And so it is written in our History books...

Christel was momentarily startled to find a strange woman in her room, but as her mind followed her body to wakefulness, she realized that this creature could only be Drakkara or one of Drakkara's servants. Rubbing her eyes and holding her breath, she waited for the wondrous being to speak.

"Do not be alarmed, child." She said softly, her voice filling Christel's ears like a sweet melody.

Christel's hand found the white dragon doll that had gotten buried in her covers and clutched it in her hands. "Why are you here? Is my father well??" She whispered, worried.

"Your father is not why I am here, child. Your help is needed. Many people live full lifetimes wondering how to best serve their Goddess, now I am granting you the chance."

An old conversation floated into Christel's head at the woman's words, and she worried over Magess Granuk, whose words had been "Seek Death." Christel didn't want anything to do with death. Taking a deep breath, she said "Where are we going? I should probably tell my mom so she doesn't worry. I'm not going to get in trouble, am I? Mom doesn't like it when I get in trouble."

"Your mother will never know you have gone, for where we travel, time has stopped. Prepare yourself child. You are about to witness something a mortal has NEVER seen before." As she spoke, the room around Christel spun into darkness, and suddenly she found herself standing alone on a dirt road, surrounded by a forest. In the distance, an eerie light shone in the woods.

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Christel considered her situation, staring at the light. Shrugging lightly, Christel skipped off down the road, towards the light. Since her escort had disappeared and there was nothing better to do, she thought inspecting the light might be a good idea. Distracted easily, the walk took a while, as she stopped frequently to inspect the foliage along the edge of the road.

Walking into the light, Christel saw a woman, more beautiful than the one who had brought her here. Beyond her power to describe, Christel could only look at the woman in awe. Absently, she noticed that the woman was lying in a pool of blood, her stomach was swollen with child, but there was no indication that the woman was in pain.

"Come closer, child. You have been blessed." The woman beckoned gracefully.

"Why am I here?" Christel asked curiously, her eyes never leaving the woman's face.

"How do I know this isn't a trick?" She asked skeptically, chewing on her lip.

"You serve Drakkara as a follower of faith, do you not? Prove your faith now and know that it is not a trick. Drakkara needs your help and She needs it now."

Something in the woman's eyes convinced Christel and she squirmed momentarily, uncomfortable with the idea that a Goddess would need her help. "Ok. What do I have to do?" Christel asked, twirling a strand of hair around her finger and chewing on the end.

"Give yourself to me, freely. Allow me to use your strength, child. It will be returned in a greater way than you can imagine. Do this now, time is running short."

Coming closer to the woman, Christel reaches her hand out to touch her. "My strength is your strength. My faith will sustain you." She closed her eyes and screwed up her face, expecting a great deal of pain. Agony filled her immediately, draining all of her strength. Holy powers and thoughts dwindled into blackness as Christel passed out for a few seconds. Weak, lying on the ground, Christel woke to see something she would never forget.

From the woman bled darkness. It twisted shape and form many times as Christel watched. It seemed at first a fanged dragon, a black copy of the white she'd known. Then it became a demon, hideous to behold. It shifted again, into a vampire and finally dwindled into the form of a child.

Christel's ears began to bleed as a loud cackle surrounded her, coming from the woman who had brought here to this place. The woman's form twisted itself into that of a demon as Christel watched, and then it grabbed up the child in its talons and flew away. The woman who had just given birth was now alone in the clearing with Christel. Her form becomes perfect, no sign of birthing upon her. With awe, Christel realizes that this woman must be Drakkara and she just witnessed the birth of a new God. Wiping tears of pain from her eyes, she could only lay there and stare.

Drakkara looked down upon her young servant and smiled warmly. The agonizing pain left her as the smile caressed her soul. "On this plane, I am weak. The child was born here so that the other gods might not know. You must have a million questions for me, but I will tell you only this. The child is Mine and Necrucifer's. He will help Us tip the scales of Darkness into this world. You have helped me and served Me well."

Still confused, Christel whispered, "But... why me? My dad isn't Highlord any more, what am I supposed to do? I'm just a little girl, no one listens to me.."

Smiling again, Drakkara dispelled Christel's fears. "Why you? Are you not a follower of faith to me?"

