"Releasing the Hounds of Hell"

(I've now a working scanner so if you go to my profile page and hit the link to deviant you can check out my artwork which I've drawn a lot too my recent stories this one include oh and go to my Youtube account I can't make amvs but I got a lot of favorites and you'll see the one to the story title too just a suggestion I've saved all the request done for me!)

Finally after three long and agonizing weeks, which to immortals was like three hours, everything in Xanadu was back under control. If being imprisoned forever with an injusticable empire ruled by a bogus monarch's iron fist was 'under control.'

The Sacred Guardians had run themselves ragged as well as thin. Each of them tried in a vain effort to accomplish the madman's desires. Between dealing with the mayhem both within the palace as well as outside, working overtime to produce more harnesses and keep the dungeon toasty, helping Mahad recuperate as well as dealing with the ferocity of the King whose fowl mood grew with each passing second worse. It was no real surprise they're oblivious that something else, something of a very dark nature was conspiring on behind their backs.

All and sundry was beyond exhausted from slaving away so hard. Three weeks with little to no sleep or nourishment of any kind along with overtaxing their magic to the point they practically went into a coma. It was extremely dangerous to overuse your magic even if you're of Divinity. Magic came from within a person core and got its strength from their life-force. On the other hand it had its limits. Like all things in life whether that life was a mortal or immortal. Using too much at once or a lot at once with no resting cycle you could go into a coma for about month, before your body replenishes its energy. Even a fully Ascended Royal had too be cautious on how they used their magic. The Heart helped to a degree but it had its own limits as well.

King Aknamkanon wouldn't let them even have a 'coffee break.' They'd begged him time after time to consent to them some time to unwind in addition to being allowed to take it easy. He just bellowed, "Get your fucking flying asses off the ground and get my city back in order! I won't tolerate anymore incitement to rebellion from my underlings! At what time you finish bringing back order to this chaos and my city is the jewel of the universe once more then and only then are you allowed to rest! Now don't pester me again with this request!"

The Guardians just barely made it too Mahad's Lair before falling dead to the world from the sheer exhaustion they felt. They just pass out on any space on the floor they could find! Mahad used the last ounce of strength too get Mana into his bed. The little one was by the far the worst of all of them. He ran his fingers through his 'child' lengthy russet tresses before gently kissing her forehead and slipping her a piece of candy, he had stolen from Aknadin's private stash. Then he slumped down in a chair next Isis with the tips of their wings touching and fell into a dreamless slumber like the rest of his friends

Mana was tossing and turning in Mahad's comfortable double bed. After awakening from her magical slumber she had gone too see if Master Mahad was alright. What she saw horrified her, he looked worse then before she had slumbered. The dark shadow magic was ravaging him within, so he'd never fail to remember that mistakes weren't allowed here in Xanadu.

He'd saved her life with that lie. She never left Mahad side that night. She'd fallen dead to the world once more next too him only too wake up with a blanket around her. Mahad looked a bit better and it look like someone had given him some type of treatment to cure him of the dark magic still inside him.

Still she couldn't stay with him. For with him out of commission, she was forced to do all the spells work on her own, till he could get out of bed. Promising silently to herself she would do this for Mahad she began to work feverishly too do the magic asked upon her. Despite the fact it was all far too advance for her as well as having too do it all herself when it required two.

She didn't care at the time for her own health. She did what was asked of her and spent any few minutes with Mahad she could. Nevertheless due too her lack of experiences and knowledge she really had too overtaxed herself. Adding too this was the stress both outward and inward plaguing her young mind only used up her magical energy reserves faster.

For the duration of these past three weeks at the same time as she done this hellish labor her focus had been split in clean in two. While one part of her mind was focusing all of its energy on her job the other was plagued deeply by guilt, ignominy and repressed memories full of unwanted feelings.

She felt guilty that Master Mahad had been given such a punishment when, it was she, who should be dead. However this guilt of hers ran much further in her mind then anyone around at the time suspect. Whilst the her conscious mind was doing the extremely intricate in addition to primordial enchantments, her subconscious mind was reliving her childhood, full of anguish, neglect as well as ridicule.

It had started when she was attempting to formulate duplication potion to speed up the development of manufacturing additional harnesses. On the other hand her dainty hands were shaking so badly, she had spilled a bit of Mahad's liquid hair gel on the spell book. A quarter of the page was blemished and she was in such a rush to get this finished, she didn't even have time to clean it up. So it ended up taking her twice as long too make the potion. For the reason that the quarter of the piece of paper that was blemished was the half she had yet to commit to memory.

