Hey, guys! Sorry that's it's been FOREVER between updates, but my laptop broke. Fun! *sarcastic smile* Well, I hope you enjoy!

Saladin's face contorted with rage as he angrily swept his hand through the image of the smirking Darkar. Faragonda was still staring at the screen in shock.

"Palladium... He's... D-dead?" She finally managed to choke out. Saladin shook his head.

"No. I refuse to believe it," He replied determinedly. He slammed his hands on the desk and pushed himself up. "Come, Fara. We're going to Alfea. Griselda, I would like you to stay here with Codatorta. You two will be in charge in my absence," The mage explained. Griselda nodded.

Saladin looked to his wife. "Ready, Fara?" He asked.

"To find out if my son is dead or to kick Darkar's ass?"

"Both."

Palladium moaned as his eyes fluttered open. He was shirtless, with his pants loosely clinging to his body, which was covered in dried blood and sweat. On instinct, he tried to raise an arm to his face to rub his eyes, but was stopped halfway by a chain pulled taught. The clang echoed through his old classroom, and the room seemed much bigger when only one person occupied it.

"Ah-ah-ahh... No escaping, little elfy. If you try to escape, you get punished," Dark Bloom said as she stepped into the torture chamber, smiling cruelly. All traces of the innocence that had once lightened the red head's eyes was gone, replaced by cruelty and hatred. She was the picture of pure evil. Her yellow cat like eyes seemed to radiate menace.

Palladium's body trembled as Dark Bloom pulled out a long whip. His hazel eyes filled with hot tears.

"N-no... P-p-please!" His voice quivered. "B-Bloom, listen to me! This isn't you!" He tried to revert her back to her old, kind ways, but to no avail. She only conjured up a knife and slowly traced it down his muscular chest, leaving a thin red line.

"Bloom? I don't know a Bloom. I am Queen Selene, ruler of the Magical Universe alongside King Darkar!" Da-No, Selene exclaimed. She started to use her Dragon Fire to heat the knife, but her hand emitted the normal, red fire, then spluttered.

In a large whoosh of heat and flame, he power turned black as night. Selene smirked, and held the knife over the fire until it was red hot. She eyed the panting, panicking Elf. Then she held the flat of the knife to his arm and laughed wickedly as he screamed and the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

Palladium's hazel eyes clouded with pain as he let out an ear-shattering screech. Then his vision slowly filled with black, his head fell forward, and he slumped against the brick wall, just inches away from Death's cold embrace.

Saladin and Faragonda quickened their pace when they saw the state of Alfea. The girls inside the cells looked out to see the two teachers, and their eyes filled with hope.

Then the fought against their chains as they noticed the two Shadow Monsters creeping up behind the two unaware teachers.

Saladin spun around when he heard something step right behind him. He turned to be face-to-face with a Shadow Monster, only to be knocked out my a swift blow to the head. Right before his vision turned black, he saw his wife, limp as a dead deer, being carried by one of the creatures.

As they fell unconscious, neither of them saw Selene and Darkar share a passionate kiss as they saw that two of the most powerful magical beings on Magix were in their power.

The world was theirs.

Okay, to clear up some confusion, I'm just going to say something now-the scene with Palladium is right before the call that Darkar makes to Saladin. :) Hope that now you're not all 'HUH?'