"Of course!" Christel exclaimed, embarrassed that she should be doubted.

"Then I called upon you because perhaps there is something I needed from you those others followers may not have given. I had as much faith in you as you did in me."

Blushing, Christel looked down at the ground. She whispered, "I'll try my bestest to be as faithful and as good a follower to You as dad is."

"You will soon have power far beyond your father's. You are blessed by Me and soon you will realize this. May your dreams become a reality, child. I will be leaving you now, but be assured, I will be watching and protecting you as you just protected Me and My child."

"Now that the baby is born.. Do I have to keep it a secret or can I tell dad what happened? And mom?

"Tell only those who share your heart. Do not tell those who might be your enemies."

Her mind bubbling with questions, Christel suddenly found herself once more sitting up in her bed, staring at the foot of it, which now stood empty. "Does the baby have a name? Is it a boy? How come it didn't look as pretty as you? Am I, like... its godmother now? I think I'm too little to be a godmother, do you think?" She blurted out. Blushing in sudden embarrassment, Christel clasped her hands over her mouth and looked around the room, wondering if it had all be a dream.

A dark spot on her wall caught Christel's attention. Looking closely, she saw that it was a name, written in blood.

MALACHIVE

"Pathetic" exclaimed Necrucifer.

"The Goddess of Dark Magic and mother of many Gods weeping like a elven female. Perhaps you are getting soft. Whatever the reason, I do not like this. It is a sign of weakness."

Drakkara's tears turned into a snarl almost instantly.

"Do you not care that our son is alone on a world where he can be... killed by mere mortals?" snarled Drakkara.

"Do you not care that the very unappreciative mortals that we helped create would have your son killed in an act of defiance and vengeance? Or have you forgotten that the High God has cursed us while on Algoron? We can DIE there and no son of mine will be taken by mortals!!!"

"You're attempting to anger me, Lover, just as you do when you attempt to seduce the mortals into worshiping you instead of me. While you may be good at manipulating the mortals, remember that I am the master of all things dark, and that includes you, my dear. I see right through you."

Drakkara was suddenly angered and while it was apparent on her expression, she said nothing. Probably a wise move.

Necrucifer stood boisterous with a sly smirk. He knew that Drakkara would like nothing more than to slap it off of his face. He enjoyed the moment very much. And then... he spoke.

"I will create a hoard of demons. The mortals of all of our children can quest for the right to serve as one. When that has been decided, they will find Malachive and protect him. Perhaps his power will flourish enough to once and for all rule that world. Where you see disaster, I see opportunity. Malachive will live, and he will be our savior of destroying the good."

Darkness overcame Necrucifer and in an instant, he was gone. Drakkara stood alone contemplating Necrucifer's words. She smiled, and returned to her moon.

Malachive....... AWAKE!

A young man awoke from his sleep. His features were both pale and handsome. Long black hair fell behind his head and his eyes were as black as the darkness itself.

A woman stood next to his bed. To say she was attractive would be to say that Giant Ogres were only mildly tall compared to humans. She was both beautiful and seductive with every gesture and every breath. Malachive knew her the moment he noticed her standing before him.

"Mother?" He asked.

Drakkara nodded a simple nod and begin to speak in mocking tones.

"You sleep? You have been in this realm far too long, my son. What else have they trained you to do? Eat? Work? Pay debts?"

Drakkara sat at the end of his bed and briefly touched his right cheek.

"I have found you, and within a blink of time you are already a man in this world. I could take you home now, but your father has plans for you. Already events are in motion and we have begun a holy revolution. Churches of Necrucifer have arose and become powerful. The Gods of 'light' as they call themselves have followed in his example and have begun organized churches of their own. Already priests are being trained to bring others to their side. A true holy war has begun."

"What does father require of me, mother?"

"You will know in due time. In the meantime, know that you are mortal here. Keep yourself alive. Seek those who are strong to protect you. You can die here and if you do, it will be for good."

"And if I do well? Will father allow me to return home and to have the full power of my birthright? Do I finally get to be able to be a God? Do I..."

"Sleep, my child. The answers and more will come in due time. Do what you can to stay alive while oppressing these new churches and their priests. Rewards have an interesting way of working out."

