Disclaimer: You know the drill, I don't own the Teen Titans, but I do own the names Kenneth Aftaka, the characters Gale-gard, Maeson, Melissa, the prince, the girl and Malchior's look, not to mention "new" name. I also own the elves, the Opera House, and the Underground City. Other then that … I think that's all I own. So buzz off!

A/N: WOOH! I'm back baby! Yeah! The next chapter (dancing with joy, but stops to notice her viewers giving her weird looks and glares for the late update) heh … heh … heh … hey there … um … sorry for the lateness of this chapter. But you guys already know about my other stories and how I have to keep up with them to

Don't kill me! I said I was sorry, look see to make it up to you guys this chapters very long, see check it out! 12 pages ladies and gentlemen, twelve! All for you guys. But really though, thank you all for reviewing, it at least lets me know I'm not forgotten.

So here's the twelfth chapter.

Enjoy!

--

One Thing After the Other

Oh … shit … was the only thing X could think of when he saw the Opera House, now shut down because of the tragedy of one of the actors suicide in the middle of the show. Hung himself and everything. Though that wasn't the reason he was so pensive about this particular place. Because when he was younger, his brother used to take him here and teach him how to rip off the rich folk. Stealing a couple of suits and parading around acting like there were the sons of Earls/Counts/Dukes/and other's such as that.

Though that memory wasn't what fazed him, no, it was what he knew the place's mapped out tunnels and honeycombed underground walkways. All built in the early 18th century, the maze had roads parallel to the roads above in Jump City. That was how old and useful it was if there was ever a threat of war. The honeycombs would act as bomb shelters. But …

One day …

When he was playing with his brother in the underground tunnels … Kenneth fund something … a door of sorts. Now the thought of a door was rather plain, but to him it was odd, because the whole tunnels should have been open, and the door was an out of place obstacle. Kenneth closed his eyes, the memory of when he tried to open that door blurred out, because he blacked it out … the next day after Fernaco found him Kenneth's body was wracked with pain.

Bruises and scratch marks littered his body.

After that … Fernaco never brought him back to the Opera House.

Though now that Kenneth thought back to it … he remembered Fernaco was acting funny … off … odd … strangely. Almost as if, He knew something … he knew what was behind that door! What was behind that door?

So deep in thought, X wasn't knocked out of it until he felt the back of his knee kicked and he was down on the ground on his knees. Growling he glared back to the Elf that did it, wanting to open his mouth and retaliate verbally he was unable to because of the silver duct tape that was wrapped around his mouth. His mask already torn off and shattered, X was the only one conscious enough to watch everything.

To observe, because Rorek was out, Malchior was slowly dieing of blood loss, and Raven was out. X rolled his eyes, Mystics … magic, babies all ya'll! They were backstage where he knew where the passageway latch was hidden. If memory served correctly it … were … right under the … Golden Dragon of Fortune, X looked over to the Golden Dragon that rested just off to the side in the open where everyone could see.

Classic … put it where it can be seen.

The trick of being inconspicuous, stand out so much that it doesn't stand out at all.

Though the Elves probably knew what was under it, because the way – What's your name again … Gale-gard? Yeah, Gale-gard the dark elf, sat on the dragon, X's dagger in his hands picking his nails with the tip. X hoped he'd chop his finger off, the cocky bastard. On either of his sides, Melissa, and Terra stood, the look of pure void and dullness.

X snorted, Weak minded idiots.

"Weak minded idiots aren't they?" Gale-gard smirked, and X had to raise a brow in wonder if the elf could read minds. Hell Raven, Rorek, and Malchior came close to doing it, what was stopping this guy from reading minds? Wouldn't he want that? X shook his head inwardly, Nah, he can't read minds … otherwise he'd know that I know about the – "You've seen the entrance haven't you? The door that you so curiously opened without big brother's permission … isn't that right?"