As she worked quickly to make the potion best she could from starch she was being torment by her past. Her earliest memories of her own mother had surfaced and they weren't kind at all. Her mom Oralee had called her a disgrace in addition to mistake from birth. A fluke in the "Perfect Xanadu World" that she had been suckered with.

Mana's mother Oralee was incredibly young when she escaped the fall of the original Xanadu. By the time she had gone all the way through Ascending, her personality was an extremely austere as well as proper yet jaded lady. She was extremely old-fashion and very quick to get angry but not in an explosive manner. Two things she was talented in was singing and dancing which was what her occupation was. She had zero tolerance for those with bad voice or being klutzes. Regrettably for Mana she was both. Also her mother bitterly hated magic. She would yes use magic in her own, but she simply loathed magicians and openly berated Mana for her 'foolish dreams" of being a Magician.

Mana never was able too please her mother. When she was scarcely four years old her mom took her too the Academy. Just told the Headmistress that her name was Mana and said she was nothing but an object of shame, that she was no longer gonna be responsible for. Then turned and flew off never too return. Mana had till she was barely 17 suffered day in and day out from her teachers and peers, being the unlucky victim of every malicious joke and practical joke at the Academy. She was constantly being openly sneered at in addition to being torment verbally as well as physiologically. There had been countless nights she wish she could cry but couldn't.

That had changed when Mahad had come in the hunt for an Apprentice to teach. She had spent a great deal of time at first trying too please Mahad. However after what he had just done, to save her from being made a mortal and lynched. She realized that he did love her for her, furthermore she didn't need too prove anything too him.

After some very serious consideration over many different issues regarding this particular subject, Mana had at last come to terms, with how she truly felt about both Mahad and Isis. She realized beyond a shadow of a doubt that when it came too both them her feelings where this. Feeling safe and sound as well as out of danger, cared, loved and accepted for who she was and not ridicule for what she wasn't. So as all her painful childhood memories came flooding back she was more determine then ever too make sure Master Mahad no her Father didn't have to take such a blow like that again. Nor would her real mother, Isis, have to witness her true love mutilated like that again either. It was these thoughts that kept her going even when she knew she was making herself severely sick.

She had just finishing making the last of the cursed harness when Mahad was at last well once more. He had come seeking his daughter out too see if she was alright. He was at first confused by the chaos spewing out all over his Lair. It was like a maelstrom had been unleashed while he had been comatose. With a single snap of his fingers the mess was nowhere to be found, however in the center of the floor lying lifeless was Mana. He rushed too her side hoping to Heart of Xanadu his deception hadn't been uncovered and she had paid the price.

It was at this time the rest of the Guardians came dragging their zombie like bodies in. When Isis came in and saw Mana condition she was equally horror-struck. Gently removing Mana from his arms, she then in her soothing velvet voice instructed her lover that he had too finish what remained of the magic work. She would watch over Mana and see she received the help she needed.

Reluctantly Mahad did as she commanded and left too finished Aknamkanon evil desire. He paused only long enough too see Shimon trying to help Mana whom catatonic state was a direct result of her being forced too burn the candle at both ends. Mahad for a single moment wordlessly wished he knew the Spell of Mortally. So he could eradicate the false king for doing this to his child.

He did what was left too do and then had placed Mana who looked a little better due to the elixir Shimon had given her on his bed. He had in his fury managed to get single piece of Aknadin's precious candies that he kept under lock and key. He slipped into Mana hands so she'd have something sweet when she came out of her coma. Now like all the rest of his friends he was in a dreamless slumber.

Whereas the Guardians were now laid about like corpses waiting for their graves to be dug for them, it was a much different scenario inside the King's Bedroom. Aknamkanon was lying out on his massive bed as his handmaidens did various things. Each of the maidens looked like Egyptian slave girls. They were doing everything from giving a full body massage, hand feeding him and his guests lip smacking passion fruit in addition to other delectable and performing for them.

Even Aknadin was getting his ya-yas out of this sickening display. He was especially over the moon when one of the more stunning virgin dancers, whom beared a strong resemblance to to his late wife Aida, had come up too him. The young girl really began to put on a show as she danced in front of him and then removed a sash and wrapped it around his neck and threw herself in his lap and being to jiggle her perfect bosoms in his face. Then she let her long delicate fingers crease his face as she giggled in a flirting manner along with playing with him a bit more.

