Adar? 

Adar lay in the cart, feeling the bumps and sudden drops of the road. Melanie was sleeping to side, wrapped in two blankets. John was now driving the cart and Nathaniel was on the horse to the side.

Adar's soreness had left, leaving his mind fully open. A lot had happened in the last couple of days, too much. His heart had begun to harden as it usually did. It took him back to the time his birth parents had died, when his uncle had taken him, and finally when his adoptive parents took him in. Though he never really knew about his 'real' parents, he was sure his adoptive father knew about his birth parents. His adoptive father seemed to avoid the subject about Adar's real parents.

He remembered a quote from his adoptive father, one that always stuck with him.

" One day you will repay someone for giving you this second chance. And when you do,never forget that we will always love you ...always."

What did father mean? thought Adar. His own past was a mystery, more of a mystery was his future. Adar had not planned anything beyond getting his revenge.

I have nothing else to live for, after I have killed Langstrom, thought Adar, I know that once I kill Langstrom I will feel empty and void of life. This life is pain; every breath hurts. Once I kill Lansgtrom, I will leave this cruel world and hopefully I can go to where my mother is.

Adar sighed. He turned his head and saw Nathaniel murmur something to himself, then pull out a small vial filled with red liquid and drink it.

Drinking wine at this hour? Thought Adar, My mother would have killed me if I ever would have touched alcohol...

*************

Langstrom had been sitting at his desk, the day had not gone so well. Anger was still coursing through him. He looked forward and saw a blood stain that was on his rug in front of the door. The stain was a new one that had occurred hours before. He turned his head to look out the window, seeing a full moon.

¤¤¤¤

"He is dead; I am quite sure of it."

Langstrom grinned,"I believe not, Seer. Your powers are great, but even that is faulty." 

The Seer spoke, sounding more like a growl. "That is the best to my knowledge, master." 

The Seer had come to Langstrom's office to discuss his trip and his discoveries to Lansgtrom.

"Not only did you fail in retrieving the boy, but Melanie as well?" Said Langstrom, taking a step towards the Seer.

The Seer moved back, feeling nervous from Langstrom's predatory stare and his size.

Langstrom saw the Seer cower away from him, his back hitting the door.

"Entertain me, Seer." Smiled Langstrom "What all did you learn?"

"His name..."

"His name!" Exclaimed Langstrom." We have a name. Now I do not have to call him boy."

"It was Aaron."

Lansgtrom froze. Aaron? 

The Seer saw Langstrom stop his movement towards him, hesitating for a second. Slowly, a look of fury creeped onto Langstrom's face. He clenched his fist and began to curse. He bowed his head then looked back up at the Seer, the signs of fury now gone.

"Aaron, you say?"

The Seer nodded," Yes-"

Pain shot up from the Seer's stomach. He looked down to see Langstrom's hand driving a dagger deep into his stomach.

"You bloody fool!" Yelled Langstrom. "How could you let him get away!" 

The Seer opened his mouth to respond, but Langstrom swiftly pulled the dagger out from the Seer's stomach and cut horizontally at the his neck.

"I do not want to hear your pitiful excuse." Said Lansgtrom as the Seer's words came out slurred, blood coming out from his mouth. The Seer's body slumped to the floor.

Langstrom looked down and saw a pool of blood forming on top of his carpet. And all over my carpet...

¤¤¤¤

A noise came from outside of Langstrom's office. It sounded like a struggle. Somebody was intruding.

Langstrom stood up and looked at the door. The noise had stopped. He looked over at the musket that had been laying on top of his desk. He was about to grab it then thought better of it.

That musket will do me no good, especially if the intruder was able to pass my personal guardsmen

He drew his sword and walked towards the door and put his ear against it. It was eerily quiet outside of the door.

Langstrom put his hand on the door knob, twisting and pulling it open.

He stood at the door way, looking at his  guardsmen who lay unconscious against the wall.

A sword, quickly, was at his throat.

"Evening, Langstrom."

It was a voice that was recognizable to him. He knew it well.