With a wave of her hand, Malachive slumbered once again. Dreaming of the darkness which he so enjoyed, a smirk crossed his lips.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
(ooc: See help priest.)

"His destiny is to rule that world and prepare it for my commands yet he works with his hands as a carpenter," moaned Necrucifer. His voice echoed through the darkness followed by a rumbling shake.

Pale, sleek hands massaged his form. "Is the world not going as you have planned, my love?" Drakkara smiled with sarcasm.

Necrucifer growled. "Summon Goratrix. This is his failure. He has done nothing to prepare for Malachive's rule nor has he been an effective leader of the other Demons."

Drakkara suddenly took great offense. "This is Goratrix's failure? What direction have you given him? The only time you have ever spoken to him was when you cast him out transforming him into a Demon!"

"SILENCE YOURSELF. You may be my mate but you will not forget yourself and your place in my service! If you ever defend him again as you have before you will be sorry." screamed Necrucifer.

Drakkara started to argue back, but stopped herself, and smiled mischievously. "As you wish.... 'my lord'". This comment filled with sarcasm. Drakkara quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Necrucifer turned around and willed Goratrix beside him. "You know not who you serve. You are a failure now as you were before you were transformed. Perhaps time in the Abyss will teach you a lesson. You no longer are my Demon Lord." Goratrix slowly rose to speak, stretching his wings with a leathery crackle. As he approached his father, Necrucifer with only a thought put more pain into Goratrix's body than that of a hundred dying warriors.

Pain enveloped the demon. It was a good sensation at first, one he had missed for some time. As he began to revel in the rising agony, he realized there would be no end in sight to this pain. From glory to defeat, Goratrix doubled over as his vision went crimson with both rage and pain. His gaping jaws opened, releasing a chilling howl... But no one could hear him. As the pain bubbled away, his eyes refocused to his own horror. A group of people, yet not people, gathered about him. He looked about, feeling the pull of their energy. His father had said the Abyss?

As his mind focused slowly, the cold chills of ice-torn winds dug into his hardened skin, and the frigid stone clutched at him. He looked out at the wavering forms before him... All souls he had taken in before his leave of this place. He had returned. After the eternity spent escaping, he had been replaced in the same god's forsaken hole, left to rot and gather more souls. His mind raced to rage, as he jerked his body into standing, ready to release his full fury open those closest to him. A freezing blast of wind sent him to his knees before he could take his first movement. In his weakened state, he forgot the agony he had just endured.

Goratrix looked to the heavens, extending his fisted talons. "I served you, you wretch! I served you!!", He cried, as his throat bubbled over with warm liquid. Alarmed, his gaze fell. The cold stone was covered, as was his body, in warmth. He finally had noticed he was bleeding.

Malachive was now unburdened by the limitations of the mortal mind. He knows the secrets to many things beyond mortal comprehension but still, as anyone around his age of 20 years; he couldn't piece a lot of things together.

"Of my father wants me to conquer this world, why not just throw a meteor at all kingdoms that resist?" He thought.

"Indeed," said a voice from behind him.

Malachive had sensed no one near him, so he knew whoever this voice came from was a God of some type.

A woman with pale skin and long black hair stood with more beauty in her smile than all wonders of the world combined. Instantly, Malachive recognized her.

"Mother!" Malachive said with a boyish excitement.

Drakkara embraced her son and for a moment one would never know the evil within these two hearts.

"You do not know the trouble your father went through getting the rock to land. The same people who would see you dead everything they could to stop it. So now the responsibility is yours to conquer the world. And while I would have you off this world safe, these events must come to pass" Drakkara said.

"I guess I can understand that. Already there are many who attack me." Malachive replied. "Elves, Knights and even kingdoms have come for my head. If not protected by your Black Tower and some of the Demons, my life would already be at an end.

"And what of the immortals? The ones who suck life to sustain their own?"

"The vampires? Mother, they have long forgotten their dark gift as a prize to be cherished. They have long stopped being thankful for eternal life and immortal powers. They are a lost cause. I have hope for many, but only a few of those are worthy of their gift. And I do mean a seldom few."

"Perhaps you should teach them a lesson?"

"Can I?" Malachive paused for a moment. "I'm still getting used to this.

