Caged like an animal, in a copper walled closet space with no way out, no food only a working sink for water. A shaggy sandy blonde-haired boy walked the perimeter of his cage wildly searching for a way out. "Thanks okay, that's all I need. So where does that leave us brother? Where does that leave us?" staring at the sink and then to the copper walls he smiled knowing two of his elements were catered to here in this room.

"They need to come through that one door to get us and we have home field advantage." A dark voice laughed, and Filipe smiled.

"You're right brother we have been put in the safest place posable!" looking at his reflection in the shiny copper wall a handsome sandy blonde boy winked at himself. He wet his hair down to tame it.

"We must look presentable to all eyes, if we look suave, they'll let their guards down."

"Now that we have the power of elements at our disposal there is no reason, we should listen to any authority but our own! Screw charging their power cells for them! If they want power, we'll give it to them when they come for us."

"Yeah! We only killed in self-defense!" replied his reflection

"And out of a need for vengeance! But that is a need, not murder!" The boy and his image agreed, and he began melting the metal to release the boiling water. The boy was fifteen and well-built for his age. Tall with sharp angular bone structure giving him a razor-sharp predatory look. The quintessential bad boy with dark stormy grey eyes and a smile to melt ice. His brother had always been the conservative well behaved one. But coming from a rich family, Filipe felt there was no purpose to wealth if you lived conservatively. Extravagance was all part of the show of wealth. Doing whatever you wanted whenever you wanted and getting away with it was all part of the game and when you're from the Means family, you always have the means to get out of trouble... Always! Just then the door swung open without warning Filipe tried to use his elements, but everything just fizzled.

"Oops, sucks to be inexperienced with magic huh? Perhaps if you adhered to our authority you could be something other than pathetic." Filipe scowled at the giant of a man leveling a studded whip at him. He was rippling with powerful muscle and carried himself like an ex-soldier. Filipe attacked without warning confident that somehow, he would prevail. The crack of a whip rang out again and again until Filipe could no longer recall what not being in pain felt like. Within an inch of his life Woe stopped and took time to laugh at the broken youth laying bloody and helpless on the ground.

"Now you'll do things our way, you will work for us and in exchange we'll let you out early if you're a good boy. Got it?" Filipe glared at the giant man saying nothing "you will train the way we tell you too and do everything we demand without question."

"I'll kill you for this, I'll have my revenge! No one treats a Means like this! No one you hear!" Filipe spat and continued to mutter under his breath before he felt the sting of the whip once more.

"The doctor has decided to place you in the general ward with the stable populous as soon as your magic understanding is sufficient, you'll have to pretend to be a sane kid. Doc wants you to keep an eye on things for us from the inside. Keeping an eye on one person in particular."

"Who's the person?" grunted a breathless boy crumpled and bloody.

"Julius Amaranth, perhaps you know him? Our records say he's a... friend of yours. And the last person to see your brother alive." Filipes eyes bulged as Woe chuckled.

"No! I killed the person responsible for Jakes death, and his family." He stopped to giggle just for a moment before continuing on.

"I fried them all like your little guard!" Woe just looked amused saying and doing nothing at first.

"You're right the only thing Julius is guilty of is being better than both the Means brothers. A common average joe beet you both. Kicked your brother's ass and his friend, and made off with your hover board, right?" Woe just laughed and walked off leaving the door wide open behind him. Filipe crawled out of the small room,

"Wait! I'll do whatever you want just let me kill him if all that is true."

"No, killing small animals and blaming it on freak accidents is more your speed."

"Please, I won't let you down, I'll do anything just let me kill him!" Woe smiled a sinister toothy grin.

"Why do you think I told you to watch him. Find out what's up with the little runt. He's a total trouble maker and a powerhouse that never runs out of juice. In the past three weeks he has built up at remarkable rates and is now able to charge seven power cells every other day! He's odd, find out how he's different and kill him when we give you the okay. But not before!" Filipe looked up at Woe from the ground with storm grey eyes as ominous as a hurricane moving toward a row boat on open shark infested waters.