Langstrom turned his head to look at a man that wielded the sword, that was at his neck. He had on dark red trousers and a dark red shirt. He was, surprisingly, taller than Langstrom. His head had no hair, only making up for it by having a dark beard. His eyes were gray and cold, colder than Lansgtrom's own eyes. His light skin looked rough and mal-treated.

"We have some things to talk about, Langstrom. The first thing being about your rude guardsmen. I had to deal with 10 before I got to this second floor."

Langstrom smiled and sheathed his sword.

"You may come into my office and have a civilized discussion with me." 

The large, burly man put his sword down, still not sheathing it, and followed Langstrom into his office.

Langstrom walked to his desk and placed his sword, with his sheath, on top of it. He turned around to look at the large man.

"What is it that you came here to discuss, Griffin?"

Griffin gripped the hilt of his sword and raised it, pointing the tip of the blade a few inches from Lansgtrom's nose. The hilt was beautifully decorated, fully silver with a  pattern of dragon skin etched into it.

" Lansgtrom, where is my daughter?"

*************

Cane looked ahead and saw the massive building that was burnt. The building had been inside the deep of the woods, like the source had said. Parts of the roof had caved in, the walls black, charred, and falling apart. The moonlight's shine on the building gave it an eerie glow, making it appear ominous.

"This was recent." Said Norman,"Maybe only days ago." 

Randolph stopped the wagon trail. A few of the youngsters stared, eye wide, at the great building.

Cane walked up to the front of the building. The great double doors had been broken down, the iron hinges ripped off of the door frame as well.

What could have broken down these doors?

Cane looked back at Seth and Norman, who stood near the group.

"Norman accompany me in, Seth, you stay out here with the rest."

Seth shot a look of annoyance at Cane.

Norman smirked, and followed.

***

Cane and Norman had already investigated most of the building. They now headed down a hallway. Their footsteps were loud in the unnerving silence. Cane saw a doorway coming up to his left. He drew one of his swords and stopped at the corner of the doorway, Norman right behind him. Cane peered around the corner, seeing a large room with a large metal door, at the center of the other wall. Cane walked into the room, Norman following behind him. It was a large rectangle room, the walls painted blue.

The moonlight shone in through parts of the caved in roof and broken windows. A majority of the debris lay on the right side of the room. Cane saw what looked like dried up blood all over the floor. Norman walked up to the large metal door and pulled it back, cold air suddenly hit the both of them. The door lead to a pair of stone steps, the steps in turn leading into darkness. 

"Light the torch." Said Cane.

Norman nodded and lit one of the torches he had brought.

Cane went, first, down the steps. Norman followed, holding the torch high. They could see the old torches that had once lined the the walls, parallel to the steps.

The stone steps led down to another metal door. The door has been left opened. Cane walked in, a smell of horrible odor entering his nostrils.

Norman gagged and covered his mouth with the collar of his coat. "What in the name of-"

"Don't use Christ' name in vain." Said Cane, interrupting Norman's attempt at an explicitive phrase. 

"I wasn't going to say Christ." Retorted Norman.

Cane shook his head and looked at the small hallway they were in. Three doors were on each side, old torches lined in between the doors. Cane and Norman walked to the first door on their left and entered. The room was about ten feet by ten feet. Several buckets lay in a corner, along with soaked hay beds.

The rooms and hallway was made up of stone, noticed Norman.  After checking all the rooms on the left side, they started with the rooms on their right. Cane walked to the center room on the right side and walked in. He gave a shudder at the sudden cold. It felt like ice in the air.

Adar was here, thought Cane.

"Why is it a lot colder in here? " Asked Norman, standing at the doorway.

You need to be colder for this cruel world!

Cane closed his eyes at remembrance of those words. A headache was coming, then it left.

"Are you alright?" asked Norman, placing a hand on Cane's shoulder.

"I guess the smell made me a bit dizzy." Said Cane.

There is no doubt that Adar is alive.

***

Seth saw Cane and Norman walking out. He headed over to them, quick to leave the group he has been forced to stay with.

