Mulguran appeared before him, his tall, lean body twitching in rage. His horns seemed to glow but he brushed it off as his imagination. The demon’s long sharp fingernails gently caressed his face but his touch sent a shiver of terror through him.

“Why have I gotten word that Cara is on her way to Unari? I gave explicit orders to kill her.” Mulguran hissed. “I assume you have a perfectly good explanation... otherwise you will be taking her place in the grave. Only you won’t have a body to bury once I’m through with you.”

He tilted his head up in defiance in his black robes, his face obscured by shadows, “I was never alone with her.” he lied. “She has been constantly guarded the moment I returned. I fear they have caught as to who I really am.” he lied again.

“This concerns me, how?” Mulguran brushed off the news. “You were given an order. You will carry it out even if it kills you! Do you understand human? I don’t have time to babysit you all.”

After all these years, Mulguran had never once used his name, intent on demeaning him for the rest of his miserable life. Regret and shame washed through him like a fire burning at his soul. Ever since that day, he wished with all his might he could take it all back but alas, he had sealed his fate the moment he had given himself to Mulguran in anger.

“You will chase her. And you will!” he screeched. “Kill her.”

“I will be discovered, master,” he replied in a panic. “They will know I have gone and question my whereabouts. They will put two and two together. Xerath is no fool.”

“He is fool enough to believe you to be a friend!” Mulguran pointed out. “I don’t care what you have to say or do, just do it. And quickly before she ruins my plans.”

“Yes, master.” the hooded man said. “It will be done.”

“There are others there that will aid you this time.” Mulguran pulled away from him, walking toward his throne. “You may need to use your influence to help them escape after their job is finished. If not then they will aid you after they are done. Either way, you won’t be alone.” he said it more as a threat than not.

“If we are discovered before we can execute them?” he asked.

Mulguran squinted his eyes, burning bright red, a hint of yellow flickered in them as if on fire. “Pray that won’t happen,” he said in a low menacing voice.

“Your priority will be Erik. If you must choose, then remove Erik from this world first. Cara is secondary.” Mulguran tilted his head, thinking. “Yes. Erik is more of a danger as he is connected to Felkuru, the old beast.”

“Yes, master.” he bowed his head. “I won’t fail you.”

“You already have!” Mulguran hissed. “Cara was supposed to be dead already. Now she might thwart my plans because you couldn’t do your job!”

“Forgive me, master.” his body shivered from the rage emanating from the demon.

“Forgive?” he scowled. “If you want forgiveness, run to Malik for forgiveness.”

He glanced up at Mulguran, and for an instant, just one moment, he felt hope rise in him but as quickly as it came, the hope vanished.

“You pitiful creature.” Mulguran laughed evilly. “You think you can be forgiven for what you have done? You think you can break free of me?” his eyes flared and his wings stretched outward.

The image before him was one of a nightmare, the demonic being before him crushed all hope and humanity from him, peeling back his soul like a leech. Shivering in pain and the mere presence before him, the hooded figure flattened himself to the ground, getting as low as possible.

“You can never be forgiven.” Mulguran spat. “I own you. Your soul is mine. And I can take it back in an instant. You disappoint me. I had such high hopes for you. Your eagerness and skill have diminished over the years, as do all humans who seek my power.”

“I am yours to command, master.” he relinquished any notion of defiance.

“That’s better.” Mulguran smiled. “Take some more, in case you forget who you are.”

The tall demon looming over him, pulled out his wrist and sliced his flesh, causing small droplets of blood to drip down onto the back of his head. He immediately pulled his face up and opened his mouth to taste the black sticky blood. His body serged with energy and his mind cleared.

“Now,” Mulguran said quietly. “I want Erik and Cara dead. Get it done.”