Arriving by his normal smoke haze, Logan goes to the throne room to see a gathering of high demon officers that Colossus organized. “Colossus I think we might have a….Complica…tion” Logan slowly says seeing six demons standing around Colossus who towers over them holding a demon commander very tightly in his one hand high in the air, blood drips from Colossus griped hand from splitting the skin of the commander’s neck stopping him from voicing his opinion on the matter. Logan quietly looks from the rear of the room as Colossus’ arm turns a deep green color and starts to glow.

He drains the very flaming life from the demon and like slushy water hitting the ground, the demon’s skin, muscle and body tissue drips to the floor; having the green light glow until only the skeleton head of the creature remained in his hand. As the rest fell splashing into the remains, Colossus then tossing it aside looks to another demon.

“Rebellious insolent, they never learn; you” he says pointing to the demon “You are my new commander, now get this out of here and carry out the plans I have given”

“Yes my lord right away” he says grabbing the skeleton corpse and hauling it away leaving Colossus alone with Logan.

“What happened, what did he do” asked Logan stopping the demon carrying the corpse bones.

“He questioned the Lords work and plans, and worse he stated an alternative way to do it” the demon replied moving again out of the room

“I see” Logan replied

“What is it Logan” said Colossus turning Logan’s head to him “What is this, complication” he said

“It’s Eve” Logan informed him

“Has she been found out?” questioned Colossus

“Attached is more the word I had in mind” Logan corrected as he went in detail about her and Rain’s continuous connected chemistry.

“Then perhaps I can find a way to refocus her loyalty base” Colossus said grinning. “And you might want to sharpen up your skills dear Logan”

“What, why?”

“From what my seer has shown me, your counterpart in the living, this Drow Straud has been training with a new trainer and is improving quiet drastically as well as quickly, to match even you”

“I don’t need practice Colossus”

“Now, now no need to get testy I am merely passing on what I have heard, no need for you to die so swiftly before your due time” Colossus says staring at him as he vanishes to Sephinroth’s tower.

Eve and Rain have their moment in the one night and the next day is brought to ease by the sight of Captain Tristan who led his party all night to reach them. Arriving and helping where he could, Tristan leaves his healers behind to help mend the town guard as well as Falcon as he headed back to Silverspire with the rest.

Getting to the city Rain and Tristan went to the enclave and Eve went to the tower to check on the status of her own affairs, sharing yet another kiss to Rain’s lips still in private they pledged their passion to each other before she left.

Arriving at her tower Eve looks to two servants from her Hatchery area,

“Why are you here?” she asks

“Well M’Lady the lord Colossus he is here and…” not letting the servant finish she flamed into the hatchery to see and hear the sweet sound of a baby dragon, she was fumbling around and making cute squawking sounds all about the cave like area. Eve runs up to her to see her when Colossus got in her path and picked up the baby first.

“She’s beautiful” smiled Eve with a motherly glow all about her

“Yes she is; life is such a cherishing moment to see at birth as well as death” said Colossus looking to Sephinroth with a serious look of disappointment. And letting the foot hold of Colossus arm be removed the baby dragon hangs with its neck tightly in Colossus grip.

“Careful Colossus…hold her up she’s choking…Ease up she can’t breathe…COLOSSUS!” she said shouting to him and with a quick motion of his wrist Colossus snaps the baby’s neck bone, hearing a dog yelp of pain from the baby’s lungs it then falls limp and lifeless in his hand.

“NOOO!!!!!” Eve shouted running towards him with a fireball in her hand, but not being able to release it in time Colossus backhands Eve’s faces throwing her into a stone wall. He steps over the young hatchling walking toward her curled up figure, and drawing his sword he extends the blade to her throat.