My powers grow daily and I am coming to understand its limits are far beyond what I imagined."

Drakkara grinned an evil smile. "The first steps have been taken. The rest is your responsibility. I will help guide you all that I can, but you should know that the more your father and I involve ourselves, the more the others will become involved as well. Even the neutral Gods fear you and will do what they must to kill you. We created you without their permission or their council. However you were created with purpose and as my son you have all of the tools to ensure our victory. You know what to do."

In an instant, she was gone.

"Indeed mother, indeed. The beginning of the end is now and I know just how to start." Malachive, his eyes a flaming black.

His staff and his backpack were gone and his golden robes of the conclave had been replaced by a simple grey cotton shirt and grey cotton pants. His pointy hat and shoes were also gone, but his recently frayed beard was back to normal.

"Am I dead?" Seanan said out loud not expecting any answer. After all, there was nothing but ground as far as his eyes could see.

"Szarveenik!" Seanan said while holding out a hand. Nothing happened. "SZARVEENIK!" Seanan said louder with his hand out stretched. Puzzled, Seanan sat on the ground.

"My magic. Its gone" the old man said sadly.

"You'll find that magic does not work here, especially for the dead" a voice behind him said in a sad tone.

Seanan turned around to see a young noble looking man with long black hair wearing black robes. His skin was pale and his expressions seemed very genuine.

"You will find that nothing of what you were remains. This is what is left of you and this is your destiny for the rest of eternity. To walk this realm alone" the man said, again with sadness in his voice that made Seanan feel as if this news troubles this man as much as it did to Seanan himself.

"Who are you?" Seanan asked. "How did I die? Was I eaten by Galeru? Did that red beast feast upon what was left of me?"

"You died from the wounds you obtained from the incident with Maylstrom. You laid in Galeru's lair for a week and then your body gave out and you died. The Dragon did not eat you." The man said while studying Seanan's face. "Galeru was merely acting to his nature, seeking a few easy jeweled eggs in return for finding you helpless and then returning you your towers, but your mages did not want you back."

"That can not be." Seanan said in disbelief. "They wouldn't."

"They did betray you, Seanan. They did indeed. A few offered the dragon the eggs but only in return for your books and not for you. Others said they would only help if the Gods themselves told them too and even then, they undermined you by stating they wish for the red to eat you and that you were not around the towers enough to baby sit them. They wanted you to die, and so you did. In fact, their leaders stated publicly that they would celebrate your death as if you were a tyrant whom had spent your days razing their villages and killing their families."

Seanan's old eyes grew wide. "But I was there to help them! I taught them the ways of Battle Magic!! I had EIGHT other schools of magic to teach them, not to mention many more spells to within their own schools to show them! Why would they do this to me? After all I have seen and sacrificed to make them better and to prepare them for what is to come? How could they betray me? How?"

The pale man smirked. "Old one, the Conclave is not what it was in your day. They are their own worse enemy. Politics takes the place of common goals and egos take the place of a passion for magic and arrogance takes the place of worship. My mother could go and on about this very topic."

"Your mother?" Seanan asked cautiously.

"Drakkara" stated the man. "My mother is Drakkara. We aren't exactly on the best of terms right now, before you start asking."

"So you are Malachive then?" Seanan asked.

Malachive grinned. "I am. And I came here to see you off. You are one of the most powerful wizards in the history of the world, Seanan, and to be honest I was flattered to learn that you came to this time to defeat me. Unlike those in the Conclave, I recognize and appreciate one who made themselves as powerful as you."

Seanan sat and said nothing. He looked off into the nothingness with a blank stare before uttering "You've no reason to flatter me, Malachive." A single tear fell down the old mans face. "Do not be sad, old one." Malachive said with a look of concern. "I too used to live among the Conclave and I too was unwelcome there, despite my mother's wishes. So now, I live in hiding, slowly planning, slowly building, slowly preparing for what is to come. It is a shame you won't be there to see it."

The words rang through Seanan's head. His pain turned to anger and his face flushed with a bright redness.

"It's a fact, Seanan. I am not saying such things to sting you."

Malachive leaned down and studied Seanan's face. His face was red; his eyes were wide and teary. If Seanan were alive, one would worry that he was having a stroke.

"What are you thinking, old one?" Malachive asked politely.