Then as the music and dance picked up the young girls bared it all behaving like drunken strippers as they danced nude before the King, his brother and Camille all whom amused at the girls absurdity. Finally Aknamkanon grew bored to death and dismissed them. Although he bluntly refused to give them their garments back so they had to go take to the air naked too their cramp chamber just for one last sick laugh.

"Ah, Brother, you certainly know how to put on a great show! I loved it all so much!"

"Yes those stupid girls do anything to feel wanted and loved,"

"Well considering their background. What else is there for young girls too do in life when they've no magic or proper education but be comfier women too you? Though I do enjoy it myself with these toys of yours," quietly laughing evilly followed by with an ominous sneer asked him "Do you perhaps have some of the other gender mixed here as well?" Camille inquired in a sly manner as she flipped her long red hair. It was a Saturday so she looked like Bloom today.

"I suppose I could lend you a few of my males, but why the interest, Camille? Doesn't your Seraphim fill your heart with a fiery passion? Why would such a bewitching vixen as you require a comfier man?" inquired Aknamkanon at the same time as he slipped on his causal negligee.

"You really need to ask that?" Camille fumed as she rolled her catlike amber eyes. She placed her dainty gloved right hand on the air like she was pressing it against something. A mirror of fire erupted in showing her husband. It seemed both father and daughter where nothing more then beautiful doormats. Her handsome husband was at that moment in her shoe closet and was polishing all 200 pairs of her size four and a half shoes. But he wasn't using a rag too clean them he was using his tongue. He was obviously just Camille grinning brain-dead lackey.

"Extraordinarily handsome I will admit, but it was so easy to bend him too my will. It wasn't very fun at all. I'd him doing my every whim within a week after our marriage ceremony. So depressing if truth be told it's more fun when they squirm as you break them. Still neither you two could control your wives!" she yelled with a dramatic demonstrate her unique enchantment.

"Both of you lost them because you weren't firm enough with them! You allowed them to get too independence that they forgot their place! Now we're facing the serious consequences of that! The Prince is already endangering our magnificent dream and I strongly believe your son Seto isn't that far from straying his loyalties away either!" yelling at Aknadin whom then became engulfed with his blue flames.

"Now just wait a minute you shape-shifting bitch! My progeny is beyond a shadow of doubt loyal to the true Xanadu! He does everything he's commended to do, quickly and without question and he never once show weakness of any kind! I can personally assure you that Aida whom was very beautiful, weakness and disloyal isn't within him! He doesn't even recall her in the slights!" he bellowed too her with his Blue Phoenix ready to send her packing for her rudeness.

"You fancy a brawl Cyclops? Excellent! Let's have added it! C'mon lets see you strut your stuff!" she yelled and it would've been a clash of titans if Aknamkanon had stepped in. With a massive amount of power he moved Aknadin and Camille away from each other.

"Look don't' you two start acting like human children alright? That isn't what this private meeting is about! We're here to discuss who is to be charged with the task of obtaining my mutinous fucking progeny and returning him to Xanadu! Now can we have this take place before another eon goes by?"

"Fine let's get this meeting underway, that if you two are done having an extractions," Camille muttered cynically as she conjured up a golden throne for herself and sat in a very seductive manner.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that. Seeing how you're last Lady of Xanadu and the most loyal to our vision I won't punish you for that snide remark but tempers that tongue please Camille?" Aknamkanon told her quietly.

"Very well,"

"Good now we need a small elite team. About three or four should do adequately. Four hell hounds seeking a brainless little rabbit who won't know it's been caught in a tarp till the jaws snap tightly shut. Who do you think fits that description dear brother?"

"I volunteer Seto of course seeing how he is Atem's cousin he would be very useful. Also his Rod has the power of Mind Control which would come in very handy dealing with those repulsive humans! Also we could use that blasted Magician Mahad. He outta go and get the fucking prince seeing how it's his fault he escaped in the first place!"

"We also would be free of that embarrassing excuse for an Apprentice as well as Divan Being. What is that pathetic little urchin's name anyway? Mab? Mae? Mala? Anyway it doesn't matter because she goes where he goes! Beside Mahad's Ring can locate the Prince's Puzzle. I suggest we add that blasted Isis as well. With the power of Foresight held within her damn Necklace, it would make this hunt go faster and I don't need too remind you two Neanderthals time isn't on our side this time!" Camille hissed wrathfully too the men with her long red hair flying around.

"Geez, woman! Don't you think we both know that already!? Without a doubt the Prince has already begun too, Ascended, in addition to that tiny predicament whatever those vile as well as despicable swine's are doing too contaminated him with their mendacity is threatening my brother's control of the Heart!" barked Aknadin as all their eyes gazed at the Heart around Aknamkanon neck.