"What did you find?" Asked Seth.

"Not much other than the signs of a battle here." Replied Norman.

"Is that how the building became burned?"

"That seems most likely." Said Cane, frustrated. " But we cannot know for sure. A lot happened in there, many signs point to different things."

Randolph walked over to the mercenaries."If you don't mind me saying, may we leave this place already? I and the lads aren't feeling comfortable here, something is just not right."

Cane looked past Randolph at the crew of young men. Most of them sat in the carts, their muskets tightly gripped in their hands. One of them, Randolph's son, was looking around and breathing in deeply.

"Randolph, do you remember in which direction we came from?" Asked Cane, still looking at the group of youngsters.

"I believe we came from the east of this building." Said Randolph.

Norman and Seth shot a knowing glance in Cane's direction.

"Do you remember, Seth?"

Seth nodded. " It was to the west of this building."

"As much as I would like to stay and explore more, we can't let you succumb to the spell that has been cast here."  Said Cane, his teeth gritting from anger. 

"Spell?" Randolph's voice sounded confused.

Its just like the time we were in the town of Owensville, thought Cane.

"I had a remembrance, while in the building." replied Cane. "If I am correct then we have underestimated Langstrom and will need to prepared for what the future may hold."

"Did you notice anything odd while you were out here?" whispered Norman to Seth.

Seth nodded, "Every body was quiet and even I was not in a mood for talking. It was like being in a dream. But as soon as I saw the both of you, it went away. It seems just like the spell we encountered in Owensville."

Norman nodded," Do you think?"

"No." Replied Seth,"You are a man to always fear the worse, Norman. We made sure our job was completed. This is just a coincidence, maybe someone who knows the same spell."

Cane patted Randolph on the shoulder, giving him a look in the eyes.

"Go tell your group of men that we may prepare to leave. Make sure the horses reigns are on tight." 

"Why?" asked Randolph,"What is so important about the reigns?"

"Just do it." Replied Cane.

Randolph went walking away towards the group.

"This place has a spell cast over it."  Said Cane, looking at Norman and Seth.

"Just like in Owensville." Said Seth.

Norman looked at the building. "That building appears more and more ominous. So which way is the new building?"

Cane thought for a second. Which way would Langstrom have us go? 

"Northeast of here would be my best guess."

"I agree as well." replied Norman." There is sure to be another base near here. He hasn't been seen here. It must mean he plans to settle his militia here as well."

"I wonder why a spell was cast here." Said Seth.

"I wonder that as well." added Norman,"Why would they cast a spell in a place like this? What exactly happened here? Who or what did this? I can only wonder what force came to do this."

"Something is brewing." Stated Cane."Something large is coming, maybe something bigger than all of us."

"What do you mean?" Asked Norman, surprised by Cane's words.

"I don't know, but I can feel it."

***

Cane, Norman, and Seth sat in different carts. The horses had been reluctant to start, but soon went. They decided to past to the Northeast of the building. The horses immediately began to panic.

I knew it, thought Cane, Animals can see it. The magic barrier was made only to be invisible to humans. Animals have a different way of sensing things.

Seth looked over at the cart which had none of the three mercenaries in it, the horse to that cart had been panicking the most.

All at once, the horses stopped panicking.

The spell must have done its job, thought Seth, The horses have completely forgotten this experience. This spell...it works only on the weak and fearful minded.

Cane noticed all the teenagers in the cart relax as well. They did not seem as frightened as they had while near the entrance of the building.

A large tree was a few meters away from the building. It stood out to Cane for some odd reason, especially as they passed it. He stared at it, then, an image entered his mind.

A man was screaming, claws were all over him, tearing him apart.

Cane felt dizzy and leaned against the side of the cart. What was that? Why did I see that?

He gave one final look and saw the body of a man strung up in the tree. The body had been torn and mangled. Blood covered the ropes he was tied with, his bones had begun to show through the decomposing skin. He was wearing an officer's uniform, or rather what was left to identify it as such.

Cane blinked and looked again, the body was now gone.