Seanan turned and looked Malachive eye to eye. "I can't believe this is how it is to end for me, after all I have done! How dare those ungrateful little bastards betray their robes and betray me, the only man who could place them back at their previous glory!! If there is a way out of this realm, I will find it and when I do, I will tear down those towers brick by brick by brick by brick!!!!"

Malachive smiled. "I made the same vow myself, you know. When they unwelcomed me, so I understand your thoughts Seanan. It's a shame too, because like it or not, you are dead. Not even I can restore you to your mortal form."

"My mortal form was weak anyway!" Seanan said, again staring out into the nothing. "Even if I could go back as a powerless small child, I would find a way to get my revenge! Those ungrateful bastards deserve what they have coming to them and I want to not only be there to see it, I want to help!"

"Are you asking me for help?" Malachive said, almost grinning.

"I'm no spring grasshopper." Seanan replied. "I know what I'm getting myself into and I know that I've lost favor with Sebatis over the last year or I wouldn't be stuck in this Abyss. But what I know more than anything else is that those bastards in the towers are going to pay for what they did to me. They deserve everything they are going to get and I am going to make them and the moons pay! If you want my soul for servitude, then you have it! If it's either waste away here shunned by every one that I had dedicated my life for and go seek revenge, then I demand revenge!"

Malachive's grin left his face. Muttering "Mother, forgive me" to himself, he placed his hand on Seanan's shoulder and spoke softly.

"Old one, I did not want to see you robbed of your dignity any way. You and I will walk the world together and I will see that you have your chance to get your revenge. But understand that by placing yourself under my will, you will cease to feel things as you have. You will cease to taste things they way you have and you will have to live with the orders in which I give without regret. A better tomorrow awaits all of us if we are only willing to make the tough choices of today. The world below is vile and ugly and only with strength and control can we make it a better place."

"What's to become of me?" Asked Seanan. "Am I to be transformed into a demon?"

"A demon?" Malachive chuckled. "You confuse me for my father for I control no demons. Just consider yourself an agent of Malachive. "Let us begin our journey."

In a blink, Seanan was in a new place. His clothes had been replaced with long grey robes. At his feet laid his own corpse, along side of it was his backpack and his staff. Reaching down, he picked up his back pack and his staff. He noticed the aches and pains of his normal movements were still completely gone. Physically, he felt young again. Looking around, Seanan realized that he had died in what was an abandoned ruby mine. He made his way to the entrance only to be met at the door by a rather large red dragon.

Galeru stood poised for battle. He swiped a claw at Seanan only to have his entire arm jolt from whatever barrier that was protecting Seanan.

"To kill you now would be to kill a fly, simply for flying." Seanan said. "It is not my job to change the nature of a Red Dragon."

Galeru looked at Seanan perplexed as Seanan walked past him, unconcerned.

Turning as if Seanan had just realized he forgot something, he looked at Galeru.

"However, since we now share some common enemies."

Seanan raised his staff into the air and a blue bolt of energy passed from the staff into Galeru. Galeru's muscles grew and hardened. His claws extended and his fangs grew jagged edges between the teeth.

Galeru looked down at his arms, claws and felt his fangs. He looked back to Seanan, but Seanan was gone. Galeru strolled back into his lair and looked at his reflection in a pool of standing water.

What he saw was something Galeru had never seen before upon his face. A grin.

The fortress' mood in general was very chipper. After all, they had all witnessed an Abhorrant single handedly torturing and killing a full grown Brass dragon that very evening. There's nothing quite as fulfilling for an army than a display of sheer power. But to Malachive, something was not right. Although his plans were coming into fruition, he did not feel anything good or bad. He was completely empty.

He strolled down into his chambers and laid down in his bed, his eyes wide awake as he stared at his ceiling.

"I can no longer read your thoughts" a female voice said softly. "And you look much different than before, more like an attractive human instead of a half Abhorrant beast. The horns were not a good look for you."

Malachive sat up and stared at his mother, who had not aged a day since he last saw her years ago.

"I know" Malachive said calmly.

"Do not alert anyone to my presence here, Malachive, the Abhorrants would be less than kind if they I know I walked in their fortress" Drakkara said. "I wasn't exactly the most hospitable person when they walked Algoron all those years ago."