Now it was time to panic, amber eyes widened in confusion and bewilderment, Shit! Does he … can he? How'd he … what the fuck! How the hell did he know about my brother?

Right now X so wanted to scream at him, but the best he could do was growl and glare. Which he thought was rather pathetic, but hey the cuffs they put on him were picking-proof, he could even slide his wrist out of it. Again, another irritancy to add to the list of shit X had to deal with. Now would be a good time for Malchior to wake up and bust the cuffs, cause hell, he was a dragon. Supposedly the most powerful in the dark arts, X scoffed at that. Looking down at the dragon he sneered.

If his – Malchior's – wound weren't treated he really would bleed to death and if X's memory served right, Raven said that if either Rorek or Malchior died the other would die with him. So, that would leave X SOL, because he knew that Raven couldn't fight for beans! She was a defensive person, not offensive.

"Can you remember what had scraped you back when you were child? Aftaka?" kicked out of his thoughts once more, X looked up to glare at the cocky elf that shifted from the Golden Dragon to stand and snap his fingers to Terra. The would-be Sixth Titan. The blonde "snapped" to attention and listened to her master's orders, which was to undo his duct-tapped mouth. X held his breath and his tongue when she reached for one side then ripped it off.

It hurt like hell!

Not like he was going to admit it, or show it, but it hurt! Stashing away the memory X made sure to get her back for doing this to him later. Even though she was under a spell, the smug look on her face told him that she was a enjoying being controlled, Bitch, was the only thought that came to mind for X.

The thief looked up at Gale-gard, "Alright man, I give, what the hell? I don't get it? You want to Red Sea Sapphire, we don't have it. You drag the three of us to the Opera House, for what? Then you know too much of my past for me to be comfortable with, how the hell? You better answer one of my questions right now, because frankly I'm really agitated, being tied up just ain't my thing if you catch my drift slick."

Gale-gard snickered, "For a thief you just talk too much."

X shrugged, "What can I say? Silence just isn't something I'm accustomed to."

"So I've noticed."

"You know, I'll "So have noticed" your ass if you don't knock it off with the head trip games. Now tell me what I need to hear or … or … or I'll make irritating sounds, and I'll do it too, I ain't scared of you man." X, had no shame, or dignity, hell he was a thief. What the hell kind of dignity or pride or moral out look on life can he have with the life he led?

Nothing, that's what.

Happenstance glance to Rorek brought up another mystery he forgot to mention, though he wasn't sure if he should mention it. After all … they didn't really suggest that they new him through Rorek … unless Rorek sold him out. No … Melissa sold him out, not Rorek. Why would Rorek – the Prince of all Elves jeopardize his title and tell that he was dealing with a thief? What was it that X was missing?

His brother …

Fernaco … The bastard knows something … knew something … it had to be linked with Fernaco, because why the hell would this dark elf be pestering me!

Gale-gard called Terra back to the side, enjoying the look on Kenneth's face, stretching from confusion, to frustration, and then to down right rage … he actually gave Robin the Boy-Wonder Leader of the Teen Titans a run for his money. Seriously. The thief wasn't a hero, but he wasn't a villain either, and he wasn't a force to trifle with. Red X/Kenneth Aftaka, younger half brother to the infamous Fernaco Aftaka, was proving to be something Fernaco himself could never accomplish in life.

Sure the guy became a legend in the thieving world … but not like Kenneth …

Not at all like his brother … Gale's smirk took on a strange smile, one that made X uneasy. Laced with pride, amusement, and a sense of admiration with a hint of curiosity. X glared, "What's so funny bright-eyes?"

Gale-gard blinked, as if realizing he had been staring, the elf tilted his head and coughed looking off to the rest of the stage he sighed and shrugged, "Oh nothing … just simple memories … you look so much like your brother. Though you have fire … spirit … an unshakeable attitude that is one in a million … something your brother never had. Which is why I find it strange that you'd actually risk your life to save this girl. It just … riddles me."