What did I just see? Was that a memory?

"Randolph, do you know the way to that location from here?" asked Cane, regaining his composure.

"Yes." said Randolph looking back at Cane."Are you sure of the location you gave me?"

"I can only hope." Replied Cane.

Norman sat stunned at what he had seen. He had glanced over at the area in front of the large tree.

It was a violent and forced memory. Several men in gray uniform were forced to their knees, then shot by dark uniformed soldiers. Langstrom had been in front of the group, a look of hatred on his face.

"What do you think happened here? " asked one the young men.

Norman turned to look at him, his shock of seeing the image, subsiding. It was Randolph's son.

"I don't think you would want to know." Replied Norman. "Somethings are better left untouched."

Randolph's son nodded, fear etched into his face as he glanced back at the ominous building that was seemingly hiding in the woods.

*************

"I ask, once again, Lansgtrom, where is my daughter?"

Langstrom ignored the sword tip that was inches away from his face.

"Put your sword down." Said Langstrom. "If you kill me then you will never know, will you?"

Griffin sheathed his sword. "That mouth of yours always finds a way out of things. Now,I ask again, where is Melanie?"

"Why should I tell you the possible location of Melanie?" Said Langstrom, his voice full of poison.

"Possible location!" Roared Griffin. "You will tell me where she is!"

"Why should I?" said Langstrom, meeting Griffin's eyes with his own confident stare. "  You will just sacrifice her, another pawn for your master's plan. Have you not many other pawns to choose from? In all reality what does it matter to you?"

Griffin' eyes seemed to fill with pure enmity. He walked forward, his hands balled into fist. Lansgtrom straightened up, meeting him with the same determanation and hatred.

Griffin stopped a pace away from Langstrom.

"Do not intervene in our business. Whether or not she be used as a pawn is none of your concern. Adar, on the other hand, may be some of your concern. He is an important pawn."

Langstrom smiled," I thought something was different when I met the boy. I never knew Abornazine had another son."

Griffin nodded," He is his son, but not by blood. He was adopted."

"How long has this been known?"

"Long enough for us to know. You have a lot to answer for. Now where is Melanie?"

"She is traveling with the boy." Replied Langstrom. "My men were sent and they never returned. I have not the slightest idea of where they were headed."

"You have made a grave mistake, Langstrom and you may pay dearly."

"I Will help you get them back. You have my word." 

Griffin slammed his fist onto Langstrom desk, the wood splintering underneath his hand. "Even Abornazine played a larger part than you!"

Langstrom only stared at Griffin, annoyance clear at how Griffin had ruined his desk.

"If you do not obey then you will not answer to me but the master." Exclaimed Griffin. 

"Master." Said Langstrom, distaste in his voice. " Your 'master' fool." 

Griffin laughed."How you amuse me. As the older brother I feel that I must warn you, Langstrom. You are in deep waters. I suggest you do your job and retrieve Adar and my daughter."

Langstrom grinned. "We will see how this works itself out."

Griffin turned to head for the door, but not before noticing blood on the carpet.

"And whose blood was this?"

"A seer. " replied Langstrom. " He died for his uselessness."

" You Fool." spat Griffin as he walked out.

Langstrom fumed with anger as Griffin left.

So Adar is Aaron? How interesting. I never would have guessed. Langstrom gave a grin, evil seeping into his mind with his new found information.

Adar is an important part of their plan... How foolish to rely on a boy for the fruits of your hard work. Fools!

*************

Adar was slowly falling asleep, his eye lids heavy and closing.

We are almost to the town ... How long do I stay before I return for my revenge?

That's right...Revenge!  I will kill you; I swear it!

Darkness was churning in Adar. It was taking over, revenge driving the darkness further into his heart. It pumped through his veins along with pain. A shard of darkness was now turning into a blade that cut completely through.

But he liked it...

                      End of Chapter   

Hey guys, this chapter was poorly written in my opinion. But I was to lazy to scrap it and rewrite it all over again. I'll write the next chapter with more effort I promise!