[** The next day **]

At the morning Lancelot left to take care of castle business, while he oversaw their children education. All their children were smart and quick in learning new stuff. But this morning lesson felt somehow strange. "What is it, Aalis? You seem unfocused."

"It's nothing... I just couldn't get a good night sleep," she answered showing she is bothered by something.

"Alright, let's stop here and you take a rest." He closed the book about the history and Amyce and Magnus were happy to have additional free time to play. They immediately ran outside. Only Aalis looked sad.

"Are you thinking about your father?" he asked her. Eclipse was sure that's what is making her feeling uneasy. He slightly touched a simple bracelet he had around his wrist. There was a small crimson stone embed to it.

"No, not about him. He just has big exceptions for me... so it's normal for him to be stricter."

"Mom!" called Amyce. Something in her voice made Eclipse frightened so he rushed outside. Both children were just a few meters away and they ran to him. They got scared by strange knight standing in front of them. On his back was big ax and the aura around him was eerie.

Eclipse knew the second he looked at him, this man is dangerous. "Aalis, take your siblings and run to the castle. You will be safe there," he whispered to her, pushing the children to her.

"But mom," she tried to argue.

"Not now. Go, use the back door," Eclipse made sure not to blink or avert his eyes away, fearing this figure will attack at that moment. The worst part of his fear was a feeling he knows who this man is. The children headed her order and ran back to the house, but soon he heard their screams.

"No!!" he dashed inside seeing them be caught in some black gooey substance. He wanted to reach them, but he felt shivers. He looked back to see eerie knight being right behind him. Before he could do anything, he was hit, blacking out. The last thing he has seen was a pair of cold lime green eyes... with split pupils.

[** Sometime later **]

Lancelot has returned because since the morning he had a really bad feeling, so he excused himself a lot sooner to haste back. He called his family, but the house was empty. He searched the surrounding, but they were nowhere to be found. He knew they can't be with Moriana. Before he left, he saw her walking to Merlina's study.

Since the Aalis' birth, she was searching for her possible father's race. He was thankful for it, knowing it will help him to guide her properly.

'Where they can be?' he bit his thumb once he took down his glove. He checked a bracelet. He had the same one as Eclipse. 'Please, call me, if you are in danger.' He was sure his family is in danger, but if they are still alive, he can save them no matter what.

[** Some more time later **]

Eclipse moaned as he was waking up. He shook his head, feeling heavy. "Where--?" he looked around. The room was big and could easily be fit in a castle. The bed he was laying on was huge. His whole family could sleep there and still have enough personal space. It was soft and it had a canopy with silk hangings all around it.

He got down seeing the rest of the furniture looks luxuriously as well. The handles were from gold, the wood was from far away country as he noticed it is pitch black and that sure wasn't a wood he saw on the local market. The room looked pretty, but it was gloomy as it had only black, gray and occasional gold colors.

The walls were covered by tapestries showing mythological scenes and battles. 'Who are those knights?' he checked the figures fighting with a dragon. They had armors and their fur seemed to be purplish to black or dark blue. 'Whatever. I have to find my children.' He walked to the only door and to his surprise, it wasn't closed. He peeked outside, listening before deciding to walk out.

He silently closed the door back, the corridor was empty except for some paintings and old armors standing there as decorations. He checked two painting to see they shown a hedgehog creatures with strange fur and even stranger eyes. He shivered, clasping his fists. 'Those eyes!' He quickly continued, peeping into different rooms, but he hasn't found a single living soul.

'Am I the only one here?' He stepped into a big hall that could be easily used as a dancing hall or for big parties. There were covered tables and chairs around them. Eclipse checked the floor, it was full of dust showing no one stepped here for many years... or even decades.

"I see you have awakened," he heard an eerie voice. He jumped forward, turning in the air and landing on all fours growling. The voice belonged to his jailer who now had no armor. He was only wearing noble looking skirt and pants of mostly gray and black color. His skin had deep blue and purple tone and the lower part of limbs, and tips of his quills were covered by crystals that seemed to grow from his body. "How rude not to wait. Wasn't the room to your liking?"

"Where are my children? If you have hurt them, I swear--!" He added strong growl.