Claire POV

That night, Jordan reluctantly stepped into the recently unstable nether portal. It was probably a horrible idea to go into the nether looking for answers and..well...a heart.

Time was running out though, the pirates could arrive any day and Dianite had information.

The second part of her plan was to kill Furia, but who knew if he would actually be at the castle. If he was as powerful as Tom made him seem, she would definitely walk out with a few scars if at all. That and she didn't even know what the monster looked like.

The risk seemed worth it though, the pirates were Ianitees, the only ones left. In a way they must have been all that Ianite had left, therefore, it was her duty and honor to keep them safe. He could use all the love he could get, specially now.

Once the heat of the nether brushed against her skin, she took a deep breath to steady her heart and made her way out of her welcoming room and into the hallway.

There were soldiers and servants running around frantically, all were terrified, so much so that they didn't notice her or even spare a second glance her way. All but one...

There was a man on the other side of the hallway, back against the wall and so calm compared to the others that he stood out in her line of sight. He looked straight at her and began to make his way over with a smirk as a greeting.

Jordan had never seen this guy around. He was tall, had black hair and fair skin, so at odds with the unusual skin tones she was accustomed to see at the nether, reds and pinks. He had a very peculiar set of armor, it seemed like it was made of very dark stone and had lava running all through it even in the helmet he held around his arm.

Though most of his features seemed human, his eyes were bright green with black accents. Even with the eyes, he was a very handsome man or at least he would be considered so back home.

That didn't ease the feeling in her stomach when she stared at him though, something about him made her want to turn around and run all the way back home to Earth. She didn't move though, his wicked smile holding her in place not just out of fear but of curiosity.

"Now who might you be?" he asked when he was a few steps away from her

The servants that were still panicking in the hallway simply parted around them, not making eye contact with either.

"Who might YOU be?" she said with as much coldness as she could muster

The stranger simply laughed, letting his hair fall in front of his face as his laughter increased.

"Someone's got character! What's a delicate little human girl doing here huh? Shouldn't you be playing with animals and growing flowers somewhere?" he mocked, tilting his head to the side, examining her.

"You look human yourself, there are only so many left I can't help but wonder why I've never met you"she answered, ignoring his dumb comments

"Likewise" he said as he set down the helmet on the floor and reached his hand out to grab hers

Jordan flinched back before it could make contact, making the stranger let out another small laugh.

"Now now, I don't bite. I just wanted to greet you properly" he said quietly

Chills ran through her spine, begging her to turn and run but escaping would be difficult. Before stepping through the portal, Jordan had asked the priest to use some magic to fix up the dress Sonja lent her. Before giving it back, she decided to wear it with an identical flower crown like the one Sonja gave her.

She thought that a pretty dress and flowers could help Dianite feel more at ease, send a wordless statement that she came in peace. It turned out to be a bad choice because now she had no weapons and running with a dress would definitely slow her down. No wonder the stranger though she was a fragile little flower, she certainly looked like it but perhaps it could be used to her advantage.

Jordan cursed at herself and longed for her old jeans and t-shits for a brief second before she straightened the folds of her dress and plastered a look of boredom on her face.

"Sorry, I don't want to get burned by the lava around you. I have a bad record when lava is concerned" she said, keeping her voice steady

"It won't harm you, its held in place by magic" he said, as if that would make her trust his word

Jordan didn't want to be rude to the guy, the more allies she had the better, but there was something odd about the guy. If she let go of her mask of coldness, fear would show.

"Oh. Well, I should get going. Pleasure meeting you" Jordan said before she swerved around him and began walking along the hallway, perfectly aware that she was turning her back on that stranger. Horrible decision really...

To her surprise, he fell in step next to her without saying a word.

Jordan kept walking, trying to ignore his gaze as much as possible. It only occurred to her a few minutes later that she had no idea were she was going, she had probably been walking around in circles.