"What exactly is so important about these power cells?"

"You don't need to know that."

"Tell me, why does it really matter? Shouldn't you just exploit him for all the precious power cells he can give you?"

"Ordinarily yes, but he has been exceeding the power levels we know he has. He has reserves of his own that we, for some reason cannot keep drained."

"I want free reign to do as I please."

"Don't we all?" Woe retorted bitterly, "Let's make a deal with the Doctor before we go any farther, I just work for the Doc. He is the one in the know. I was told to break the boy and was given instructions to let you aid me in doing so, if he cannot be broken then we are to kill him, that is all."

"Well if I'm not allowed to kill him, then I want to kill anyone he gets close to. I want to get revenge for my brother. I want to rape his soul of every last ounce of joy and hope for killing my family!"

"Deal just don't mess this up! Or else... You will suffer... Now let's go clear this with the Doctor shall we?"

.......

Julius was walked into a huge multi leveled room resembling a dog kennel for thousands. It had been three weeks of nothing but charging power cell after power cell and finally the Sector Spector had conceded and released him to general populous with his full meal privileges. The majority of the prisoners here were full grown men with some boys his age peppered in here and there. All prisoners were in the white jumpsuit with red bullseyes over the heart and diaphragm. Julius' feet were in shackles and he rattled the whole way down the hall clanking up the metal stairs. Catching on the last flight he thundered while falling face first into the metal grated ground. A low rumble of laughter rolled from all around and Julius blushed knowing everyone had seen. He picked himself up and tried to forget that embarrassing first impression as he was led to a drab dank sell with four stacked bunks two of which were occupied.

The sell door buzzed and slid open with a shutter the two men on the bunks did nothing and made no effort to look up to see a boy of fourteen shoved in and unshackled. The door slammed shut and the silence that fallowed was deafening. Two strange men glared at him with uncertain intentions or, so it would seem. Julius stayed close to the bars feeling suddenly very Claustrophobic.

"Yee doon wanna be standin' there man." A spectral warning in an almost melodic base voice came from the bottom bunk. And before Julius could ask why a sharp pain rattled through all his bones and a guard walked by laughing as he clubbed Julius on the top of the head as naturally as he passed by with his enormous bronze rod of a club. Julius crumpled not crying or shouting out but holding the top of his head in silent agony. "yeah, dats why." The man on the top bunk laughed but said nothing.

"Thanks for the warning." Julius muttered to the lower bunk and out from the bunk rolled a bear of a man bigger than even Woe! A strange black tribal man stood in front of him before Julius could do anything, he crouched slightly still gazing down at the boy with intense eyes that chilled Julius' blood. His nostrils flared like a race horse and Julius flinched as his right hand shot out and grabbed his shoulder. A hand the size of a large dinner plate wrapped his shoulder and upper arm in a steal grip and Julius squirmed to get free.

"Look me in dee eye boy! Let me see yee soul!" Julius bit down on the hand kicking the man's shins as hard as he could. A rumbling chuckle came from the man's chest as he waited for Julius to calm down. "yee be a spirited one dat fo sho, me likes dee warrior spirit do as me says boy look me in dee eye!" Eyes wide and haunting, nostrils flaring still, Julius looked him square in the eyes unblinking. Julius felt something cold wash over his body and the monstrous man released his shoulder a moment later. "Yeah, yee be dee one dee spirits be whisperin' bout, yer soul not be tainted to badly, yee not innocent but yee not evil like dee spirits be sayin, eet aint you day be warnin me of. Just dee one day be chattin bout." Julius' eyes widened, and he backed away.

"Who are you? What are you?" the man let out a booming whole-hearted laugh slapping his knee until the veins in his neck were jutting out giving him a crazed body builder look. Julius sunk back and found his back against the cold stone wall on the other side of the cell. There was no more retreating for him.

"Me name ees Baron Symatuere from aye faraway place. Traveled long en far by accident me did en wound up in dis madness. What me ees, well dats betta no said boy. Not here in dees parts of da world."

"What about your friend in the bunk?" Julius looked to the other figure which remained motionless.

