Here's chapter three. Hope you all enjoy. I own nothing of Dungeons and Dragons. Please review!

…..

Hank looked up at the stars and pondered the Realm. Even after two years here he still had a hard time believing that everything they went through was real. The idea that his old life was only a dream haunted him. He was adjusting to the way of life here and from time to time contemplated settling down in an area that seemed safe.

Bobbi was adjusting to things the best as he had the fewest memories of Earth. Hank worried that Bobbi was missing out on simply being a kid and was growing up too fast with no other children around him. Dianna was the quiet rock that gave everyone confidence to push forward and brought out the less sarcastic side of Eric.

The thought of Eric as a Cavalier always made him laugh, though less and less these days as Eric grew into his arrogance by being stronger and cleaverly courageous.

Finally Hank's thoughts drifted to Sheila, darkening his thoughts. No one blamed him for his choice but they didn't understand the weight that was on his shoulders save Eric who once held the powers of the Dungeon Master.

"I see we are admiring the stars tonight. They are especially bright tonight aren't they?" Dungeon Master sat beside Hank.

"I suppose they are. It doesn't matter either way." Hank sat up waiting for the older man to speak some riddle for him to decifer.

"Being a leader means making dark choices to walk a lighter path."

Hank wanted to enjoy the words but found them empty. There were a thousand questions and for some reason they were with him tonight. "What decisions did Venger make so he didn't walk a lighter path?" Hank had no idea where the question came from but Venger was just as much as an enigma as Dungeon Master.

"Ah, now that is a question with a thousand answers. Like you he held the burden of leadership yet led everyone but himself." Dungeon Master's eyes twinkled as if Hank was finally asking the right questions.

Hank found an opening and he took it. "What was the Realm like before? It seems like all the castles, temples and fortresses are part of the past. Why are they all empty now?"

The older man smiled a sad smile. "I asked that very same question when I was but a child Ranger. My master told me that it belonged to an era when people believed."

"A riddle."

"A riddle and the truth. Have you not noticed that your weapons are powerful yet very few desire to possess them? Why do think that is?"

Hank turned to answer Dungeon Master but found he was no longer there. The last question lingered in his mind and the more he thought on it the more mysterious the Realm became.

…..

Sheila woke up on something soft that smelled rich and sweet. She slowly opened her eyes to see that she was in a room of exquisite comfort and taste. The blanket she was under was very soft and embroidered with gold, silver and pressed with tiny jewels. Never had she seen such decadence in her life.

As her mind woke up questions came to her mind. She held no memory of going to sleep or of ever owning such rich items. Then a face came to her memory; one of pale blue skin and red eyes. He held a name and knew that she had to fear him. Ever since she came here she learned to fear him.

Venger.

He saved her life and now she has a life dept to him. Hank refused to hand over the weapons to pay for the dept and Venger took her from her friends.

"Common Sheila why does everyone have weapons? We are trying to get back home."

Then she realized she had no idea of what home was.

Her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of a door opening. An older woman entered with some food. The smell of it reminded her that she was very hungry.

"Oh, good morning Mistress. Here is your breakfast." She set it down on a table and walked over to a wardrobe. Her aged fingers took out a plain but expensive looking dress. "Yes, this one will do just fine. He must value you giving you so much."

Sheila removed the covers and stood weary of the woman.

The older woman saw the fear in Sheila's eyes and smiled. "You have nothing to fear from me child. I am simply a servant. My name is Glenna and I am here to serve you." She walked over with the dress with confident humility. "This dress is good. Very fitting for a young woman."

Sheila allowed the woman to dress her and tie back her hair. At the end of the attentions she was adorned with the finest of jewels. The necklace was still attached to her skin but hidden under the dress that covered her up to her neck. Sheila didn't care for the suffocating feeling of the dress but was too afraid to say anything about it.

The aged fingers lifted up an exquisite necklace and placed it around Sheila's neck. It was heavy but the gold and green shone against the black material of her dress. Sheila wasn't sure if she was staring at herself or another woman at that moment.

"Why am I given all of this? I'm just a child."

Glenna looked at Sheila in the mirror. "Oh, you are no child my dear. Take a look at yourself."

For the first time in over…how long has it been? She couldn't remember the last time she saw herself in a mirror. It was a face of a young woman. Her childish features have all but faded away.

Then an unknown fear settled into her stomach. "What does Venger want with me?"

Glenna realized that Sheila was an innocent and she was no longer able to keep a smile. "He wants to claim you my dear. You're the first young woman that has been here in over fifty years. I would know I took care of the last one all those years ago."

"What happened to her?"

"Life and it took her with it." Glenna didn't wish to scare the poor thing but she would need to be informed of their Master's plans.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh my Mistress. You are innocent aren't you? The previous woman died giving life. Our master wanted an heir. He who must not be named demands it of him to provide one." Glenna was scared to even mention the creature that Sheila and her friends had to face at one point.

Sheila went two shades paler. "No, he wants to kill me, take the weapons from my friends! Not that; he wouldn't want that!"

Sheila ran for the door to find it locked. She pounded against the door pulling on the handle. Glenna stood. "My Mistress there is nothing you can do. But you can prepare yourself for when things happen."

"I don't want to."

Glenna walked up to Sheila and placed the younger hands in her own. "I never wanted to serve our Master but fate was not so kind. I serve him now to save the one I loved the most. Everyone in our Master's service serve him to keep another safe. You are here no doubt to save the ones you love."

Sheila felt ashamed for her selfish and childish outburst. "I'm sorry Glenna. I guess I should be grateful that he hasn't sent me back to the dungeons again."

The old woman smiled and with a wave of her hand opened the door. "I'm sorry I can't let you leave here my Mistress. The Master and I are the only two that can open this door."

"You can do magic?"

"In part yes but that's another story I'll tell at a later time."

Glenna left closing the door behind her and walked down the corridor to the lower levels of the castle. She could sense a shadow follow her. "I am in no mood for your spying Shadow Demon. Come out and ask what you want to ask."

He moved from the wall to face her. "I see you still practice your craft old woman."

"I need to if I wish to live in the service of our master."

Shadow Demon enjoyed playing with the other servants. "So does the child know of Master's plans?"

"She's beginning to so I'll throw out those thoughts of possession now if I were you." She smiled wickedly at Shadow Demon. "If you even entertain a single thread in that direction you'll find yourself very quickly replaced."

Shadow Demon crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow out of boredom. "Go then Glenna and serve. Remember I'm the one that is able to leave the castle. You can't." She was left with the sound of his hollow laughter as he glided into a crevice of a wall.

…

Venger watched through the mirror the exchange between Sheila and Glenna. He smiled at Sheila's innocence and longed to break her of that and make her his. He learned long ago a life debt very rarely lasts a lifetime as she could pay it off little by little as the years go by. The Realm was a place that demanded balance. Life debts create an imbalance and the energy of the land seeks out to correct it. Venger would have to find a way to bind her to him soon.

His master would call upon him and demand an heir of him soon. The Realm was quickening its pace to restore what was taken from it as well as wake the people up from their slumber. His former teacher Dungeon Master told him that there would be a day when the people would awake and take back their power and a keeper of the dark will no longer be needed.

Venger vowed not to relinquish his role and he who must not be named promised him immortal power if he paved a path of darkness in the Realm.

The actions in the mirror caught his attention. Sheila ran towards the door wanting to be let out. The girl would learn to worship him and seek nothing but his attentions and perhaps if she relinquished her past completely he'll give her some power and teach her how to yield it to better serve him.

…