The stranger noticed too and laughed

"About time you noticed this is the third time we crossed this hallway. Unless your business being here is to start a breeze, may I ask were you want to go to?" he said

"Im not lost" Jordan lied, and the stranger could tell. His grin growing wider at her lie

"Your stubbornness won't help you find you way any time soon" he said

"Is there any reason in particular you're following me around like a lost dog? I can make it where I need to go on my own" she snapped with a bit of Tucker's saltiness that had definitely rubbed off on her.

"Wow, the little doe has fangs" he snarled "Im just curious as to what you're doing here, aside from the master's champions, no humans step foot here"

"Looks like that's no longer a valid statement then" Jordan said, plastering one of Tom's wicked grins on her face, no longer wanting to play the mask of the little doe as he had called her.

Not wanting to bother with this stranger any longer, she fixed her flower crown in place and let her arms fall on her sides casually as she began walking once more, trying to decipher where she was and how to get to the throne room.

"Should have looked where I was going"she mumbled to herself

"Where do you come from little doe?" the stranger said, still following her around

With a sigh she decided to answer some of his questions, maybe then he would stop following her around.

"Other side of the portal of course" Jordan said

"You live in Mianite?"he said

"Yeah, home sweet home. What about you?" she asked, hoping to put the spotlight on him for a bit.

"I work here but I travel most of the time so I guess you could say that the world is my 'home sweet home' more than this place"

"You work for Dianite? What are you, his guard or something?" Jordan said pointing to the armor

"Something like that. I assume then that you have met my lord? Living in Mianite and all, he must come to terrorize often"

Jordan bagan fidgeting with her dress again, trying to decide what information she should give away to a complete stranger. it was odd that the others hadn't mentioned anything about another human, she would have thought that it would be a big deal. Maybe they just didn't know him with the traveling thing.

"Yeah, he loves to come terrorize us champions" she said

"Champion? You're one of the champions?" he asked, a bit taken back

"Didn't know it was that shocking. What? Did you think I was a farmer or something?" she snapped at him

"Actually yes, that or a servant. Who do you hail to?"

"Not Dianite if thats what you're asking" she said, careful not to say too much

He must have known she was being hesitant, but thankfully he must have also thought she was with Mianite since he was 'the only other option' or so his face revealed.

"Then that must make you Mianite's champion, the girl dating his other champion. But I thought you were a different species?" the stranger asked

He thought she was Sonja...

"Nah, she's my best friend" Jordan said hesitantly

"Then many things must have happened in my absence, I only just returned a few days back" he confessed

Jordan wasn't sure why he was so curious about her, but she was just as curious about him. Dia had never mentioned a guy with lava armor working for him.

The stranger looked her over once more before turning left suddenly, dragging her along with him. Before she could scream out in protest he made an annoyed gesture.

"If you're a Mianitee I can just let you wonder this castle by yourself. As a gentleman, I should show you around. Come this way, I'm famished" he said, still dragging her along

"Hey! I have to...." she began but was abruptly cut off

"Aren't you hungry? Its' almost midnight and the personal cook makes the best mushroom stew"

He was at least fifty times stronger than her, his grip on her arm too strong to break, so she matched his pace and shrugged. Maybe she could get a few answers from the guy if he was in fact Dia's guard.

They reached the kitchen area and the stranger just grabbed two plates from the table near by and motioned for her to grab a few silverware. The cooks bowed to the stranger and didn't complain about his abrupt actions.

He then took a few turns left and right across the hallways. Jordan tried to keep track which way they were going in case she needed to run but perhaps he was taking the long way to his destination. Taking unnecessary turns to confuse her so she wouldn't now her way around.

Left. Right. Five doors later, turn Left again....

It was very hard to keep up but this was a side of the castle she had never been to. It was so foreign to her, she couldn't even tell which way was north anymore.

A few minutes of silence and walking later, he opened a door that lead to a study. It was much like Dianite's but probably half the size. Still, she could see all the armor, books, maps, and consistent darkness.

