"Then you're a liar and a hypocrite," TFC snarled while flashing his teeth, red eyes burning with hatred. "Preaching this hatred of us monsters, only to be one yourself? Soon enough those subjects of yours will find out, and you'll be burned at the stake, just like any of us."

Scar laughed, his sharp teeth illuminated in the torchlight. "Humans are dense fools. For generations, they have been ruled by beasts, yet they bow unknowingly to us." The king raised his hand to the ceiling, his palm closing into a fist. His eyes glowed an icy blue, while his face was twisted into a cruel grin.

"But, what exactly are you?" Ex studied him up and down, spotting no inhuman features.

"I am a creature so rare that humans know not of our name, but my kind has been around for quite some time." He flashed a smile, eyes dark as his hands gripped the silver bars of the vampire's cage. Smoke wafted from between his clenched fingers, though he refused to flinch as the silver seared his flesh.

The elder vampire looked past the king, making eye contact with his royal advisor. "Well? How do you feel about your leader being a liar? A beast even worse than us?!" TFC yelled out, lunging forward despite the chain around his neck.

Bdubs stood in silence, his face covered in shadows while he held a torch. He didn't react to being yelled at, he barely moved. Scar strolled away from Ex's cell, his hands held behind his back as he walked into view of TFC. "Sorry to disappoint. My friend isn't exactly here right now."

"What did you do to him?" The older man growled, eyes narrowing at the king.

"Nothing that you haven't done before," Scar giggled as he shrugged. "Beasts like us, we have to take advantage of others to survive, don't we?"

"Don't act like we're so similar. All my people ever wanted was a sanctuary away from humans. Unlike you, I provided for them, rather than use my powers for my own selfish gain." TFC spat with venom in his voice.

"Oh, you're so high and mighty." The king rolled his eyes.

"He's better than you!" Ex shouted from his cell, his words bouncing off with an echo in the stone dungeon.

"Tsk," Scar turned away from the vampires, snatching the torch from his advisor. He turned back to the cell, his gaze icy and filled with hatred. "I should just burn you beasts. Have mercy on your worthless lives."

After a moment, he lowered the torch, letting out a quiet sigh. "But no. I need you. I won't let you escape through death. Not when I'm so close."

"Close to what?" Ex spoke again, the chains around him jingling as he shifted on the stone flooring of his cell. "You haven't even told us what the hell you are!"

"All you need to know is that I'm powerful enough to kill you." He said with a voice firm and serious, "Powerful enough to bring this entire kingdom to its knees with a simple wave of my hand."

TFC stared at him, the two sharing a gaze for a few silent moments. Then his eyes widened in realization. "Wait a moment," The vampire muttered. "I remember now. You're a vex king."

"A what now?" Ex raised his eyebrow, looking over at the stone wall that separated him and TFC.

"A vex king. A ruler chosen by the creatures of chaos and anger. They bestow their powers unto an heir, a chosen figure that will lead their kind into the destruction of humanity and the era of chaos." His eyes narrowed at the king, whose grin only spread further along his lips as TFC continued.

"My, my! Someone's smarter than he looks." Scar giggled, "I guess you caught me! But out of everyone, I knew you'd be the one to figure it out..."

"Tin, what's he on about?" Cleo looked towards the elder, concern clear across her face as they noticed the dread growing in his eyes.

He swallowed a lump in his throat, mouth dry as he stared at the king. "My wife—," TFC spoke quietly. "—before I became this beast. My wife was killed by your army of vexes."

"Well they weren't mine." Scar placed a hand on his chest, acting as though he were offended at the accusation. "Unlike you vampires, we aren't immortal. But the crown of the vex king is passed down through generations, so it's likely one of my forefathers killed her.."

"You BASTARD!" He lunged forward, the chain wrapped around his neck holding the vampire back. "I knew I recognized those eyes! Those damn eyes!"

"Now, don't blame me for something my family did." He said smugly with a grin across his face, "I'm much less bloodthirsty than the rest of my lineage. Though it would be better for all of us if you didn't test my patience..."

"So what? Your plan is to leave us down here? Let us rot?" Techno spoke out from his own cell, the pig poking his head out between the bars in an attempt to join the conversation that was further down the hall.

"Some of you, I suppose. I'd rather use you to my advantage, to help keep this city under my control. And for the rest of you, well..." He giggled a little, flashing his sharp teeth. "It'll be nice to have a real meal."

Ex flinched at the coldness of his voice, though he turned back to the prison wall. "Tin, what does he mean by that?" He asked, his voice slightly hushed.

"Those things—" TFC muttered while shaking his head, slumped over and defeated. "—they feed off of other creature's magic... They feast on the power of other beings."