"It's MY fortress, mother." Malachive said.

"Ah, of course it is" Drakkara responded with a sarcastic tone to match her sarcastic smile.

"What do you want?" Malachive asked.

"I have some concerns and I also bring to you a warning" Drakkara stated. "What you are allowing, even encouraging Seanan to do is both dangerous and very disrespectful towards me. I want you to stop it. Stop it now!" Drakkara glared at Malachive with her eyes warning that at any moment, she could explode in anger.

"What is the matter, mother? Are you afraid that mortals will learn that there is magic available in this world that doesn't require your permission to exist?" Malachive said with a smile. He said this knowing full well that his words would strike a nerve.

"That's NOT magic!" Drakkara said loudly. "It's a perversion. It's an abomination! You have no idea what you are doing and I can't always protect you from."

"Protect me?" Malachive interrupted angrily. "Where were you when I was stolen from the heavens to be raised by mortals? Where were you when my real moth.... The woman who loved and raised me died and left me here alone? Where were you when I fell in love only to have them snatched away by IDIOCY? Where were you when I couldn't control my power and was made an outcast by all who knew me? Where were you when your very own tower of magic barred me from living there? Protect me? Do I look like I need your protection? I do not need anything from you!"

"Is that a fact?" Drakkara asks using her calm voice once again.

"That is a fact!" Malachive stated boldly.

"Well then at least I tried" Drakkara said before staring at Malachive as if she were trying to memorize his face. "We won't see each other again" she added. "What?" Malachive asked quickly.

"The Gods have met, Malachive. All of them. You are exiled and will stay on Algoron for your remaining days" She said with almost sadness in her voice.

"When have I ever left?" Malachive replied sarcastically.

"There's more. And I assume they knew I would tell you this, but consider it a mother's final act to protect her son. They will be sending someone to kill you." Drakkara said with full seriousness.

Malachive stared at Drakkara a moment before speaking. "Who?"

"I don't know. They won't tell me. I can only tell you who it is not, and that is me and Taliena. We both protested. No one else did. Not even Kadiya, and of course not even your father. The things you are doing is of great risk to the world that we built and the Abhorrants presence here is beyond .. Insulting. Do you have any idea how many of us died to those beasts before we won that war? One already came very close to killing Cliath! Not that we would miss him, but who would they go after next? They will turn on you one day Malachive and you will not see it coming if you do not open your eyes. You are the only one who walks this world that can kill them and that doesn't make them your servants, it makes them fear you and it's only a matter of time before they kill you."

Malachive stared at his mother without even a blink. "I can handle the Abhorrants. But if I am to be outcast from the other gods and assassinated, then so be it. But you tell them this, you tell them to come to me. Tell them to come to me and be prepared for a war unlike they ever could have imagined. I will not go quietly. And if they dare attempt this, they better do the job well because I will become their worst fears. I will become even your worst fear. You tell them."

Drakkara looked at Malachive and nodded. "Malachive, I wish things could have been different. I really do."

In a blink, Drakkara was gone and Malachive stood in his room alone. For the first time since he started his campaign, he felt something. Fear ran through him like a cold wind. War was upon him much faster than he had anticipated and this time, it wouldn't start with his armies. Malachive stormed quickly out of his room. The Abhorrants would need to know that they could expect a God coming to visit.

"Are you actually agreeing with him?" Austinian was uncharacteristically livid. "If we let Fatale walk Algoron, you know that the murder will not stop with Malachive. He will set forth upon a killing spree unlike the world has never known! You know that, Kwainin, you KNOW what would happen."

Kwainin looked back at Austinian and made no effort to speak. "Would happen, Kwainin, not could. Would." Austinian added. "We will never get through this day" Kwainin said with a hint of distress in his voice. "We will never all three be in agreement."

"That is why you must decide" Austinian responded. "Decide for us all. Pick one of us from each pantheon and let it begin."

Kwainin chuckled. "You know as well as I do that he will never agree to that. He has control issues to say the least."

"Well he's not in control! The last I checked, we were all three equals although I admit that it is regrettable on most occasions. We must come to some sort of agreement, but I will not allow Fatale to be chosen to freely walk Algoron!" Austinian argued.