He set the food on a side table and nudged her to sit. Reluctantly she did as he asked and waited until he had a sip of the stew before doing so herself. Just in case it was poisoned, though poison was uncommon in Mianite.

"Little doe, what do you think?" he asked as he took another spoonful.

She considered his question, wondering if he meant the stew or the office.

"I've tasted better" Jordan said flatly

"Impossible" he whispered

"Not a lie, I had a really good stew in Florida when I was child. Much more flavorful that this one" she said, finishing up the last remainders of her food

"Flo..ride?" he asked, stetting his spoon down "Never heard of a place called as such"

"Cause its not near by. Since you're making so many questions, shouldn't I be allowed a few of my own?" Jordan said "I still don't know much about you and its making me weary"

He considered before nodding "Fine. What do you wish to know"

"A name would be useful, good place to start" she snapped

"My given name is Stefan, the last name is a secret...for now" he said with a wink " And you? Or should I just keep calling you doe?"

"Jordan, last name isn't a secret but I won't tell you so we're even"

"My dear you are sassy!" he said after finishing his meal

"Next, if its not to rude to ask...your eyes..." Jordan said slowly

"Ah, the eyes. A spell gone wrong, should fade in a week or so, till then I'm stuck with night vision" Stefan joked

Jordan let out a small laugh. This guy was just as foolish as the priest, experimenting with potions like a mad scientist.

"Last question is why are you doing this? Im the enemy aren't I? Why not just turn me to Dianite or kill me?" she asked

Stefan got up from his chair and held out a hand for her, a hand which she didn't take.

"We don't get very many visitors here, that and your attitude is so amusing to me. Can you blame me for wanting to spend time with a hotheaded doe, curiosity is a powerful thing dear"

"You're a bit unusual yourself. A bit too hyper to be a guard to the lord of the nether"

He laughed

"Not everyone here is a stick in the mud you know" Stefan said " Though the majority is so I understand your confusion"

"If you say so"

"Besides aren't you supposed to be all good, hugs, and kisses being Mianite's champion" he asked "Yet you seem to be the stick in the mud here"

"I'll have you know I can be very fun! Im just being careful around strangers" Jordan snapped, getting up from the chair and making her way to the door.

Dianite. She needed to talk to Dianite. Find the heart and Furia.

" Im gonna go talk to your god. You can show me how to get there or I can find him on my own" Jordan said as she opened the door, not bothering to look back

"Pushy...fine. But I have to warn you, he's not in a very happy mood today. A prisoner escaped today and he's ready to kill anyone for it, specially a Mianitee" he said walking next to her, handing her his helmet so he could brush his hair back.

Jordan did her best to touch it carefully, not wanting to have her fingers melt off with the lava running through it as if it was alive.

Stefan took it back shortly and smiled.

"Told you it was safe to touch"

"Not ready to take your word for it"

"Ouch" Stefan said, touching the area in his chest where his heart was like a true drama queen

"You know, we may get to see each other more often. There is word around the castle that Dianite's champion was killed"

Jordan paused and laughed.

"Then they are all wrong. Tom is alive and kicking. We just finished watching Pirates of the Caribbean" she said not bothering to hide the smirk on her face

"Watch what? Hold on, he's alive?" Stefan asked, a bit of harshness in his voice

"Yeah, looks like this castle is full of liars and failures apparently" she said, hoping word would gat back to Furia about what she said

"By the gods, that guy has the greatest survival rate I've ever seen" Stefan said quietly enough for her to hear

"Second actually. I have died outside the world communicator and lived to tell the tale, been captured a few times too" Jordan said

Stefan was surprised but didnt seem like he knew what to answer. His silence was a silent victory for her.

They continued to roam the castle and she wondered how he could keep track of where he was going, it seemed like he knew it like the back of his hand. it was recently built so its not like he could have been roaming the place for years.