Within the past three weeks the Heart's usual dull as well as lifelessness appearance was progressively shifting in a direction they didn't favor. Each passing day the color of the Heart went from a dark rusty color too a brighter crimson in addition to that the light in the center was also getting brighter. All the same the most horrible was the Heart's Song. Its beautiful dreamy melody to them was like someone running their nails on a chalkboard. Whatever was happening to Atem on Earth was stimulating this most unwanted behavior from the Heart.

"Yes we can see that quite clearly you Cyclops! That fucking defective Prince is jeopardizing our plans to resurrected Xanadu to its former glory! I strongly recommend we have a contingency plan incase we can't for some unidentified factor can't get Atem back here a week before his 18th birthday!"

"Agreed. That would be a good course of action to execute in case further problems arise. Now before we give the order too send the four off to Earth too get that unappreciative progeny of mine what do you think the remaining court should do? We must keep a tight grip on the predicaments here if we're to bring our wonderful plans to fruitions,"

"Well let's see whom we've left. We've Shada, Shadi, Karim and Shimon. We also have those additional defective Governesses you had that twit created along with those wonderful harnesses I designed. So what pray tell can we encumber the bums with?" asked Aknadin as he made an attractive cobalt colored-glass phoenix candy dish materialize in his lap. He rubbed his hands together and drooled eagerly waiting to dine upon his precious sweets. His hands like all of them were stained with the unseen blood and dirt of their heartlessness actions too their fellow people.

He at a snail's pace lifted the lid and gazed at his wonderful sweets. Each candy looked like an electric blue 12 pointed star, they're rare Star Candies. Star Candies were the rarest and most sought after candy in the universe. There were only found within the very center of stars themselves. It was very easier said than done to obtain them, due to the peril involved in acquiring them. On the other hand their taste was well worth the danger. They were sweeter then even the most innocent of children's dreams.

He breathed in their delightful aroma and went too pluck the first one when his one real eye became as narrow as a toothpick. "How can this have happened?!" he bellowed loudly!

"What is it now, Cyclops?"

"I'm missing one of my candies! Last time I had my Star Candies I'd had exactly 101487 pieces! Now I only have 101486! I keep them well concealed from the rest of the palace! So whoever stole it will pay most dearly! I'm going to…"

"Do nothing Brother! Anyone who knows you knows exactly where you hide that candy dish,"

"Yeah hiding underneath the jeweled phoenix inscribe on your bedroom floor is that original. Look we don't have time to deal with something as mundane as if someone took one stupid piece of your candy! Beside I could use my magic and give you mouth full of cavities and you've too deal with that barbarian called a dentist! You've mouthful of rotten teeth if we were affected by such things! So shut your yap about you stupid candy and let's finish this meeting!" Camille berated to him sadistically.

"Fine!"

"Now let's see Shada and Shadi are still best suited too work the dungeons. After all Shada's Key possesses the power too reveal what a person whether they're Beast or Being true nature. furthermore he best suited too work along with Shadi whom as well all know isn't a true Divan Being rather a Divan Spirit in view of the fact that he doesn't possess a authentic corporal form," the King related to his comrades.

"Nope that weirdo is merely our universe's Spirit of Law and Order. He is the one charge till kingdom come with the Duty of being the Xanadu's Judge, Jury and Executioner. Though truthfully he gives me the creeps! I vote we keep baldy and ghost boy out of sight and out mind!" Camille told them.

The Royal brothers agreed with her. Now what were they to do with Karim and Shimon? For some mysterious reason the King very much loathed Shimon and seemed to have some personal vendetta with the old one. He seemed too want too make the old one suffer a great deal.

"Look, dear brother if we're going too keep order Karim is going too need someone to be there with him! We can't count too much on your governesses for their help in the matter! We can get some other abysmal fool too look after those damn Infinite Archives!" Aknadin yelled at his brother whom for a few moments seemed lost in a world of his own. Scowling disgusted he that he was being ignored he used his Eye to get his brother to heed his words,

"I do admit that the old geezer was the best glorified bookkeeper we've ever had down there. On the other hand as much as it has pains me to articulate this. The fact remains we require two people from the Court, in order too keep the city from going into pandemonium. So whatever shit you got with a guy older then time itself casted it aside for the good of Xanadu. If we're too bring our dream too live and recover all we lost then you got too put Shimon with Karim,"

He growled for a few moments then nodded. "Now that we've got that covered let's turn our attention too another matter at hand. Camille I call to mind you desire to send your own team out as well? I wish too scrutinize who you've chosen for this particularly hunt for such an elusive prey?"