"…" X raised a brow then snorted, ignoring the fact that this elf knew his brother for now he shrugged, and shook his head, "Hey … look, I don't give a damn what my brother did to you in the past or what that has to do with me, but I know one thing. I didn't do anything to you, and neither did Rorek. I thought he was you pointed eared peoples' Prince or something like that."

Gale-gard's eyes widened, as if insulted or shocked, before he started to laugh. Obviously X felt kind of stupid for something that made all the "villains" laugh, "No, no, no Aftaka … Rorek isn't our Prince … no … never, never in a million years would we ever allow for that to happen."

"Really … interesting … but aren't you an elf?"

The drow sneered and jumped off the Golden Dragon walking up to X, the thief watched him carefully, eyeing his dagger to make sure to brace incase the dark elf tried anything freaky. Going behind X, Kenneth stilled when he felt the blade smooth over his wrist, not the sharp side thank whatever god was taking care of him today. No … but the flat side, the sharp edge cut like paper through the solid bound that held his hands together.

Free …?

Kenneth looked at his hands and rubbed the wrists together to get some feeling back in them as he turned to look up at Gale-gard. Tensing when the elf held out his hand for him to take. The thief declined it silently by getting to his feet, still rubbing his wrists he glared at the elf, when he went down to cut off Raven's binds. Watching as he turned her over and moved the hair from her face. Gale-gard sighed and shook his head, "I may be a … as you are now accustom to think that … a drow. But I am no elf under the rule of the Queen."

"And yet you help her try to get the Sapphire that once again I'll state we don't have," X confirmed a little bit more calmly, but was getting uneasy with his close proximity to Raven, the elf was lingering on her a bit to much and X wasn't sure if he should open his mouth about it. Least he fined himself in a bind again.

Gale-gard shrugged, "Yes …" he paused and turned to X, getting up he looked down to Malchior and snickered, "… but I do so to keep my clan alive, we need the money and the rations … Prince Rorek may not know it, but the Queen sure does and she's keeping it from him. After a thousand years the wizard still hasn't a single clue to what's going on around him."

"So is that why you want to kill him?" X looked down to Malchior, "because you know, I'm pretty sure this dragon over here is dieing and if he dies, so does Rorek."

"Death? Kill the prince?" Gale-gard chuckled and shook his head; X was starting to get agitated at being laughed at every few seconds or at every word that came out of his mouth. Though the elf wasn't too humorous about the current set of words, he just thought to lighten the mood. Ironic really, "No … it's impossible to kill a dragon with a mere shot of liquid acid. Don't forget Kenneth that he's still in his humanoid state; the black blood you're seeing is his scales being dissolved by the acid. A common allergic reaction when in direct contact of the acid to Dragons, the fumes are the ones that are keeping him KOed. As long as the sources is out, then the follower should stay down."

"And Raven? What about her?"

"What about the Titan?" Gale-gard answered all to fast, "She's … here … her curiosity being satisfied … though I don't think that she'll be very happy to wake up and find herself in the Underground City."

"City?"

The dark elf grinned down at Raven, then shot up to X, "You are just so lost aren't you my friend."

X growled, "Maybe I won't be if you quit talking in riddles!"

"Riddles … heh … Maeson!" the elf from before stepped up, and Gale-gard gestured to X, "Take him to the entrance, but be sure the others are careful with the Prince and the Dragon."

"And the girl?"

"Don't worry about her, she's mine to deal with."

X didn't like this, not one bit; these elves were going to separate the four of them. However he kept his mouth shut for the sake of Raven, who knows what the hell that elf wanted with her, but he was sure that it wasn't just to talk. It worried the thief, but it didn't distract him from being observant of his surroundings. While being pushed to the Golden Dragon that sprung up to show a hidden door it sat upon, X looked back to the elves that lifted Malchior up.