"I feel like I've seen that dress before" Stefan said out of nowhere

"Its Sonja's" she replied

"Looks like something a Mianitee would wear"

Jordan couldn't help but laugh, he clearly didn't know she was an Ianitee and it amused her to no end. Lying was horrible, but she couldn't trust him just yet.

They reached a large staircase descending to a more familiar floor. As she began pulling up her dress to not trip down the stairs, Stefan grabbed her hand and motioned to the edge of the stairs.

"Better to slide down the rail. You said you were fun, prove it" He said with a wicked smile most girls would have swooned over.

She had nothing to prove to the guy, but she just couldn't find it in herself to refuse the challenge so she sat on the edge of the railing and gave him an equal grin before sliding down.

It occurred to her half way that the stairs were a tad steep and there were probably 70 steps. Once her momentum increased and she was unable to slow down she began to panic. She tried to hold on the the rail behind her but a figure descended close by.

Stefan was sliding down behind her, stopping would make them collapse and fall on the stairs if they were lucky, or they could fall a a few feet on the other side of the railing. A fall that could kill her.

She screamed off the top of her lungs.

Jordan tried to calm down and continued to speed up down the railing until she reached the end of the and fell on her back, rolled a few times until she was facing the roof splattered along the floor.

Before she could recover and get up, Stefan came down laughing. He fell a few feet next to her a bit more gracefully than she had but his momentum made him roll at her direction. When he reached her they both rolled on top of each other a few times before the momentum stopped.

She had planned on yelling at him and telling him to get off her, that stranger that had made her slide down railing like a kid, to her surprise she just laughed when his eyes began twinkling with amusement as he stared down at her.

He joined along and they remained laughing for a few minutes, massaging their own aches and making the servants stop and stare for a few seconds until they probably thought they were crazy and moved on with their lives.

"Jordan?" a voice asked behind Stefan, someone she could not see until Stefan rolled to the side revealing Dia.

He still seemed as angry as he was in the morning, so much that she had to think on what to say, leaving a long pause hanging in the air.

"Lord Dianite" Stefan said, getting to his feet and lowering his head in respect.

"I found a little human roaming around the castle, one of the champions." Stefan began

"I'm aware of who she is" Dianite said flatly

"Would you like me to escort her out my lord?" Stefan asked, looking down at her from the floor, offering his hand to her.

"Not necessary, she must be here on official business regarding my brother. Leave us." Dia said, clearly still angry and losing his patience

"Of course my lord" he said bowing once more before turning to her

Jordan had stood and was fixing her flowers in place and straightening her dress.

Stefan came up to her and gave a smaller, less formal bow.

"Maybe I'll come visit you in the land of Mianite, since we had such a good time today. That way you can give me some of your supposedly superior stew little doe" he said "Please try not to get killed Mianitee, I can't wait to spend more time together, maybe you won't be so bitter then"

Jordan could feel Dianite's stare behind her, his anger boiling. She realized he must be misunderstanding the situation, that she and one of his guards were...

She said nothing, too unsure of what would be appropriate to say so she just made a mocking bow of her own and stepped around him to where Dia was.

They both began walking the opposite way of the guard and she snuck a glance behind her, noticing that Stefan was still staring at them go, curiosity in his eyes.

"I heard you scream" Dia finally said

"The stair railing was much steeper than I anticipated" was all Jordan said before they reached his office and she sank down on a familiar couch.

"I came to talk about this morning but I got lost" she added

Dianite sat next to her, saying nothing. Thats when she noticed all the maps in his office were out, knives puncturing multiple spots on them. Blood stained some spots on the carpets, some chairs were event destroyed, bits of wood all over the floor.

"Ianite actually escaped then" she said, faking innocence.

"Surprised you weren't aware" he said

"I didn't free him" Jordan said, facing him that time

"I know you tell the truth" Dia said, holding her gaze as well

"Maybe its a good thing, making your brother suffer didn't do any good to anyone"