Two hooded figures glided side-by-side down a hall of mirrors revealing no reflection in each they passed. The haunting cries of those sealed within leaked from the sparkling walls and flooded the corridor with a kind of sadness that might make any light hearted creature seek refuge. Yet no such creature ever traveled these cursed halls, only dark things found solace in such a place and such a place kept it well.

The hooded figures shared a pair of matching diamond earrings; each one glinted on their right ear with a shine that rivaled the dim torchlight and glared like the sun peeking through a gap in a dark cave. Their pale hairless arms swished back and forth in a rhythmic fashion until they arrived at a set of large iron doors. Air hissed into the room as the doors opened.

Before the two figures sat a masked man on a tall throne made of many broken mirrors. His clawed fingers tapped apprehensively while his purple eyes shifted behind the mask. Around him stood five other figures; all draped in the same dark shroud. All six turned turned their attention to the two new arrivals.

"Seems we have all arrived," said the masked man on the throne.

"Not quite," said one of the male hooded figures on the left. He stood proud and tall with jeweled fingers wrapped around an equally jeweled cane. "It appears we are missing Vanity and Doubt."

"Vanity," laughed a sly voice from a female near the back. Her skin was icey blue and white hair fell from her hood. "How amusing. Vanity never comes to the meetings, remember? She is too busy playing with her toys than report to a summoning by his holy divine. And Doubt, of course, remains indisposed as he should be."

"Silence," said the masked man. "This is not a time to bicker, but instead a time to celebrate. Let me get a look at all my precious children." He rose from the throne flaring his cape. A delicate but foreboding motion filled his steps. He proceeded to weave through the group; his claws clinking like knives. "My court of shadows, my children of the dark, my vices of destruction," whispered the masked man. "I am glad that you all came from your respective dominions to answer my call and in such short notice. It has been over two hundred and fifty years since we last came together. How good it is to see you all well."

"And you, Holy Divine," said the group in unison.

"My dear Despair," said the masked man as he stopped at the girl closest to him. "How delightful you show up being the furthest from this place and yet the first to arrive." His claws caressed the girl's icy blue skin. A silver piercing pinched her upper right cheek looking like a frozen tear.

"Yes, my lord," said Despair. "I would never miss a council with you."

"Good," whispered the masked man as he moved to another. "Malice," he said to another young girl. This one had small purple tattoos on her neck and arms. Her hair a mixture of red and pink. A large sword hung by her hip.

"Yes, Divine?" asked Malice, kneeling and kissing his clawed hands.

"Have you found the resistance yet?"

"No, Divine. It appears they elude us still. I have my Shadows searching far and wide for any trace of their whereabouts." She stood up and smiled. "We will locate them soon. There are only so many places they can hide. I have a few trusted Nightstalkers who are seeking to join as we speak."

"Good." The masked man turned to the tall man behind Malice. He had golden short hair and a muscular build. Jeweled rings filled each finger, and in his clutches were a stiff black cane with a diamond handle. "How about you, Avarice? What is the news from the Neptus nation?"

"The Lottery continues to be a success in turning more cities towards the capital for leadership and guidance. Sadly for them, the king is under my spell and guides his nation to ruin. Humans are such fools and so easy to mislead with a little greed. The Republic Islands which aid the rebels lose control day by day. Soon the Republic will have no choice but cut funding to the rebels and start feeding their own people. We starve the resistance and I guarantee they come out of hiding. Like animals, hunger will drive man to do anything."

"Excellent," said the masked man turning to another hooded figure. This one was the shortest in the group appearing as a very young child no more than thirteen years old. Her eyes were covered in a gray blindfold. She pressed her little cheeks up to the large chimera doll she held. "Little Jealousy," said the masked man, "my most gifted and precious creation. How is Sir Whiskers?"

"He is good, father, see." The little girl held up the chimera doll. The masked man petted it.

"Keep him close. If this plan works, you may have yourself some new toys."

"I would love that, father," said the little girl hugging Sir Whiskers and jumping with joy. Its little silver collar jingled with each jump.

The masked man moved then to the last three figures in the room. "Rage, Madness," he pointed to the two figures with the diamond earrings, "And Desire," he said moving to the orange haired girl beside them. "My most devious children and the glory of my hatred."

"Always to serve, my lord," said Desire lowering her head.

"And to kill," said the Rage and Madness together.