"My father never liked being a vex," Scar hummed while staring at his fingertips, which slowly shaped into dangerous claws that looked like they could tear flesh apart. "He resented our ancestors. He rejected our destiny. Though, a vex without food is rather powerless. He died trying to live 'humanly', starved and weak."

"So we're pretty much your limitless buffet.." Tango mumbled in realization, the demon's red eyes filled with fear.

"Oh, relax!" Scar laughed, waving his hand to dismiss the creature. "I'm not going to kill any of you! It would be a waste of energy. I plan on keeping you all alive, using you as my food. I'll leave you all with just enough magic to keep you alive, and then I'll feast again when you start to recover."

"Funny. Sounds like someone I know." Doc growled as he shot a glance at Ex, who scoffed at his insult.

"Vampires and vexes, we aren't so different. We do what we can to survive! The only difference is that one of us is smarter..." The king smiled tauntingly at Ex and TFC, standing tall with a sinister glow in his blue eyes.

He wanted so badly to retort, but there was nothing to say. Scar just smiled at him, turning his back to the vampire. "As I discussed, some of you will be used for your skills and powers. You'll be very helpful in growing my empire. The rest of you, well, let's just say you won't be seeing anything but the walls of this prison for a long while..."

"Wha-what about me?" Etho jumped, grabbing the bars of his cell as the king walked past. "Sir, I've helped you! I've given you all the information you could possibly need! I was promised my freedom in return!"

"Ah, I knew that 'cool and calm' persona of yours was just an act." Scar stopped in his place as he turned his head, smiling at the kitsune. "Well, I suppose I did promise your freedom. But, well, I won't be releasing you. It would be far too much trouble."

"Wha—? You promised! I did everything you asked of me!" The fur on his ears and tail spiked up in anger, his eyes going red.

"I lied." He grinned, walking off without another word.

The king reached the exit to the dungeon, knocking slightly on the wooden door. It flew open, as if someone had been waiting on the other side. Wels and a handful of royal guards stepped through the doors, prepared with muzzles and ropes for the beasts.

"Which ones do you want us to bring up, sir?" The knight asked, looking towards Scar for guidance.

"Just a few, for now. I don't think they'll be too happy with this arrangement I have planned. But we'll simply throw them back into their cages if they don't learn how to behave." He said, smiling at the hallway of prison cells that was filled with beasts.

Xisuma stepped through the doorway, carrying with him a long silver chain as well as cuffs for the hands and neck. "Which vampire is it that you want me to bring?"

"That one, the one who's sleeping." Scar pointed to Mumbo, who was so exhausted from the burning of his silver shackles that he didn't wake up, even with the commotion surrounding him.

"He seems weak." The hunter commented, looking back to his king. "Not just physically. He couldn't even fight back when attacked him. You're sure you want him?"

"Yes. He'll be easier to break down and remold. I'll train him to be a killing beast, a monster capable of destroying armies."

"And the other two?"

"I'll leave them down here to rot. Let them come around in their own time." He waved his hand, turning to leave the dungeon with Bdubs following.

"Wait," X spoke suddenly, causing the king to stop and look back. "That one—" He pointed to Ex. "—let me kill him."

"That's quite the ask." Scar hummed, "It would leave me only with two vampires at my disposal. Why would I let you kill him?"

"Payment." Xisuma said firmly, "I'll give you back all the gold you've ever given me for my work. His death is the only payment that I need. I want that beast to die at my hands."

Ex shuddered in his chains, slinking back into the shadows of his cell, trying to hide from the hunter's sight.

"Hm. I'll think about it." He nodded, "Just do your job, and we'll discuss things later."

"Alright, fine." X huffed.

Scar smiled as he turned away, Bdubs following behind. As the door to the dungeon shut behind them, and the two began to walk up the spiral steps of the staircase, the king snapped his fingers together. Bdubs straightened his posture as his eyes went wide, nearly dropping his torch.

"Huwhahuh?" His advisor came back to his senses, blinking a couple times to regain his composure. "Oh, uh, sir—! Are we, uh, going to visit the beasts in the dungeon?"

"Nono, Bdubs. I just finished up. You waited outside, remember?"

"Oh. U-uh, yeah, I guess." He mumbled to himself, a bit confused at the gap in his memory.

"Why don't you take the rest of the night off? Get some dinner and some rest?" The king suggested, looking back at Bdubs with a warm smile.

"If you insist, sir." He nodded as they reached the top of the staircase, the two exiting out into the main throne room. "If I may ask, what are you planning on doing?"

"Oh, me? I'll just be paying Grian a visit."