2

Pronous was on the ground panting, "I never knew that a filth guardian like you would have that potential power."

Darius took in all of his words and held his hands up again producing a blood cry from Pronous. His hands gripping his face as he tried to pull it off, "I beg of you stop! STOP!"

Darius took his hands down and observed the tortured Pronous with contempt, "I will spare you and let you go back to Bayterin. Be gone."

Pronous took one more look at Darius and smiled maliciously, "We shall meet again, guardian."

He then evaporated into thin air leaving Darius to smile to himself. He then thought about Luna and how she would already be in Beta's hands. But then his mind turned over to Bayterin. What if the demon did get power of the Moon Stone? What would happen then? He was confident for the Realm Zomera for it has a mass fortress wall separating sea from land. Darius then closed his eyes and put his hands up to his temples issuing coded words. The wind picked up again and he was taken off in to the realm of Zomera. He landed on the outskirts of the glowing city. Like Luna, Darius last visited the city a couple years ago. But he took to notice that the mass fortress wall was no longer overshadowing the city. Instead, the sea sparkled and danced underneath the radiant sunlight.

"WHAT?"

Pronous shivered on the ground, scarred.

Bayterin took a deep breath and closed his red eyes which lit up his pointed pale face, "Now Pronous, tell me again what exactly happened."

Pronous repeated his fight with Darius in a shaky, but determined voice.

Bayterin looked surprised, "The guardian, Darius? Bah! Guardians do not have that kind of power, especially the power to torture the mind."

Pronous now resumed full height and faced Bayterin. His red eyes complimented his slightly red hair. He wore a robe that was jet black, but on the hood of the robe was symbol: a green spider. Bayterin was not as tall as Pronous was, but he could look Pronous in the eye with the most piercing stare.

"So they got away, all of them: Darius, and the girl plus the Moon Stone." Bayterin confirmed.

"Yes, my lord." sighed Pronous.

Bayterin studied Pronous, "Well, I am going to offer you something that I have offered none of my other subjects. I am going to give you a second chance."

Incredulous, Pronous just listened, "You are going to go to Zomera. There, you will be disguised as a normal palace worker. The Moon Stone should be hidden in the main chamber (shut up and listen, I will provide you a map)."

"But where will the Moon Stone be?" Pronous inquired, apparently not listening.

"You moron! I told you where it will be: in the main chamber provided that I give you a map of the palace.

Pronous was taken aback, but did not dare to show his hurt feelings to his master, "And when shall this all be taken into action?"

Bayterin looked out the chamber window. The reddish sky had a tint of haze to it from all of the factory development, "We will start the preparations today. Tomorrow we go over the plan from top to bottom. And then on Friday, you will set sail for Zomera."

"That's impossible," Pronous tried to retort, "The sea is barricaded from the land."

Bayterin laughed eerily, "You fool! The fortress wall is gone, done with. Queen Beta thought I retreated back into the darkness, thought I had given up. I never ever would let my guard down on a situation like this. It's like giving candy to a child."

Before Pronous could continue to speak, Bayterin cut him off, "And just to make sure you don't fail your mission again, I will provide you a partner. If you do happen to fail again, well, I'll leave that little surprise for you."

A figure from a near shadow stepped out. She had short purple hair with brilliant blue eyes. Her figure was stunning as a cloak rapped itself lackadaisically around it, "Ah, well if it isn't Pronous." said the cool voice from the woman.

"No, anyone but her. I am not taking her along this... this mission!" spat Pronous.

The woman smiled, "Now, now no negativity. What's not to love about taking your kid sister on a mission, huh Pro?"

Bayterin smiled, "Adelaide will keep you in line, Pronous. Don't look surprised, I find it comforting that a woman will be by your side and will probably be more of a help then you."

He then laughed in Pronous' face, "Be gone from here!"

With a wave of his hand, Pronous vanished, "My darling, Adelaide. If he fails this mission, you have my permission to kill him. He will be no use to me anymore."

Adelaide nodded, "Very well, my lord."

And she too vanished with a wave of Bayterin's hand.