The masked man rubbed a loving hand along Desire's soft cheek before turning back to the throne.

"I called you all here today not to chit chat about our current plan but more to discuss our old plan, the one that was rudely interrupted many years ago. For it seems, my children, according to your sister, Desire, a Mirrorbender has arrived in Tartarus."

"A Mirrorbender!" cried Avarice. His hands curved angrily around his cane. "Impossible. We all know what happened those many years ago."

"I agree with Avarice," said Malice. "How could a Mirrorbender come when the gateway was broken? Mirrorbender Ewan destroyed it." Malice removed her sword and jabbed it into the floor. The mirrored floor cracked. "Such magic cannot be undone."

"It can," said the masked man, "and it has happened somehow. Desire met the Mirrorbender in the underground Vaulted River just two days ago. The young girl showed no reflection and so did the pesky thief she was with. His name, Owen DuBois."

"Not the Owen DuBois?" cried out Madness. "I am sure I remember that man making an untimely end."

"That he did, Madness," said Rage. "You were there."

"Ah, yes," sneered Madness. He began to giggle. "I just wanted to be sure."

"No reflection you say," interjected Avarice as he grasped his chin. "That must mean this boy, this thief, this Owen, is the Mirrorbender's Glasswalker."

"Oh, that is no fun," said Malice. "That means we can't kill him. How depressing."

"Precisely," said the masked man. "As you products of ancient magic know he and the Mirrorbender share the same soul. Killing one would prove pointless on our part right now. Instead we must separate them. Only then will their bond weaken enough for us to get what we desire."

"So the old plan?" said Rage turning to Madness. "How exciting."

"I cannot wait!" cried Madness. "I never believed we would try it again."

"We must not be too hasty this time," said the masked man. "The world has changed much since our second coming and as you know the Juprus Nation has tried to separate themselves from us. We must act wise. I cannot afford to be imprisoned for another century. This is our final chance to succeed." The masked man turned to Rage and Madness. "You two. Did you find the Mirrorbender?"

"We have, my lord," said Rage. "She was right where Desire said she would be. We spotted her on the valley road. She makes for Vetra."

"I hope you did not give away your presence," said the masked man.

"Of course not, my lord. We did as you ordered and went on ahead and burned that pitiful town and slaughtered a few of its inhabitants. As you predicted, the Mirrorbender and her Glasswalker followed the smoke and were met by the sage, Martha, and the swordsman, Daarith. We cleared the roads and collected the Shadows. They await your command."

"Send them to the Loblolly Forest," cried the masked man. "I will rendezvous with the Mirrorbender there. By tonight she will be ours." The masked man pointed to the window. "Now go, you two. Make sure everything is ready."

Rage and Madness bowed their heads. Then clapping their hands Madness and Rage vanished in a burst of fire and lightning. The masked man turned to the remaining Half-Lives.

"Go, my children, back to your dominions. Continue doing what you do best, but should things go ary and the Mirrorbender finds her way into your place, do not harm her or the boy she travels with. Capture her and only her and bring her to me." He waved his clawed hand in the air. "Now go."

One by one the court of vices vanished. Little Jealousy leaped on Avarice's back. The two faded into smoke. Next Malice sheathed her sword and disappeared. Finally, Despair turned into snow and blew away. "Not you, my child," said the masked man as Desire readied to leave.

"What is it, my lord?"

"I sense there is something troubling you."

"It is nothing, my lord," said Desire looking away. "You need not concern yourself."

"Don't lie to me," said the masked man appearing behind her. He squeezed her shoulders. "I can feel it welling up in the air around you like a hurricane. Something tugs at your mind. Speak it."

"I just wish to ask you a question, my lord. That is all."

"Then speak. I am listening." Desire looked up at her master. His glaring eyes dug deep into her soul.

"I am concerned," she said curling her hair with her finger. "I am concerned why my lord did not feel it necessary to tell the others that the Fragment was stolen and in the hands of the Mirrorbender?"

"That is something they don't need to know just yet," chuckled the masked man. He sat back on the throne. "We have more pressing things to worry about first. I doubt our new Mirrorbender will never learn of its secrets in time to use it properly."

"And if she does? If she somehow learns what it is capable of, what then?"

"I am glad you asked," said the masked man; his eyes thinning as if he were smiling underneath the mask. "That is where you come in."