Thea wept silently in her dark bedroom, as her father screamed in anger, echoing the whole castle as he paced around. Although he did not know Thea had helped, he had banished her away whilst he sulked. She preferred it this way though as she could not look her father in the eyes without feeling a tiny bit guilty. Thea felt a number of different feelings, as a mortal. And many of them she could not explain to her father as he just did not understand. 

Onas followed his master obediently around the castle, as Mulo took most of his anger out on him. How did Onas not see this coming? How did Onas not know? Were the questions that constantly left Mulo's mouth in a high pitched scream all evening and all through the night. Onas was lucky to not be banished himself, but Mulo needed someone who could direct his anger towards. Onas was the only person who wouldn't leave. Although most people were scared of Mulo, they could easily leave the cave, without an obligation, and Mulo would barely notice. Faceless in a crowd of people to Mulo. He didn't care, he was the one provided them with the shelter and safety. Onas wasn't so lucky as the family friend. He was more like the family dog.

"Tell me now, Onas." A furious Mulo hissed as he sat on his throne. "Where is the girl now and that boy. Tell me quick." 

Onas thought hard, trying not to disappoint his master. He squished his face together tightly, straining himself to see the future for him. Mulo didn't want to listen when Onas told him, his premonitions come like dreams, uncontrollably. Premonitions, he could barely force upon himself. Only slightly but still not enough to make big events spring to mind whenever he pleased. He wasn't powerful enough. He used to be but time decreased his gift, time worn him out. 

Of course Mulo never listened, and only wanted things his way. Onas was kept around for his sixth sense and nothing more and he had no other Prophet, so he kept his life. Premonitions, prophets and those with a sixth sense, were not common. Although many people lied about their abilities when prophets were kidnapped and forced to work for wealthy families thousands of years ago. It was safer to lie.

Towards the end of the night, after Mulo had had a meal, and was slouching around, full and pleased, Onas saw something. Something blurry in his vision. He scurried away from his master briefly just in case the premonition would be nothing of use. 

As he stood calmly in the corridor with his hands on his temple, he tried to focus on what looked like a face. A woman's face. The image blurred and swayed, as if being disrupted or high jacked. But Onas did not think that was even possible so carried on his focus. The face was Almas and she had four pieces. She was with the boy. In the castle in Quzenth. She was with a dragon. Two dragons. Three. She was packing to leave. To leave to... Something, somewhere. It was too blurry. 

"Onas?" Mulo roared. Onas lost focus and the image disappeared. Onas shuffled slowly into the Throne room and faced Mulo. 

"Yes sire?" He mumbled. "I was just stretching my legs." 

"Anything?" Mulo didn't even look at his Prophet. 

"No Your majesty." Onas lied. "Nothing yet." Mulo roared outwards into the room, echoing around the walls, the curtains moved from the vibration, spreading dust into the air and they floated around the room delicately. 

It was nearing dawn now according to his guards and Mulo although tired and undercharged from his disturbed recharge during the day, did not want to risk taking another day of rest. Just in case. He did not trust anyone right now. He was on edge. It was too close now.

Never before had Mulo been defeated by a small mortal boy before. A weakling, a coward. Mulo twisted his face at the thought of Dante. How dare he enter and attack his soldiers. 

He was filled with so much anger. His hostage was taken, the only chance to negotiate somehow. And his Prophet was useless to him. He felt frustrated. He was blind. He knew nothing and his chances of turning Thea immortal was becoming more and more slim. 

"I want to see Thea. Onas fetch her at once." Mulo spoke calmly as he got comfortable in his seat and raised his legs upon one of the chair arms. Onas nodded silently back and scurried out of the room swiftly. Mulo looked around his dark gloomy room. The high walls and the deep red curtains covering what little light peaked through from high above. Dust clung to everything, leaving a greyness to everything around. He liked his life like this. He liked the dark, the dust, the gloomy depth of death. 

He pressed his hand on his heart. He couldn't remember the last time he felt his heart beat. The warm blood pouring through his body, the energy, the life. It almost sickened him thinking about it. Once himself a mortal, at such a young age, before he was converted by them. He never thought about it. He tried to erase all memories. It was such a long time ago that it did not matter any more. He had spent too long as a Vampire to remember life as alive. His taste buds were as dead as himself. He could not remember the taste of food. The warm touch of another person. It frightened him slightly when even Thea touched him, with her skin lukewarm. Being undead was less hassle. 

Onas entered the room once more, shuffling in as he did, behind him was Thea. Her eyes puffy but Mulo didn't notice that. Her long black dress picked up the blanket of dust from the ground. Mulo rose from his chair and turned to them. 

"Onas leave." Mulo bluntly spoke, watching his daughter walk over and stand before him. Onas left quickly. Thea looked at her father confused and he looked back at her. Silence fell.

