A/N: I know that Dex's dad is a SIDE side character, but he is really such an underplayed character (like all the Dizznees), and I think you guys will like hearing from him. It helps that the story line makes sense coming from him too though. :D

"Dex?"

"Where are you! I need help with the shop downstairs!"

No response. 

That wasn't unusual, but the silence upstairs made me uneasy. 

It's not the Neverseen. But.....it's worth something to check.

I excused myself from a noble I was helping. 

Elyzee Terdek, or something like that. 

She huffed, but turned to look at the elixirs Dex had made. 

His stuff was really selling!

As I walked up to his room, I tried one more time. 

"Dex!"

I heard some scuffling, and I paused. 

Something's not right. 

"It's fine Dad! I just had a little accident!"

That was Dex's voice, but he normally comes out of his room coughing, every time he has a "little accident."

Better go check on him, just in case he needs help.

"Okay son! Need any help?"

"No!"

"Alright! Let me know if you need any help!"

"Okay Dad!"

Coming up anyways. I have a weird feeling about this. 

I grabbed a small gadget Dex had for "maybe emergencies" such as this, and crept up the stairs. 

The 8th step was always a little creaky, nothing could be done about it, and I carefully stepped over it. 

Dex's room was pretty close to the stairs, and I reached for the doorknob. 

Three, two, one.

And I flung it open to reveal my son. 

Slumped over.

Not breathing. 

And his room ransacked. 

"Dex!"

I dashed to his limp body, and lifted him. 

He whimpered, and I whispered, 

"It's going to be alright. Dex, I have you."

Rummaging in my pockets, I pulled out a crystal to Foxfire. 

With it in my hand, I clattered down the stairs, pushed past my noble customer, who started to chastise me, and screamed, 

"Foxfire!"

With all the rage and worry a parent has when they're afraid that they might lose their child again, for the second time. 

Holding up the glittering crystal, I stepped into the light, wrapping my conscious around the two of us, holding us together, father and son, never letting go. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dad?"

I gazed upon my son, with scrapes and deep cuts crisscrossing his pale cheeks. 

"Shush. Dex, save your energy."

"But Dad. I have to tell you who hurt me."

I looked into his panicked eyes. 

Placing a hand upon his shoulder, I gently spoke to him. 

"We know it was the Neverseen son."

Dex shook his head, and something behind his eyes broke. 

"No. Dad. Uncle Grady...."

What about my brother-in-law?

"Dad. It was Uncle Grady."

"What about him?"

Tears slowly dripped from his eyes, and my heart swelled for my eldest son. 

He slowly reached for his collar, and pulled it down. 

There was a tiny burn on his collarbone, ugly and red, small as it was, and it looked vaguely familiar. 

"Dad. It's the Ruewen crest."

Speechless, I stared at my son in shock.

"Uncle Grady.....he-"

"Dad. He branded me."

And all the trust we had for Grady fell apart, exposing the monster he was really.

Someone who branded his supposedly beloved nephew, and scarred him for life. 

A/N: Finally! Update! And boy, who could have guessed?! This is....going places, and really fast.... Hmm.....