Heirot

"She must bow" Seryth growled in rejection against her standing up. "She's not worthy to stand in his presence... and apparently neither are you."

Seryth grabbed Forcroff by the throat and lifted him up above his head. "Easy now Seryth... Don't do something you're going to regret," Airis pointed out.

Seryth threw him to the floor and Forcroff jumped up in fury. He swung at Seryth, but Airis jumped between them and grabbed Forcroffs arm. He shook his head in disaggreement.

Airis turned his gaze back on Elena. "Is it wrong that I want to see my beloved grandson."

For some strange reason she was worried for Forcroff. Maybe because he was the only one who seemed to be wanting to protect her.

Elena put her hands to belly where the child was growning. "You want to take him from me too don't you!"

"We can't upset her, my Lord," Forcroff said to Airis. "Making her upset and making her worry could kill the child."

"The baby's going to be fine," Airis sneered. Getting annoyed by Forcroff's overprotectiveness.

Airis stepped down to Elena and took her by the hand. "How about we start over, my dear... I think we got off on the wrong foot at our first meeting..." He smiled at her again.

Elena didn't know what to do. She was confused, sick, dirty, afraid, actually terrorfied. She looked up at Airis, who looked like Airen, except older.

"I don't know..." Elena said, tilting her head and several curly strands of hair fell in front of her blood splattered face.

"I don't know what to do..." Elena shook her head, her sparkling violet eyes closing. "Everything is so confusing... I'm so afraid... Why am I telling you this..."

Airis pushed her hair back, "Because you can trust me..."

He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A young man, around Elena's age, comes out of the darkness. His green eyes glowed in the dim light. He was rather hansome and charming. He brought a cold presence when he got near someone.

"Escort this young lady to the bathroom so she can get washed up... and I would like to see you as soon as you can get back." Airis told him.

Elena looked at him and wondered if she really could trust Airis. "Okay..." she said softly and looked at the man with the peircing green eyes.

She didn't want to go anywhere with anyone knew. "Forcroff is coming with me though..."

Airis turned to Forcroff muttering and grumbling. "I need Forcroff to stay here with me... We have something to discuss."

He turned to Seryth, "You stay here, too." He told him.

Lann stuck his arm out to Elena so that he could help her to the bethroom. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you.." He promised, "I want to be your friend."

He caught Forcroff's eye and gave him a conceded smile.

Elena looked at him for a moment. "I'm gaining too many friends..." she said softly, letting him lead her by the arm.

She glanced back at Forcroff, whom she felt protected by as they left the room. She really didn't want to leave him, but it seemed she had no choice. She didn't want to make Airis mad. Elena wished there was some way to get to Airen and tell him she was alright and that his father was alive and he had a brother.

"You won't be in the room with me... will you?" she asked softly to Lann.

Lann laughed at her innocent question. "Oh no... I must be getting back to speak with Airis."

They came upon a huge door and he pushed it open. "It was nice to meet you, my lady." he said sincerely.

He smiled and bowed his head, "I hope to see you around." He turned and made his way back down the torch lit hall.

Elena smiled slightly, a bit unsure of what to think of Lann. Though, he didn't seem entirely bad.

'What is going on?' she asked herself, entering the room that was filled with steam. 'Oh...'

She remembered this room. It was the room she had been sent to when they were going to sacrafice her. It was where she had been sent to be prepared for the sacrafice.

Elena wondered in, hugging herself slightly as she wondered through the steam until she bumped into a father large woman.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

The woman stared at her thoughtfully. "Are you the Lady Elena we were expecting?" she asked cautiously.

"You were expecting me?"

"Yes," she said, getting bored with Elena quickly. "Are you her or not?"

"I'm Elena." Elena nodded.

"Take off your clothes then," the woman said as she eyes the blood all over her.

"What?" Elena didn't think she heard the woman correctly. "In front of you?"

"Your a Lady I would think you would be used to it."

"I... I... I just became one... I don't... I... er... I can do it myself. I really don't need anyone to help me..." Elena stumbled through her excuse numbly.