All too engulfed to keep their balance they all failed to notice the dragon's wing twitch, but X saw it. He even saw the claw of the wing reach up to his ropes and no doubt began to slice away. Though he hoped Malchior wasn't stupid enough to spring too soon into action, because X's curiosity had just been breeched. He now had to know what was up with this Underground City. How it is that Gale-gard knew his brother, and how it is that Fernaco could have kept all this from him …

First Azarath … the Shadow Dagger … the Red Gem … the Red Sea Sapphire … the Opera House … and ditching me with Stephanie …? Now the elves … the dragon … the prince … and the Titan … what's next? No … wrong question … what happened a thousand years prior to now …?

--

It was in color …

It was beautiful …

It had sound …

It sounded …

Strange …

Another of the dreams … about the same person but with different sequences … this time the theme was daylight, broad daylight. Something different, though she couldn't quite place if it was good or bad, she just had to watch and see what this dream was going to be about. The man … she could see him now … his face, his attire … he was of Royal Blood. How she knew? Because it was just the way he held himself.

An aristocrat, out upon his balcony looking down at the courtyard were all the maids and Ladies of higher status used the maids to beautify themselves. He was watching and the Ladies all thought he was looking upon them. However … he was watching what was forbidden … the maiden that dared to defy, directly order him around like another aristocrat, and taking every opportunity available to her in order to make his life a living hell.

It had been like this since the night when he was too find a Princess of his own – the night failed miserably and his mother was in a dishevel because of it. The maid … the human … her long wavy black … nearly dark blue or violet hair pulled up and back hidden under a rag that composed of her "uniform" still failed to hide the beauty that he knew was under all her sweat. She wiped her brow and continued her work in the garden. Getting dirty was never a problem with her as he'd so noticed.

Her light amber eyes looked up to the sky and he could have sworn he saw a glimmer of sadness and regret in her beautiful hews. Why was she so sad? He wished he knew … but it wasn't right for a man of his status to converse with a maid. It would be too scandalous, even for him.

The wind blew passed and his long dark blonde/light brown hair blew with it.

His long pointed ears listening to the whispered song of the smooth wind embracing and soothing his worries for the time being. However he heard something odd. A voice … but it was not of the wind or the gossiping leaves. Higher upon his palace perched as a gargoyle, yet lying on the stone griffin like a lazy black panther.

The High Ranked Elf took out his sword waiting for the sorcerer to prance, "Explain yourself, why do you trespass upon my lands. Dragon."

Dark metallic eyes gleamed under the sunlight, cat slit and still reptilian. Fangs produced from the devilish grin on his lips, silky shot black hair pulled into a low rat-tail with strands still falling to cover over his eyes. He jerked his head back to move it and the humanoid dragon chuckled, "Dear Prince of Elves … do you fear me so?"

Slithery, sly, sneaky, and almost cruel was his tone, yet it was hypnotic, but the Prince stilled and held his ground as leathery demonic wings shot up with a sudden jerk. However calmed and gently wrapped around its owner, the Prince sneered, "Leave at once, none of your hellfire words can disturb me."

"Oh-no prince … I think differently," in a flash the disguised dragon disappeared, but reappeared leaning up against the door that was slammed shut. The only door that lead back into the palace. Down below the Ladies and their Maids in Waiting gasped and looked up. Frightened by the sudden sound, they all whispered and looked amongst each other. The human woman in the garden slowly stood up, unfazed by the sound she dusted her hands and looked up to the balcony where the Prince watched her and smirked.

"You come to challenge me then?"

The dragon slowly blinked, then snickered and shook his head, "No my friend … but my "hellfire words" will," a deep breath, the dragon pushed off the wall and gracefully leapt to the beginning of the stone guard rail up against the palace. Standing there for a moment and glancing down at the garden where he saw the human girl at the pond tending to the fish he raised a brow and looked back to the unsure prince, "the human girl … she is lovely is she not?"

Suddenly the Prince took on a whole different tone, "Girl?"