“This place is not easy to get to, and at first I couldn’t after you replaced the defensive auras to it but with this…” he explains spinning the blade hilt in his hand “It assisted in ways I never thought possible” he said laughing

“You son of a bitch, she was a NEW BORN DRAGON, she didn’t deserve that” Eve yelled at his face and with tears running down her cheek bones

“ I have heard of some events that happened recently, that have led to you showing signs of mercy, remorse, and even caring for the Drow” and looking back to the baby’s body he says “This is a warning Sephinroth, for that is who you truly are…Fail me again, and you will not only witness the death of your second unhatched daughter, but the fruits of your deceitful Dragon ways that will die with you, and your hearts greed for that which you sacrifice so many millennia ago” Colossus stated to her harshly

“I admit that this task has caused me to take…extra steps and measures but I assure you that the goal I was given will be achieved, and just as you requested” Eve stutters

“Good, I can’t have you getting the line of trust and loyalty blurred so close to achieving my goal, so finish the task and you shall have what we agreed on”

Colossus said to her

“Bring her back first or I will go no further” Eve back talked with a demanding tone

“Not this time or the threat of my warning will go without fear, do as I ask and you can keep your other alive” he said turning his back to leave the hatchery.

“You have crossed a line this time Colossus, and mark my words you had better tread carefully for I will take your blindside when I can” Eve said sternly

And laughing to her he turned to face her again “There is a difference between us Sephinroth, my threats are real” he said as he leaves shimmering into the dark

“We shall see” she says to his fading face and going to her baby who lies on the ground she picks her up and holds her tightly sliding her body down to the ground against the stone wall “I’m so sorry my baby” she says crying as she hugs her “I’m so sorr..rrry” she says with a broken tremble to her voice, kissing the head of her dead new born she places it in the nest area and in searing flames disappears.

Arriving back at his tower, Colossus goes to the training room to find Logan doing just as Colossus suggested, he sees Logan fighting seven vampires at once and laying waste to the pitiful attempts to hit him. Stabbing one vampire with his sword and having it cry out in massive pain Logan looks to the room entrance and stops fighting.

“Dismissed” Logan said to the men “And pick him up on your way out, he’s dirtying the floor” added Logan

“I see you went with my recommendation, very wise of you” said Colossus

“Do you have a task for me or is this just a social call?” asked Logan

“I need you to keep an eye on Sephinroth for me” Colossus advises

“I thought I already was?” Logan questions

“No, I need a closer more continuous watch” he explains

“But I can’t get in without her knowing about it, and she can track my location while I’m there” Logan corrects him

“Not for long” Colossus grins “I have learned new powers from this weapon and I can now change your appearance and mask your essence for a time making you invisible to her radar protection spells. I only ask that you report to me as soon as you have the location of the third essence known, and not after she has already acquired it, understood” Logan nods and they walk towards the seer’s chambers

“I will monitor the progress once in a while from here and….huh” Colossus stops mid-way as he gazes upon the dead bloodied body of his seer laying on the floor with a very distinctive knife wound to the back of her neck.

“Guess she didn’t see that one coming” smiled Logan and Colossus turns to him with an evil glare “But who could do this to me not knowing about it, there is no one that I can’t detect here except, NO! ... SEPH … IN ... RROOTTHH!” he thundered to the ceiling above and smiling from a corner where she could see his reaction Sephinroth stays in his panicking view for moments longer

“You hurt me, I hurt you…welcome to a level playing field in war, Colossus” as Sephinroth disappears.

Coming back at night to the Druid homeland called the Mere, Artanis, Cloud and Dawn arrive at Alisianna’s shelter to check on her condition. The two druid guards at the door allow them to pass through and they enter to see her peacefully sleeping, awakened by their entry Alisianna opens her eyes sitting up.