"Gods have walked on Algoron without permission for as long as I can remember" Kwainin added.

Austinian interrupted "Yes, and they mess something up each and every time. Fatale in particular is forbidden to go in person. There is no reason any of us can not do our duties the way we always have, through the use of avatars or images or even possession. Why do we have churches and Angels, Demons and the Balanx if we have to go deliver our messages in person?"

"You are rambling, brother." Kwainin interrupted in return. "No Angel, Demon or an entire kingdom can kill Malachive any more. It must be one of us, and who better than Fatale? He may even kill all of the Abhorrants while he is there and you know that is an issue we need to look to as well."

"He will kill an entire continent as well and he'll give it only a mere passing thought and what is to stop him there? Oh yes, now I remember, me or one of my sons and daughters. By sending Fatale, we risk a full scale God war! I will not allow it. I will not agree!" Austinian said loud enough for Necrucifer to hear him from the next room.

"There is only one solution then" Kwainin said. "You will choose the god of his pantheon to go and he will choose yours."

Austinian looked at Kwainin and paused. "And what of yours? We agreed one from each of us."

"I'm the God of Balance!" Kwainin said with a smile. "I don't need either of you to remain objective."

Austinian sighed. "I hate this. I want nothing to do with it, but yet I do concede that my own actions has caused this to transpire. I should be the one to fix this, yet we've been through the reasons why none of us three should go a million times."

Austinian paused and sighed again. "Fine. I will agree to your solution with one condition. He may not choose my wife and I will not choose his.

Taliena will be spared from doing what it would crush her to do and Drakkara will not be asked to kill her own child."

Kwainin smiled. "Well then, it is agreed. Let us get see if he agrees and get this over with."

The two Gods entered the white marble courtyard where they were meeting. Not another soul was in sight and no sounds interrupted them.

A dark scowled expression adorned Necrucifer’s face, but that was not unusual. His mood was always bad and he was always looking for a reason to fight.

"I agree" he said simply just as Kwainin began to speak.

Kwainin turned and looked at Austinian with a surprised expression.

"I guess there's not hiding any conversation from you, is there?" Kwainin said. "Very well, you will choose each others child to carry forth this mission and then I will choose last. Necrucifer, I think you should choose first."

Necrucifer grinned. "My answer would not change first nor second. I choose Kadiya."

Austinian's eye brows raised and his mouth opened in fury. "What? Why? She is the LEAST capable of this mission!! Choose someone who will not carry any baggage from this mission Necrucifer, do not choose her!"

Necrucifer smiled as if he enjoyed Austinian's reaction. "She is the Goddess of peace is she not? She knows more than anyone the cost of failure. It won't hurt her to get her hands a little dirty."

Austinian walked towards Necrucifer swiftly but Kwainin caught him by his robes. "Brother, calm yourself, we all agreed to these rules. You knew the risk."

"I didn't think he would carry his vendetta against me this far! He should have chosen Nadrik and he knows that!"

Necrucifer suddenly look bored. "You complain a lot. You ever notice that?"

Austinian stared at Necrucifer as if he could burn Necrucifer from the inside out.

"Let's get our choices over with so I can back to being evil" Necrucifer said almost with a chuckle. Austinian pushed Kwainin's hands off of him and straightened out his robe. 'Have it your way. After all, its your son’s murder we are planning."

His words did not affect Necrucifer at all. He merely shrugged.

"I choose Devion." Austinian said plainly.

Kwainin looked at Austinian with surprise. "And you complained about his choice? What a team of Assassins that is, Kadiya and Devion!" He said sarcastically. "One will try to reason with Malachive while the other ties his boot straps together in hoping that he'll trip and fall his way to death!

Austinian crossed his arms. "Its not like I have a lot of options. Disease, Murder, Rage. I'd rather send mischief to Algoron than any of those others. Besides, he is least likely to harm Kadiya himself."

"Kadiya is more capable than you give her credit for, although who can blame a protective father?" Kwainin stated. "The last choice is mine and I guess it should be no surprise that I choose the first competent person for this mission."

Necrucifer and Austinian both looked at Kwainin as they awaited his decision. Kwainin enjoyed having their undivided attention for the first time in years.

"I'm sending Raije."