"Yes, the one that has caught your fancy …" the dragon smirked, a rumble in his chest raised to his throat and produced through his lips a snort of laughter, "she's something else that one … maybe it be her involvement with the Elfin Women of the palace, or her flaming heart full of spirit and spite. What be it may, I have heard of a saying … "Hell hath no fury for women's scorn"."

The prince glared and lowly whispered harshly as if to be sure the other elves wouldn't hear him, "Knot that foul tongue of yours dragon or I shall do it for you. The human is nothing to me, but another maid in the household. Leave her be."

"Yet you are so willing to protect her from a harm that hath not come for her!" the dragon snorted, his metallic eyes taking on a whole new gleam, "Her vengeful spirit is not for you my friend … no … but for a family that dwell in another time … another world … another place … a place where she had summoned me to be her Guardian and her messenger. She sends me to call upon you, the Prince to help her complete her heart and make her whole once more. She will not stop until you have agreed to be her partner in a pursuit to free her family of slavery to the evil that is known as Scathe, the Fire Demon, the Incarnation of Evil. Will you help her, or won't you?"

"If you be her Guardian, why not you go to retrieve her enslaved family?"

The dragon glared and growled a low snarl. Fangs growing and eyes boring in to the Prince's soul smoke filtered out of his nose and corner of his sharp teethed mouth, "I be not a pet to full fill my master's every demand! I am merely her messenger under control for now until her task is complete. So unless I must use force, I am giving you a chance to agree on your own free will! Will you or will you not come to Azarath to free her family? Yes … or no. Which is it? Because as far as my ears can hear, these walls whisper of great darkness with in your family … my contract to the girl is a contract for life, and if you make mines a living hell I shall make sure you suffer the same fate.

"You mother is not as pure in heart as her people make her out to be … tell me prince. Is the army she's raising for protection of her people, or for the unnecessary slaughter of countless Moriquendi? Do you have a hand in it? Or shall I start to fill the girl's vengeful spirit of even more spiteful hate? Humans … they are so –" the dragon's words seized when the Prince leapt and with the intent to slice the dragon's throat. Yet the creature had flipped over the Prince and landed crouched on the balcony, his wings still wrapped around his shoulders. The Dragon stood up and snorted, "A shame you loose your temper so quickly."

"My temper is in check, beast," the Prince huffed and put his sword back where it belonged. In its sheathe, looking over his shoulder to the dragon he glared, "I shall do what she asks of me, but only for her. This Scathe … is no demon to be trifled, and my mother … in turn for freeing you shall help me do one last thing once we return from Azarath."

The dragon raised a brow, "What may that be? I see no reason for me to be in debt to you."

"The jewel that rests upon my mother's breast is our family heirloom," the prince turned and leaned against the rail, crossing his arms over his chest as the dragon tilted his head trying to understand the elf as best he could. Through their different native tongues and accepts made it hard for either to understand the other. The message got across well enough, "If anything is to happen … find the jewel whenever you please and hold it with you. What's in it shall never be set free."

"Treasure …" the dragon smirked, "… I do so love treasure … very well; it's a deal then your highness. Have a good day."

"Wait a moment … what be your name, so I can be sure to know whom I am dealing with here exactly."

"… What be my name indeed … Malchior."

"Malchior? As in Malchior'oru Ellris'omus?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

--

He couldn't here her, but he could see her lips moving to form the name that only the Prior Prince and the Dragon himself knew. Gale-gard, raised a brow and thought for a moment, what exactly he was going to do with the Titan. After all, Kenneth was right … she really had no say in this matter … or did she? It was too early for the drow to tell, but he knew one thing was for certain, to get all four to play on his side and to help retrieve the Red Sea Sapphire.

It was a must!

It was the only other way possible to start this whole thing over. To somehow turn the tables on the past and right what was so dreadfully wrong. Even now he still couldn't understand how it was it all ended the way it did. How could his ancestries not have foreseen the error in the timeline? To have his whole race almost nearly completely wiped out because of the idiotic ness of the past?