“Hey” Alisianna says in a friendly welcoming voice “Did you get the stone, is everyone alright?” she progressively asks them,

“We’re fine Alisianna don’t worry, and yes we have the stone, we’d just thought to come by to check on you” Cloud said comfortingly

“Oh…I’m fine just hungry and all the time it seems” Alisianna adds

“Maybe it’s an advancement of your powers or something” Artanis suggested

“Too what end, become FAT!” Alisianna scowled to him

“No! That’s not what I… “

“Shhhhh!” said Dawn interrupting him “Can you here that”

“Hear what Dawn” asked Cloud

“Yeah what, I can’t hear anything either” said Artanis trying to hear carefully

“Well listen then!” Dawn snapped as she moved around the room trying to locate the source. “It sounds just like…Heartbeats” Dawn explains and getting close to the sounds location she looks up to see where she is, and staring in front of her face is Alisianna’s stomach. Putting her ear to her tummy Dawn jolts her head back up and looks to Alisianna’s face “Oh…My…God!”

“What, what is it” Alisianna replies getting scared

“Is something in her Dawn” Cloud said

“How we can’t hear anything” Artanis protests

“But my vampire hearing allows me to” Dawn says to him but turning to Cloud she grows an excited look on her face and nods her head to him with a small smile. Cloud calls for a guard to bring an elder to the tent, and says that they may have a possession upon Alisianna.

“No! Cloud don’t, wait” Dawn commands calling the guard back “She has something in her but you can’t summon it away or get it out…at least not yet…not for another seven months or so” Dawn explains calming him down.

“Than what are you talking Dawn” Cloud says impatiently and turning to Alisianna’s face Dawn smiles to her

“Alisianna…You’re pregnant” Dawn announces

“I’m pregnant!” Alisianna shouts “No…no that’s not right nor possible, nymphs can’t get pregnant like this, only at a certain age can we give birth to another female of our race, I’m just not old enough” Alisianna explains

“Yes but then again you’re not full nymph are you” Dawn adds “And with the Drow part inside you that is how we do it, through mating I mean” Dawn convinces her

“Oh, my god…that makes since, the hunger, the powers all weird and even me being sick”

“Not to mention the mood swings” added Cloud

“I haven’t had any mood swings?” Alisianna says growing defensive

“Well that’s what Rain said anyway, I didn’t believe it either” replied Cloud trying to dodge a bullet of spotlight and then a shocked look falls to Alisianna’s face and she looks directly at Cloud

“I swear that I haven’t messed around in your name behind your back Cloud please you must believe me” she pleaded to him and coming to her bed side Cloud grips her hand tightly to show he knows of such truth and still puzzled she says again “But how?, I mean we haven’t made love to one another for months I mean how does it show up now, the signs of it?”

“Did you forget that night three weeks ago by the pond” Cloud said smiling to her and smiling back she grows a blush to her face

“Oh… that, right!” Alisianna responds quietly

“Please Cloud I’m still in the room” said Dawn a little disturbed as well as disgusted.

“So that would make Cloud a”

“Father…” Cloud finished Artanis’ statement with a bewildered look to his face.

Arriving back at the tower Rain goes inside to see a very frustrated Eve trying desperately to uncover the last known where bouts of the third and final essence. Watching her for a few seconds Rain moves closer to her,

“This is pointless!” Eve yelled out loud tossing a fireball from her hands in a angered rage toward Rain who dodged just in time, waiting for the flame to impacted the wall and blow fiery shards of wood to the stone floor Rain gets up and goes to her side.

“Eve I told you to wait for me” Rain said to her and shocked at his presence she looked up quickly

“Oh Rain; I’m sorry did that fireball get you?”

“No I didn’t get me, it’s a fire…ball Eve, you get me you kill me” Rain said to her “now why didn’t you wait for me?”

“I’m so tired of him being alive it sickens me Rain, I want him dead and I want it now!”

“He has taken from both of us Eve, but that’s no reason to act rashly, it’s what he wants from us”

“THAT’S EASY FOR YOU TO SAY YOU NEVER LOST A CHILD TO HIS HAND!” she snapped to him

“A child Eve, you lost a child; I’m sorry I had no idea”

“Let’s just get on with this, please” Eve stated and not saying another word Rain agreed. Going around a table and looking at her work he stops suddenly at the area of a map she had circled.