"Thea. Do you have something to tell me?" Mulo asked his daughter slowly, his dark eyes still looking at hers. He sat down again and pulled his cloak onto his lap.

"No Father." Thea answered softly.

"Are you sure?" Mulo's look turned into a glare. Thea looked back at him a little frightened, quite taken back by his shift in mood. She nodded to him, confused. "I see."

He reached into his pocket slowly, his silver fingers grasping at something, and he pulled it out to show Thea. In his hand was the Illusion Mirror, almost as silver as Mulo's complexion. Thea's eyes widened but she said nothing. 

"Tell me, who gave you this and why do you have it?" Mulo raised his voice, moving the Mirror around in his hand, looking at it carefully. 

"I do not know what you mean Father." Thea mumbled back, looking down to the ground.

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!!" Mulo screamed, standing up and grabbing his daughters shoulders. Thea shrieked. He shook her slightly. Thea tried to look away, away from his eyes. "IT WAS HIM WAS IT NOT?"

"NO FATHER." Thea replied. "NO PLEASE. DON'T HURT HIM." 

"Tell me now Thea. What you were doing with it." Mulo snarled through his teeth. 

"I...I'm sorry." Thea whimpered. "I did not mean to anger you. I promise."

"It was in that awful book? Filling your mind with useless things. You don't need to know anything about the outside world, apart from the fact its dangerous, its ghastly, and THE MORTALS WILL WANT TO KILL YOU. Do you understand?!" 

Thea started to cry, fear filling her. Mulo let go of his grip and stepped back, sighing deeply. 

"I shouldn't have to tell you, how important it is to keep your head strong, and your heart out of things. Surely you understand that at least. You may be carrying a mortal heart, but it still lives in a vampires body Thea. You are still a vampire. And as one, you know what your destiny is. To carry on the throne for me! To rule the vampires, the outcasts, the disrespected and the foolish. To guide them to salvation. To rule the..." 

"I know father, I know." Thea was crying harder now. Mulo paused for a moment looking at her, his eyes traced her face.

"You remind me of your mother. She still let her heart win sometimes. Its weakness Thea. Now tell me what did you do with the mirror? How did you use it? For what purpose?" 

Thea wiped her tears and composed herself. "I... I wanted to try it." 

"And?"

"And... See if it worked." 

"And?!!"

"And It did work."

"And?!!" 

"And I went outside the cave." Thea rushed her words in a panic, watching her fathers face to try and read his reaction. She could of swore she saw it go a shade of red.

"OUTSIDE THE CAVE!!!" Mulo roared back loudly. Thea cowered away, stepping back a little.

"I AM SORRY, I did not go very far at all. JUST the woods, only slightly. Not very far, I could still see the cave entrance and everything. I am sorry!!" 

"THAT IS NOT THE POINT. FIRST I LOSE MY HOSTAGE AND NOW MY DAUGHTER BETRAYS ME. I will not have this Thea. I will turn you immortal and put a stop to your beating heart! LEAVE NOW. GO TO YOUR ROOM." 

Thea nodded again, she rushed out of the room, bolting for the door in fear. Never before had her father been so angry with her. And what frightened her the most was wondering how he would react if he knew she helped Nerida escape. 

A crow flew into the Throne room and manifested into a follower. A small man with mousy brown hair. His face was like ice, but was dirty. He patted himself down and stretched his neck a little before bowing before his king. 

"I saw the Wizard talking to the child. At the castle. They are planning something. They have taken the fairy to the West where the Sea witch resides. They have the last piece." He bowed his head gently to the King once more.

"I see." Mulo stroked his pointy chin. "Thank you. You may leave." The young man obeyed and left the room immediately. 

Mulo paced the floor of his throne room, thinking. If he could remember correctly where the stone needed to be re-bound, he could go there himself. Then he stopped. A large grin came across his face and he turned to the door. 

"Onas, you useless wart!!!!" He shouted out of the room. It echoed the corridor. Onas popped his head around the door frame. "We are going to get that crystal. All hope it not lost. Oh yes, all hope is not lost." He grinned in an evil manner. Onas etched into the room slowly and nodded back at his king. Mulo walked over to him and glared, looking into his eyes. "I tell you now Onas, I have my eye on you." Onas gulped.

Brushing past Onas roughly, Mulo left the room and into the corridor, Onas followed behind at a fast pace trying to keep up. He walked through the corridors of his castle, up the stair case and called for his daughter, before flinging open her door. "Thea lets go, grab your cloak, your shoes." He walked over to her window without looking at her.

Thea stood up quickly surprised. Discreetly wiping her teary eyes with her sleeve, she looked at Onas who had noticed. "Yes Father. Where are we going?" Brushing her ebony hair quickly with a brush.

"To the only place i can think of that makes any sense." Mulo spoke, turning around to face Thea and Onas who were both looking at him patiently and curious. "The Spirit Portal."