It was infuriating!

Gale-gard shook his head, calming himself down he sighed and looked to the moving ceiling of the underground honeycomb maze. Okay, so the ceiling itself wasn't moving, he was, but still … it moved and he lost himself from his worries; never good to work on an over stressed mind.

"Gale," the elf stopped when a connection was made from one of the guards outside the old worn out Opera House. Closing his eyes he was allowed to semi-possess the elf and see what he was seeing. Drenched in the down pouring rain that was slowly slowing down once the sun decided to tuck itself away for the night. He allowed for the elf's thoughts fill him, "Gale … I think the girl sent a message to her other friends. The Titans' movements have suddenly begun to turn in our direction. What shall we do?"

"Keep to yourself, they do not know where we are, so do not try anything! I'll destroy her communicator, that's probably the only way they're tracking her."

"Yes sir."

Back into his own mind, Gale-gard looked down and noticed Raven's eyes were open and in a blur of movement she sent a hand to his forehead and punched him square in the face. Floating the air, Raven used as much power as she could muster to rip apart the ground and throw a large slab of earth towards him. Yet the elf was faster to come through from her punch and dodged, "Clever girl."

The echo of the shattered rock went through out the tunnel to the point where X along with Maeson and the other elves heard. Maeson pulled out his blaster and gestured to the other elves, "Keep moving, I'll find out what's going on and you."

X blinked and looked around to make sure he wasn't pointing at anyone else. playing dumb he pointed to himself, "Who me?"

"Yes you, don't try anything stupid."

"Rodger dodger." X saluted and once Maeson ran off he left him standing with five elves, all of them glaring at him to continue down the tunnel. The thief shrugged, "Hey man, I'm just here because I'm here, you lead the way. Or better yet, why don't we announce a new leader. Whaddya say to that? Malchior!"

Suddenly the dragon roared and spun to action, wrenching himself free of the shocked elves that were thrown to the walls. Rorek did the same and took advantage of the bewildered elves, grabbing one and slamming his head to the wall and kicking another in the gut. In no time the three of them were back-to-back and glaring at the elves that didn't look too happy by their surprise attack.

"Where's Raven?" Malchior growled, holding his side, everything hurt like hell, but he was willing to stand it all for freedom.

X glanced to him nervously, he didn't know how long the dragon could hold up, "Back with Gale-gard down the comb where the entrance is. Just follow your nose man, but I think we're going to need you."

"No," Rorek huffed, shaking his head still trying to shake the dizziness from Malchior's loss of blood and the concussion he prayed wasn't forming he took a deep breath, "These are low ranked elves … we can take them, Malchior get Raven!"

"Counthrous! Speltrex!" Malchior wasted no time launching a good dose of magic to two of the elves that dared to block his way to Raven, seeing no choice the two dodged out of the way, but as soon as they did, Malchior measured the sides of widthe of the wall and nodded. He could do it. Running down, the elves pulled out blasters and started to fire at the dragon that jumped and took flight.

Rorek erected a barrier to shield the dragon, while X took care of the other three behind the wizard, "Alright … so, um … who goes first?"

The first elf came at him and X made a simple sidestep, but with his Chaotic at a half tank he had to use this stuff wisely. Gritting his teeth he sprayed the stick adhesive to the charging elf, the turned to keep the other two at bay threw X-plosives (I couldn't resist:P). From behind, the two elves that Rorek took on were doing a bang up job with their teamwork.

Rorek, braced when they charged their magic spells into their weapons – by the way he hadn't a single CLUE that was possible! Then with the pull of the trigger released the spells. With no choice, but to defend he shot up a barrier, but he wasn't fast enough to make it strong enough so it shattered his barrier and threw him back to X. He could feel his clothing incinerating and his powers being canceled, the only thing he could do was to pray he'd live through something as harsh as this.