“This can’t be right!” he said

“Why do you think I’m so pissed off, of course it’s not but the decipher and the coordinates all point to this area, I don’t know where I’m going wrong”

“You’re not wrong Eve the location is right, but it’s just umm unfair for us I mean” explained Rain loosely

“What do you mean?” inquires Eve

“Have you ever heard of the Mandarians?”

“No, why who are they” she asked again

“They are a race of humans with amazing abilities, they have angelic like wings and a rapid self-healing capability, but their most known trait is their mastery of all magic healing and destructive alike, not to mention that they have a high skill level in weaponry” Rain explained

“But they are just human, right? They can die by normal means like severing their heads off or massive damage to the chest?” she asked him

“Well yes but…”

“Great then what are we waiting for, let’s go see them” she insisted

“We should get the others involved with this” said Rain

“We need to act now Rain, not hold off until a debate happens, while Colossus gets more powerful by the second, and besides they will gladly give up the location of the stone to us when we tell them what it’s for right, I mean everyone wants to be a part of saving the realm anyway, so they will jump at the chance” and looking at her with a wary look in his eye Rain bends to her request and taking her hand they flash away to the closest point he can get. Overhearing this and dressed as a slave in her tower, Logan smokes away to reveal to Colossus what he has heard.

Arriving near the encampment Eve looks to him

“You know of these creatures personally that you can get this close?” she asked

“Not by choice, it was an accident” but rather than getting into the story the two carried on to the camp outskirts.

Upon reaching the guard post Rain asked to see the Captain on an urgent matter to be discussed, and giving them great respect by a bow which was reluctantly followed by Eve, they were given passage inside.

They met with the chief of the area and Rain went on in a big spell about the power Colossus was gathering and the essences needed to defeat him, and giving the chief a sketched drawing of the stone jewel they had the chief then looked at him. He said to the two that the last jewel was a worshiped item that has been in their possession for centuries and was a main cause of their power, though was unsure as to how, Rain asks to see the stone but was not allowed access to it. Rain then informed him of the grave natural danger that not having the stone would bring but the chief would not listen to reason and kindly asked him to leave.

Growing angry and impatient with Rain’s kindness and long delegating Eve turned to the chief on her own and showing very little respect to him yelled out.

“We need that stone regardless of what you believe and will do anything in our power to get it” she threatened and shocked by her outburst Rain grabbed her quickly and gripping her tightly warped them out of the camp and back to the tower.

Arriving in a pile of shimmering smoke Logan went to the throne room and stood before Colossus.

“What took you so long, not having my eyes on the realm has made me a little more cautious and alert…I was beginning to worry” Colossus says to him snapping out loud. Logan then says to him about what he saw and overheard and Colossus smiled a big grin.

“This could not have gone more sweeter than if I was already a God and planned it myself” said Colossus getting up a walking out of the throne room, following Colossus to his personal quarters in the tower Colossus goes to a black metal box on a bone made shelf and plucks from it two rings. Walking back to Logan he places both of them in his hand.

“Take these rings and here is what you are going to do” Colossus says to him still grinning adding a sinister chuckle to the end of the told plan.

Appearing again back in the tower Rain looked to Eve

“What the hell was that Eve!” he bolted to her

“Your ways weren’t working for me” Eve stated to him

“You could have killed us” Rain said to her

“But I didn’t thanks to you” she smiled to his scowled face, “We can still get the stone Rain” she pushed on to him

“Not without outside help now” barked Rain “We need to inform my brother and the clan of our findings and hope we can settle this calmly” he says to her turning away to leave for the door

“I’m sorry about what I did Rain, I’m just tired of him being alive and from all that he has taken from me” and going back to her side Rain shows sympathy,

“I know Eve, but have faith in my family as I do, we will kill Colossus and bring our nightmares to a final end” and looking at him with watery eyes she nods her head and watches him go.