Mageia had fought the best she could against her kidnappers, but they were strong. Too strong to be natural. They moved swift on their feet and literally carried her through the forest. They forced her down the well and through the tunnels with purpose. She prayed to the gods they would intervene, or at least Dawnis, but the hope of them leaving their fights turned to ashes in her gut.

They weren't in the Base long until a fourth assassin joined them with information and orders. Apparently, Eron had an issue to settle at a nearby base and told them they were being followed by Grisonce. Mageia spat questions and concerns at them, but they ignored her completely.

Prince Grisonce was coming, and it didn't sound like he brought back up. She overheard them mention how he could end up going in another direction. Deep down she prayed he would. There were too many soldiers against the flimsy boy. A few minutes later, after the fourth one told them about the fire in the west wing, the chaos in the infirmary, and how Eron mentioned how the Prince tried to rip him to shreds, he left with Sii.

The two soldiers they left behind wouldn't answer her questions. No one would tell her what was going on. Why did they bring her to this abandoned base? They personally investigated the adjoined rooms around the clearing and sifted through the junk left behind long ago. She tried untying herself, but the rope they used was dabbed into a mystical potion to withhold strong magicians.

When she asked Sii why they had mystical rope? His only response was that he and his friends were masters in sorcery.

She didn't believe him despite how creepy Sii made her feel, until Sii returned with news. Apparently, Grisonce was about to give up until he found a handkerchief on the floor and now, he's on his way. Sii shook his head at Mageia who had dropped it on purpose hoping for a miracle. It came, but not in the way she imagined. The light from the clearing would not be hard to mask, so Sii decided to unmask himself to have some fun.

Mageia almost swallowed her tongue, gaping in horror as Sii transformed himself into a mystical nightmare and flew into the darkness.

The Strange Prince moaned awake, sitting beside her with his wrist bound behind him. She felt honored and proud to have someone care for her so much to track her down and fight a winless fight. Compared to all the men she has known and met, Prince Grisonce had selfless courage, which she doubted the pathetic boy knew.

"Grisonce," she whispered relieved that Sii had removed her gag. She nudged him with a boot Sii had slid on her feet before they took the long trek through the underway. "Grisonce, wake up."

He shivered awake and searched frantically for the shadow, but Sii had left his side minutes ago.

"Untie me," Grisonce ordered struggling to turn his chair.

"Grisonce don't do anything stupid," Mageia said. "Plus, they tied me with mystical rope, so every time I struggle it gets tighter."

He stared at her and guilt washed over his hazel eyes. She didn't know why he'd feel this way, but it made her cheeks hot with embarrassment.

"Oh, and he wakes," Sii said coming around to stand in front of them.

"Are you okay?" Gris said bravely ignoring him.

"I'm fine," she said. "We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I bet," he said shaking his head to remove a stubborn curl in his eye.

"Awe so cute. What a beautiful reunion," Sii said.

Grisonce cut him that sharp glare he'd done before, sending chills down her spine.

"Look shadowdemon. You are going to pay for Hercones and Limp."

Mageia gasped, heart swelling. "They're dead?"

His eyes glazed over for a second. "Only Hercones. Limp is holding on to a thread, I believe."

But his last word cracked and fainted away. Mageia knew how much the manservant meant to him and prayed he would survive his ordeal.

"This bastard and his assassins did this to them," Grisonce said.

"Sorcerers," Sii corrected with a bright smile. "We call ourselves The Conjurers."

The theatrical way he announced their group's name, irritated Mageia to the core. She wished she could slice his head off. Despite the countless decisions of that old man, he did not deserve to die, nor did the nurse and the temple slave. Baron.

"I don't care what you are or what you're called," Grisonce snarled. "You all won't get away with this as long as I'm alive!"

"Um... No, we will get away with it and once master comes you might actually die," Sii said, amused.

"Master?"

"Eron," Mageia growled.

"I knew it," Grisonce shouted squirming in his seat. "I knew he was involved in everything. Where is the bastard?"

"On his way soon enough of course," Sii said combing a hand through his blonde hair.

"Sii, I have met Dawnis personally," Mageia said clenching her fists. "I will make sure he has a special place for you in his dungeons to rot for eternity!"