"Oh he be dead only sometimes. Me keeps heem round so dat me ave a room mostly to me self." Julius was completely confused not knowing what to think now. Looking around it was clear that there were thousands of imprisoned magic users here. The Barron swept aside the bed sheet to reveal an ashy corpse underneath. Julius screamed and backed against the bars as far away as he could. The giant of a man laughed a whole hearted and booming laugh as he covered the body again. After a long while of silence the boy spoke again,

"Why were you locked up here?" Julius bashfully inquired half afraid of the answer.

"Me bee arrested for what me is, tis illegal for me tah bee me 'ere in dis place." Symatuere sank into the shadows of his bunk again as quickly as he had emerged. "by dah way man, don eat dee mystery meat here. It be human meat day serve us. Eet not bad but needs good spices to cut the flat taste. People in deez part aint spicy enough fur me!" Julius already knew of this but it still turned him pale and made his stomach churn like a sea in hurricane season. The baron just laughed his whole-hearted thunderous laugh. Julius sat on his new bunk, it creaked uneasily as if vocalizing his own discomfort. Shifting around in the bunk, Julius searched for a comfortable spot to lay. Hoping he wasn't making too much noise he held his breath as he moved in nervous embarrassment. The Baron chuckled lightly as Julius rattled and creaked around."Eet bee nice, knowin' dat der ees still innocents en goodness left out der. Many tanks mon for reminding me dat good ees still out der." The prison began settling down for the night, the dull rumble of low voices hushed in the exchange of secrets eventually gave way to the silence of slumber.

The night was long and in the dark of the prison a lone man walked the sterile white hallways saturated with sorrow and suffering. His glasses gleamed like cats eyes in the low light of the running emergency lights. The Doctor was tall, gangly and refined. He strutted his way through the halls with a passionate and confident canter. His teeth were white as snow but twisted and jumbled. His jaw and nose were long and slender with narrow, piercing brown eyes. His hair was full and thick but greying and his skin was pruned and wrinkled with age. He moved with little difficulty, out pacing some of the younger more fit guards. Silent and quick he observed, analyzed, and made notes on what to do next with whom. He smiled gently at all his children, as they slumbered, he ran his fingers along the bars of sells as he passed from one to another looking at each victim yet to be born into his family through suffering. Old and young alike, they were all his children, his property to do with as he wished.

Coming to the sell of a special interest he abruptly stopped and glared as a hand reached from the shadows behind him and held the Doctor in place for a brief moment. Stepping out from the depths of Doctor Davidsons' long dark shadow a figure immerged dramatically. The shadow clung to the strange figures body as if he were immerging from a lagoon of tar. The bubble of blackness burst without sound and the fragments of shade fluttered away to join the rest of the nights gloomy veil like frantic bats on a moonless hunt. Baron Symatuere lay motionless in the shadows of his bunk analyzing the doctor in return. The Doctor resituated himself and took a deep bow before standing erect once more. Their eyes met from across the room, shadows warbled like ripples in a pond as the gazes connected. The two forces energies crashed around one another like opposing tsunami waves which grew rapidly. Baron Symatuere gasped for air as his lungs constricted in the pressure. It had been a very long time since the Baron had encountered a power to exceed his own power. Shadows took form as silent serpents that bore fang at the paralyzed Baron, closing the distance rapidly to sink fang into flesh the Baron struggled against the invisible bindings that held him captive. His nose flared and his eyes, darted back and forth, his lips seemed to be glued shut. The serpents darted towards the dark giants face and dispersed like black fog in rays of sunlight just before they tasted flesh as Julius gently roused from his sleep.