An arm wrapped around his side and Rorek fund his body yanked away from the bight hot power. Thrown to the wall, Rorek shook his head and got up to see X holding out both hands using up his Chaos Energy to a dangerous level in other to live through the combined spell. The three other Elves he had easily taken care of, strapped down and pinned with enough red sticky goo to harden and act as cocoons.

Rorek braced when there was a huge explosion of brilliant arrays of bright hot light. X's chaos energy and the elves' magic combined was too much to take and thus erupted into a blast strong enough to bring down the foundation of the honeycomb. Their area shook and crumbled, X looked up and yelped when a large chunk of the roof came down in front of him.

"Crap! Rorek! Get up! We gotta get out of here!" the human shouted over the rumbling and Rorek nodded in agreement, both the wizard and the thief took off down the hall forgetting about the other elves, but they just had to get away from the crumbling foundation. Which meant, they hadn't a single idea where they were going!

The rumbling of the ground didn't go unnoticed by Malchior, how had his feet firmly planted on the ground holding a knocked out Maeson by the collar. Malchior glared down the hall and growled, What the hell did those idiots do again?

"Maeson!" jerking around to the voice he knew too well to be the dark elf that dared to use tricks to – wait … Malchior seized all thoughts about trickery. Heaven knew he was just as slimy as the drow that came to a skidding stop in front of Malchior. Raven hovering behind him as if getting ready to strangle the elf that was too shocked to remember.

Malchior kept his mouth shut – surprisingly – as Raven jumped the elf and locked her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waste to keep herself from being flipped over. Malchior chuckled at the scene, "Amusing how you could let my sweet little Raven over power you."

"Damn it Malchior! Help me out here already! This isn't as easy as it lo – AAAHHH!" Malchior jumped to the left when Raven was suddenly sent flying through the air, catching her, the angle she fell wasn't a good one and knocked the two of them senselessly to the floor. Raven's hood fell and her head was pounding, Malchior sat up with Raven in his lap, his hair all messy, they both looked at each other then back at Gale-gard, "Malchior you better have a plan! And what the hell was that noise down the hall?"

"I'm certain it has to be the cause of Rorek and the human, now let me up," for a moment Raven shot him a look of irritation, but kept to herself for now and got up. Letting Malchior gently pushing her to stand behind him, the sorceress rolled her eyes, Oh please, "You heard that Gale? That was the sound of your precious city being blocked off, now how are you ever going to save your kind from extinction. Isn't that what you brought Rorek here for? For ransom to the Queen?"

"Malchior … what are you talking about?" Raven raised brow.

The dragon silenced her with a harsh shh. Again, it agitated her.

But not as much as it agitated Gale-gard with the words that were coming out of his mouth, "Ransom? Oh please Malchior, you should know me better then that … ransom, kidnapping, and demands are not my style so to say … guess again, because I'm pretty sure that if Rorek ends up on the wrong end of the rumble my kind will kill him and death to him means death to you and I don't think you want that now do you?"

Stomped.

Yes … that was a miss … but that didn't stop Malchior's ever moving head from thinking, "Maybe … but I don't have any attachments to you … so … Tembel Murcrous!"

Raven cringed when Malchior's aura swirled and danced around her, grabbing onto his shoulder to help keep her steady, she instead felt like falling in a faint weakness. Little did she know Malchior's own spell grew stronger, and his metallic black eyes slit to a reptilian gleam. His fangs showing from the grin on his lips as he sucked in the power that Raven fed to him.

Maybe unwillingly, but power was power, and it was his addiction.

However, through her power he could feel her weakness and as it pained him to do so, he stopped taking her life force and ended his spell, scooping her up in his arms he ran down the hall and spread his wings, his power trip gone and his worries vanished. Gale-gard was going to be distracted for now, but he still had to hurry to get to Rorek, pushing even faster, Malchior looked down at Raven and sighed in relief, she was safe …

Though he couldn't explain it, but it was all that mattered to him.