"As you wish oh wonderful king. Vixens I summon thee!" she yelled loudly and in a very remarkable but stylish show of both the perfect mixture of beauty and magic materialized three identical young ladies.

The dancers from before where now complete driven from the men's mind at breath stealing site of these vixens. It was like looking in a three way mirror because it was impossible to tell the girls apart.

Each girl was exactly 5'7 with long silky tresses with the left side was turquoise, right amethyst with magenta bangs. Delicately thin arch eyebrows, amber cat eyes with a diamond under their right eye. Elvin ears with Bjorn style earrings. A golden chocker with the triad symbol (Think Charmed). Strapless blue top, bare midriff matching caprice pants with a golden sash, golden heeled sandals and an elaborate "X" tattoo on their right upper arm.

"I give gentleman my Vixens. Now if you put your tongues back in your wide open traps I show what these girls can do," Camille as they went too a private area and Aknamkanon was indeed blown away by the Vixens. Each one of them had great power and their teamwork was unparallel. Even their individual names of Oba, Pomona and Shakti all named after goddess greatly pleased him. After a short but effective show of the Vixens abilities they're ready to execute the Hunt.

"As you can see my Vixens are perfect in everyway conceivable. Highly intelligent, work well as both a unit and on their own, can instantaneously adapt to any situation that comes up. They can fight with both magic and fists. They loyalty to us and our vision a 1000 All the three Bs, beauty, brains, and brawns all wrapped up in a beautiful package for us. Once given an order they will carry it out no matter what it takes. So if any humans get in the way of them achieving their objective they can kiss the grim reaper in a second."

"Camille you've done well. I'm most pleased with these Vixens of yours. So what is the order you shall give them?" said the King as they came too the throne room.

"Your team may look for the Prince but my girls will look for him and keep an eye on yours should they prove disloyal. Now call forth those glorified lackeys! We don't all eternity anymore!"

The King with a vicious smile summoned his Court. They're all but Mana forced from their dreamless slumber. Realizing they had only got 3 and half hours of slumber after so long of working themselves to the bone! Still all had too report too the king when he summoned them. Shimon gave Mana some more elixir which got her too wake up. Nevertheless she was still too weak to fly or walk. Mahad instructed her to quickly ingest the candy with the rest of the elixir and that would give her enough of a boost of energy to at least make too the throne room.

They all dragged themselves down too the throne room. The King, his brother, and the Lady all looked so much better then them. They waited too be told what was the next task.

"I thank you all for your hard work of dealing with the aftermath of these riots. Now we can pursue the true objective at hand. Finding my son and bringing him home. We've discussed it and here what we've decided. Seto! Mahad! Isis! Magician Apprentice! You're to embark on the quest to bring back Atem in three hours! I suggest you go prepare for the barbaric along with primordial world of humans and quickly! Shada you and Shadi duties remain the same! Karim in Isis absence you're partner in patrol will be Shimon. Now go and do what's being commanded of you!"

Everyone did as they where told. Three hours later the four chosen stood before the king dressed in human street clothes. Seto was wearing a blue hoodie with kakis his Rod safely tucked away. Mahad was also wearing a hoodie but his was purple with black jeans and boots. His Ring was around his neck. Isis was wearing an off the shoulder amber top with a short matching mini skirt. Her Necklace was still around her neck. Mana was wearing a bright blue and pink belly shirt with a picture of the shape of Xanadu on it with matching pants and platform sandals. Her wand that was her Immortal Item was now disguised as pen.

They all had their own harness with on them already. The king was going to send them too Earth. They had been given a ring too wear that would able them to use their magic for short time with the harness on. It was also a way too contact the King who insists he get an update report twice every day of their progress.

They told him that their plan was simply nudge Atem in the right direction. They would find him but won't confront him in a hostel manner that would make it harder too get him too come home. Rather the slowly and gently ease him to come home on his own.

Of course Aknamkanon didn't like anything like that but they insisted further hostel would only make things worse and this was the best approach they could think of. It also had the best chance too work. Reluctantly he agreed to the plan with his fingers crossed behind his back. He then used his magic too send them too Earth and dismissed everyone else. After twenty minutes had gone by he turned to Camille and said 'Release the Hounds of Hell!"

Smiling she called forth her Vixens and gave them orders and then they vanished too Earth like a pack of hunting dogs ready to kill.