, and many cushions and carpets at the base of a dais. Xellas climbed the three steps and sat on an intricately carved chair, that seemed to change from wood to stone to gold as they watched. They each pulled out a cusion and sat, looking up at Xellas, and finally Lecia got the sense that the Monster was waiting for them to speak. Our mother's been gone for over a year and a half, she began.

Troublesome woman, Xellas murmured. Has she managed to get herself killed yet?

Gorran flushed, but Leca noticed that he didn't seem about to say anything. No, she's quite well. The thing is, she's been looking for Daddy that whole time, but she hasn't had any luck.

Hence the scrying a few months back.

Lecia nodded. Yes. She was doing fine, but it seemed to me that we saw Daddy here.

Xellas gazed at them for so long that they all shifted on their cushions. Lecia didn't know what to say next. So is he here? Alfred finally asked.

Xellas replied.

Lecia blinked. Can we take him home?


Damn Monsters, Val snarled, beginning to rise, but Lecia stopped him with a hand on his wrist.

That's enough of that, hatchling, Xellas sighed. I'm afraid you're all my prisoners now.

Gorran cried.

Xellas shifted in her chair, crossing her long legs, the clinking of her anklets echoing through the dark room. Protocol. It wouldn't look good for me to let mortals waltz in and out of here as they please, especially if they plan taking my other prisoners with them.

Can't you just let us go this once? Alfred asked politely.

Xellas shook her head.

Gorran begged.

Xellas shook her head again.

Lecia contemplated just trying to blow a hole in the wall of the cavern and making a break for it, but somehow she didn't think that would be wise. Even if Xellas decided to spare her and Gorran, she didn't think that the other three would be so lucky.

We won't tell anybody you just let us go, Gorran explained. We could say that we escaped.

Xellas raised an eyebrow. Somehow I think that it would be more embarassing to say I was beaten by a bunch of children than to say I just let you all go. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.

But we're family! Gorran whined, obviously forgetting his manners. Lecia considered casting a sleep spell on him. She didn't want Xellas to think them a nuisance and just kill them all, after all.

That's why I'm not just killing you all, Xellas answered. Besides, it's not surprising you're here. Loyalty was always your father's strongest attribute. Well, that and sadism, but that's to be expected in a Monster.

The three teenagers gave one another uneasy looks. Somehow Lecia didn't think that any of them really expected to encounter their current situation. So how do we stop being prisoners? Alfred asked tentatively.

Xellas seemed to ponder that. Well, you could die, which is probably the likely outcome, or you could try to escape, but death is the likely outcome of that as well.

You'll never consider just letting us go?

No. You children really need to pay attention the first time.

The cavern was filled with silence. Lecia's mind raced, but she couldn't think of anything to say or do. What if Mom comes to get us? Gorran asked.

Your chances of escape would increase, but I'm wise to most of her little tricks.

The youths all looked at one another for a long moment, then Lecia shrugged. Okay, I guess if you say we have to be prisoners, we really don't have a choice.

Xellas replied.

A-are you g-going to put us in a dungeon? Kerra asked, speaking for the first time.

Xellas glanced around the throne room. No, there's no need for that. Wolfpack Island has class, after all. I'll probably just confine you to Xellos' old suite.

Lecia whispered to Gorran. That's a sub-dimension.

Gorran groaned. This is worse than being grounded, he grumbled.

Kerra burst into tears.

Oh, you're going to ruin that silk, Xellas said. When the girl didn't stop crying, she shook he head. Alright, let's get on with it. You'll be fed in a few hours, she sighed, and waved a hand.

The sensation of rushing through the air filled them and suddenly they were in a richly decorated room. There was a marble fireplace, a few velvet chairs, and a gigantic bed. Strange artifacts were placed tastefully around the room, most of them arranged to reflect the candlelight quite nicely. A large bookcase covered one wall, and another wall had a set of doors leading out onto a balcony. Xellas was nowhere to be seen.

We still didn't find out where Xellos is being kept, Val muttered.

Well, it's better than a dank hole in the ground, Alfred commented, looking around the room. Although there's only the one bed. I say the girls should get it.

And Gorran, Lecia and Kerra replied simultaneously, then laughed as Gorran blushed.

See, this is why you don't just go off and visit Monster lords, even if they happen to be family, Val said.

You were in favor of it! Lecia protested, her hands balling into fists. I explained everything to you in my letter!

You didn't say we were going to be held prisoner.

Shut up, Lecia spat, flopping down in one of the chairs. She fiddled with the ends of a lock of hair, scowling to herself as the others moved listlessly around the room.

Alfred said after long moments, At least the scrying was accurate.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?

Dad's probably in a different subdimension, Gorran mumbled. And we don't know how to get out of this one.

We'll figure something out, Alfred reassured him.