"Ooo I like the sound of that," the shadowdemon squealed.

"And Eron will be right with you," Grisonce added.

"And we shall see," Sii said.

Mageia scolded and wished she could pluck those eyes from his head. She looked to the prince. "Prince Grisonce-,"

"Gris. I told you. Just Gris."

She couldn't help but smile and shake her head. In this dire situation, the boy still wanted to be on informal terms.

"Gris. How'd you find me?"

"Oh, so you're going to ignore me, beautiful?" Sii said flicking her earlobe for the hundredth time since reuniting.

"Don't touch her," Gris yelled so loud, Mageia thought the ground would shake.

"Oh fuck you, handsome," Sii said then purred into Gris' face.

Gris lurched his forehead at the soldier to butt him, but he backed away fast. His laughter echoed about the Base. The Prince squirmed violently in his chair, yanking on his restraints.

"Gris calm down," Mageia said, glaring at Sii. "There's no need to waste your energy on this fool."

Sii chuckled and brushed a hand across Gris' shoulder as he passed by. Gris jerked away, scolding.

"How did you find me, Gris?"

Mageia noticed how disheveled the Prince looked. As if he'd gone through hell and back. Soot and sweat caped his amber skin, burn blisters dotted his face and his exposed chest from his collar, and his clothing was extremely dirty.

"I followed Eron. He left the infirmary with a soldier who was with this fool to lure me away from the Slave Quarters to start the fire."

"Yeah, they were bragging about it," Mageia said.

"Damn it," Gris said.

"Why didn't you bring back up?" she said wanting to laugh, but anxiety and worry muffled it.

"Dargany was with me."

"Who?"

"The soldier who brought you to me from the Doomed."

"Oh, that soldier. Where is he?"

"I left him fighting one of them at the well," Gris whispered. "I hope he's okay."

"I hope he killed that one," Mageia said. "They all deserve to die for what they've done."

"Did they mention why they stole you," Gris said.

"No. But I think they're meeting someone here soon," she said. "Someone called the Queen."

Gris scrunched his nose. "Queen? Queen of what?"

Mageia glanced behind them seeing Sii and his two friends whisper and laugh amongst themselves.

"I don't know. Sorcery maybe," Mageia shrugged. Gris gave her a strange look. "What?"

"Um... Nothing," he said shifting in his seat.

She edged closer to the boy. "I have magic now," she said. "I mean. I've always had it but now it's awake."

The boy smiled. "That's great. You can use it then to get us out of here?"

"But I don't know how," she said. "And they said this mystical rope is supposed to subdue my power for some time."

"No. You're a Fairest. There's no such thing as that. Try and connect with it."

"What? How?"

"Just um... Maybe talk to it."

Mageia stared at him and gasped realizing something amazing. "Gris. You're not stuttering."

The boy smiled again causing his hazel eyes to brighten in response. "Yeah. Thanks to you."

"Hercones told me people were healed when I died, but your stutter..."

"It must've been healable," Gris said. "Now. Mageia, you need to focus. We need to get out of here before Eron comes and this Queen arrives."

"I'll try," she said.

She closed her eyes and tried feeling for the energy she felt in the Serene and when the sorcerers came for her. But the only thing she could feel was her grumbling stomach and her muscles tensing.

"I can't feel it," she said.

"You can't feel what? Your magic?" She nodded. "You got to calm yourself. Try speaking to it. I read in a magician's book once that meditation is very important when magic is involved."

"How am I supposed to meditate in this condition?" she scolded at the boy.

"I don't know. Just try. If you can't we need to break free and I can try and cut the rope once we escape."

"Escape?"

They both gasped in start, glancing back at Sii who had somehow slipped behind them to listen. His face was only inches away from theirs. Mageia shivered realizing he was literally a shadow, and shadows are made of nothing but darkness and air. This meant he could've been listening to them the entire time across the room and still have a conversation with his friends.

"Back off, you bastard," Gris ordered.

"Oh, I suggest you watch what you say to master," Sii said looking straight ahead.

They followed his gaze and Mageia knew there was no way they were escaping now. Standing in the entryway was two soldiers and Commander Eron.