Opening his eyes Julius felt sick, the Doctor was standing there beyond the bars smiling sweetly over him. There standing behind Doctor Davidson was a man of unimposing size, slender athletic build and fine, elegant clothing. Julius' blood ran cold and his stomach knotted with fear and sorrow. The man's eyes, those eyes! His eyes, jewelry, and now that he was more conscious, those distinct gem encrusted shoes glimmered and glowed in the dim, grey-blue dusk. The Barons face was illuminated with a powerful piercing sapphire blue light. Though the Doctor stood a head and shoulders taller than the well-dressed man bathed in shadow behind him, the power oozing from the shrouded man was visible in the warbling, twisting shadows that fluttered like a muted tornado of bats and roaring faces in agony from devoured souls. The aura loomed overhead, reaching the ceiling and spilling out over it and the walls like a waterfall being played in reverse. Screaming inaudible words from fanged lipless faces, pleading from release from the agony, bidding welcome to another soul soon to be joining them.

Like a nightmare fading with the approaching dawn the unimposing man vanished without a sound into the shadows of the dim prison. Doctor Davidson slicked back his salt and peppered hair with an indignant huff. Turning to walk away he took one last glance at Julius before departing. Julius felt heavy, his eyes couldn't stay open. Falling limp on the edge of his bed Julius blacked out. Seeing visions of white marble cities thick with giant trees and ivy, natural waterfalls a twin tailed fall that fed into aqueducts that rushed water into massive public bath houses and huge city central fountains and park reflecting pools. Walls around the city of glimmering silver colored metal sparkling for all eyes to see for miles. The sounds were different in this city, sounds of free people rushing about using magic at will for whatever they pleased. The city was wide open to the sky, and the rays of sunlight falling on his skin felt so refreshing. There was an elven beauty with vibrant emerald green eyes looking intently into his own eyes, what she was saying he could not hear. She was so familiar, the way his heart fluttered with her. Was he in love with her? How did he know this enchanting creature? He tried to speak to her, but then fire reflected in her glistening emerald eyes. When he turned to look at what was behind him the city had caught fire. Turning back to face the enchanting beauty she was gone and all was blood and ash and smoke. Two bright green eyes glimmered through the smoke. Chasing after those eyes he ran deeper and deeper into the fire until all was black and the eyes shifted to a deep violet. Floating in absent abyss, a soft angelic voice echoed through the nothingness,

"Please be safe, Julius." Remembering who he was now he lurched awake with a scream colliding heads with a concerned Barons' Julius looked around to find the unflinching beast of a man had been holding him tightly. Julius was on the floor, his back against the dark giants chest. The Baron was kneeling behind Julius with a small lock of Julius' hair on a strange little doll made of soap shaped roughly like Julius. The hair was burning with an herb of some kind, the smell was pungent and awful but he was starting to feel better. One massive arm pinned him down still while the other wafted the smoke gently over the boy. Julius' hand burned, holding it up to see why there was a fading but thick black and purple rash that had grown on Julius' hand and forearm. The image of a black rose came to mind as he watched the inky putrid rash vanish. "Mr. Symatuere, I'm scared." Julius whimpered weakly.

"Yah mon, me tinks me'd bee scared too eef me had two selves and curses stacked on me like yee be ave'n. Eet no good fer anyones health. Boy, yah bee... a special creature."

.......

Filipe had never been in more pain in his life, being made to channel so much energy while his body was still in shambles was almost unbearable. The Doctor drove him almost to the brink of death every day allowing him only six hours a night of reprieve before the next round began. His skin was blistered and raw, his wounds from the whip were still bleeding even after healing magic was performed, nothing would subside the pain. The Doctor was certain that Julius was something unusual, something more than he should be and wanted the would-be assassin to be properly prepared to handle the job. The Doctor had received the reports from the Magical Enforcement and Response Agency (M.E.R.A.) in regard to how resistant Julius had been to their apprehension and binding magic. An unprecedented occurrence outside of the Baron himself, though he had been found completely exhausted and starved to the brink of death prior to their apprehension. He had been hunted and seriously wounded by the doctors' master for several months like a young deer forcefully run across miles of winter woodlands by ravenous wolves. Julius too had been captured while weak, this new trend was not a welcome omen for the doctor, it made him nervous.

"Woe, bring in some experts to train Mr. Means here, let's get things moving at a faster rate shall we." Woe knelt before the Doctor and then backed out of the room low and silent setting out to find three teachers for their strange assistant and his three innate elements.