"Would you liked me wipped for insolence? I will do my job. Now either you take off your own clothes or I do it for you..."

"What exactly is your job?" Elena asked quickly, stepping back.

"Why, to make sure your all clean and sparkling... Now, how about the clothes, my lady?" She held out her hands to take the dirty clothes from Elena.

Elena bit her bottom lip. This place was going to drive her insane.

"Well I think your being to protective of the medling little bitch..." Seryth yelled.

"I'm protecting my lord... not her... I don't give one ragged shit about her." Forcroff countered.

Lann enetered the room laughing. "You two are arguing about the wrong issue... What you should be worried about his how you're going to survive the wrath of her gods forsaken husband. You know he is coming."

"My dear Lann.." Airis said from behind him. "Airen is the least of our worries... He is not what he is cracked up to be."

"He defeated you," Lann commented insultingly.

"He did no such thing..." Airis protested, "I'm here now aren't I..."

"Only because he was young and a fool... If he were to find out what I know about you it would be the end of your days for good."

"But he doesn't know and I'd suggest to you that you don't tell him"

Lann smiled mockingly. Forcroff and Seryth looked at one another in confusion. Lann was the only one who knew Airis's secret.

"Father?" a young voice called out.

Airis turned around to find Damien standing there in awe. He couldn't believe his father was still alive. "I thought you were dead..." he said in confusion. "Airen killed you..."

Airis smiled at Damien. He had grew in his power since the last time he had seen him. He could sense it. "You can't believe everything you hear... Do you honestly think I could be killed by an unskilled rat like Airen?"

"Umm... Well no sir...but..."

"But nothing my son... I feel that you have grown in your powers?" He asked attempting to change that subject.

Damien knew what his father was doing it but allowed it without further persistance. "I have father..." He started a flame in his hand. "Would you like me to show you?"

"Oh no..." Airis laughed, "I believe you."

"Well it his nice to see you again, Young Damien," Lann greeted, "I must be on my way though." He looked back at Frocroff and Seryth, "Y'all think about what I said." He noded at Airis and left the room.

Forcroff and Seryth both left arguing about how they should could Airen when he comes. Airis looked down at Damien and smiled, "Well tell me a what's went on in your life since the last time we met."

The door where Airis and Damien were talking groaned open and in its wake was a woman with curly blond hair dressed in a long flowing white dress trimmed in pale gold. It hung off her shoulders with long white bell sleeves that touched the ground. She looked almost completely different from the woman they had seen moments before covered in blood and frightened.

Right now she looked a bit over powered, still very frightened, but as if she were trying to act as meekly and invisible as possible hoping no one would see her.

Her hair was pulled up slightly, with long golden curls cascading down her back. She looked absolutely beautiful, shimmering like a beacon in a place full of darkness. The only sign that she was with child was the small barely noticeable bulge in her stomach.

Elena flashed her violet eyes open and stared directly at Airis. “Now what?” she asked softly.

Damien's eyes locked as they fell on Elena. She wasn't the same lady he had seen at Shea's palace. Some great light seemed to radiate from her.

Airis smiled. There was no denying her beauty but it didn't intrigue him. "Watch yourself son," he told Damien, "We don't want you falling in love."

Damien snapped out of his trance, "What? Not me I will never love anyone."

"Okay, okay..." Airis calmed, "Get ready for supper now..."

"Yes sir," he replied as he exited room.

Airis turned to Elena, "Supper will be ready momentarily if you care to join us? That is entirely up to you though." He smiled at her and waited on a reply.

Elena glanced up. "It depends on if thats the only way I'll get fed," she said softly. She knew they wouldn't let her starve, it would damage the child with in her. The child they desperately wanted for some odd reason.

What was so important about Luther that they would want him to be there lord when he was born.

"I am hungry though."

"Okay then..." Arisis said, "Would you like me to escort you or would you like to find the dining room on your own."

He glared into her violet eyes waiting for her answer.