The great city of Celtic was murky today. The smell of fresh cement and tar were circulating the air. The black buildings towered over the houses that filled the uncultivated valley. Of course, as always, the city was crowded. Many people bustling up the streets, cross road merchants trying to strike deals with the innocent civilians, demons flying up overhead making sure that everything in the city was going according to plan, and at last the children. Bayterin loved the children that ran up and down his city streets. He loved to fill their minds with corrupt thoughts. As he strolled down the city streets, Bayterin thought of the time when a little boy named Regalos came to him in his palace. Regalos asked for money for his family was a poor as poor could ever be. Instead of giving him money, Bayterin told him that his family was the one that was taking the money from him, that was starving him. He told Regalos to go home and kill off his family and come join him and his quest to take over the world. Bayterin made sure that Regalos heard the part where there would be more food than the average human could possibly consume. And like a good little boy, Regalos listened. He slaughtered his family and came to join Bayterin in his army.

Bayterin sighed to himself, "Pity how children go to waste when they're so useful."

Spotting a demon merchant from afar, Bayterin walked over cautiously to him, "You know that you are not supposed to be selling these, my good friend."

The merchant turned quickly to see Bayterin holding up the Zomera News in paper form, "My lord, they are not m-mine."

"Then whose are these?" Bayterin said calmly.

The merchant fumbled with his fingers. He saw a woman walking through the crowd with a full basket of bread and fruit. Quickly, he grabbed her and held her up to Bayterin, "H-her, my lord. I was s-simply watching the cart for her while she went out and bought her s-supplies."

The woman was strong and looked fearless. She ripped herself out of the merchant's arms, "How dare you touch me, you demon filth."

Bayterin's red eyes flickered, "The fair face does not go along with your story, merchant."

The woman looked up at Bayterin and bowed, "My lord."

Bayterin ignored her and looked down at the headline on the Zomera News: Fortress Wall, A Dream of Peace Shattered In Zomera?

Bayterin was disgusted that the civilians of Zomera were just waking up now. Well it was too late for waking up, invasion would be coming shortly. Scanning through the paper a little ways more, another headline caught Bayterin's attention:

Bayterin: Failure to Be The Villain Yet Again.

He crushed the paper in his hands not noticing the woman and the merchant still watching him. Even though he hated them staring, law requires all people, demons, animals, etc. to halt before his lordship before he dismisses you.

Anger and rage flew up to Bayterin's head causing a great deal of stress.

"My l-lord?" the merchant inquired.

Bayterin waved his hands aside and the merchant dissolved, "Never interfere with my train of thought, you fool."

The woman held her hands up to her mouth, shocked and fearful.

"You cower at my hand, woman?"

She shook her head rapidly.

"Your name."

Her hands were still covering her mouth. Bayterin observed her: she was a young maiden with brown curled hair. Her soft eyes were a comforting sight, but did not match her dirty gown.

"Speak." demanded Bayterin.

"My name is Lama," she said softly, "Lama of the town Firefall."

Bayterin nodded in approval, "Firefall is a wealthy town, I didn't expect to see a peasant residing in it."

Lama's colour flushed, "It is not like that anymore, my lord. Although it once used to be a gorgeous–"

"Spare me the details," spat Bayterin, "Be gone from here before your fate ends up like the lucky merchants'."

"Yes my lord." Lama said as she vanished quickly into the crowd.

Bayterin watched the woman as she left. He sighed heavily as he felt a heavy pain surge through his heart. He thought, "Never again, love is my enemy, love is my enemy..."

With a flick of his finger, he disappeared back into his palace wondering what the people in Zomera were doing right now.

In the corner of the main court room, a small globe glowed silently. Bayterin walked over to it cautiously. Then, without a word, he raised his hand and swiped it over the glowing orb. A bright sun reflecting off a pure blue ocean appeared. On the edge of the ocean was a city full of bright colours. Bayterin closed his eyes and concentrated. The city was coming into a better focus as it drifted into the heart of it all. Bayterin opened his eyes to see that Queen Beta was escorting a young girl with auburn hair. Focusing even more, Bayterin saw what the maiden was carrying. Smiling back to himself, he let go of his concentration and infiltrated his mind back to his own city. Luck was proving to be on his side these days.