Raven clung to Malchior as if he was her only life support, eyes closed she was exhausted, this whole day was hectic and the worse part of it was … it still wasn't over. Her grip around his neck tightened when he went faster forehead resting on his shoulder a flash of a memory that wasn't hers went through her eyes.

A memory of a girl crying her eyes out and begging for guidance from the spirits beyond, only to have her prayer granted and she had the chance to cry into the arms of someone who was assigned to be her protector. Guardian, and contract servant until her ravenous soul was satisfied and he knew … he knew her deepest darkest desire.

Revenge …

He shall make sure she gets it if only to be free from their contract bound.

The girl, the prince, the queen, the family, the dream … and the dragon … Malchior'oru Ellris'omus … Raven though distantly, as Malchior slowed his pace to hover over the sight of chaos that had Red X and Rorek written all over it. The dragon snorted and flew over it following their scent … but Raven kept quiet – duh, she's still cursed – keeping her thoughts to herself as she repeated his name once more, but louder in thought, Malchior'oru Ellris'omus … so … you knew all along … you knew what this whole thing was about, you knew but you never told. Both you and Rorek lied to me … you I can understand … but Rorek? Just goes to show you really don't know a guy. I think the only one here that's really telling the truth is Kenneth … but he's still a thief … you lied Malchior. Why do you always have to lie? Why couldn't you have just told us all that you knew what was going on – from the start! Even without these strange dreams that I'm having … I just know I'd find out you'd be lieing … you always lie!

"Malchior put me down." A direct demand that Malchior had to shake his head and give the violet eyed maiden a strange look.

"What?"

She glared, why was she mad? "I said put me down. Now. I can fly myself."

Lost … Malchior shrugged and touched down, letting her down, she practically jerked herself away from him and got back into the air, following Rorek's aura signature. Malchior tilted his head, not quite sure what to think, but shrugged it off and looked up head, deciding to run from here on out. Not to far from them Kenneth and Rorek both sat on opposite sides of the large honeycomb cavern in front of a large Gothic arch door.

"Sheesh, you people take forever in the freakin' day to show up," X sneered at Malchior's dry expression and Raven's placid one. A strange vib coming off her, X didn't have to be a mystic to feel it, "alright … there's something behind this door that my brother knows about, but never told anyone … Malchior. Care to volunteer to open up first? The last time I was here something grabbed me and nearly killed me if it wasn't for my brother to save my dumb ass."

A sarcastic retort was in order, but Raven silenced them all as she walked up to the door and put a hand to it. Suddenly shadowy tentacles shot up from all over the edges of the doors, X and jumped back, Rorek backed up but held out a white glowing white palm, "Lithrom!"

From his palm shot out a bright spot of light and the tentacles vanished, Raven took her had off the door and turned to the men in the room, "Life Snatchers, X if you know what's good for you don't touch anything you see behind this door, stay close to us and don't wander off. Basic instructions that you should be smart enough to follow, other then that, keep your eyes peeled … there's bound to be more worse things than Life Snatchers beyond this door if we are to get to the Underground City."

X saluted, "Ma'am yes, ma'am … Underground City … can this get even more corny?"

"Well the name does suit," Rorek sneered as he dusted his shoulder from the dirt and dust that fell on it.

Malchior kept his eyes on Raven; she was acting strange … what was wrong with her he wondered. She glanced to him, but immediately looked away and it was then he knew. The problem wasn't her … it was him … he did something to upset her … but what? Malchior was at a loss … because for the split second she looked at him he saw a twinge of what he had prayed he'd never have to see in her eyes again.

Distrust.

--

Whoa … let me see … there was the talking with the elf and X about his brother … the Raven Dream sequence … the action … more talking … and a little power sucking on Malchior's part … the Raven sadness, the weird door … and the more talking … hmm … did I miss anything?

Well … if I did you could drop me a review and tell be about ... you know … what'cha think of course. Other then that I think all my talking here is done.

See ya in the next chapter!

L8er Daez!