Head aching, stomach and ribs bruised, the man in black stumbled to the table before him. Amira was supposed to meet him here but she hadn’t arrived yet. There were two other followers of Mulguran in the city but they also had yet to show themselves.

Grasping his sides, he felt his ribs up and down, winching in pain from the ribs Xerath had cracked when they fought in the hall. Xerath was thirty-five now but still held such a punch it still jarred his head.

Once free, he had easily avoided the guards and escaped the city to a small town outside of Unari. Losing Frostmoon was unfortunate but at least Amira’s cover was still intact. She had killed king Erik and his heart sank from the fact. He wished desperately his life was different, but ever since that day, fourteen years ago, he was bound to Mulguran, forced to obey his every command.

Manipulation and fear were Mulguran’s greatest asset. He ruled with brutality, for those who disobeyed, he always found a way for them to suffer immensely. He had seen it first hand too many times to count on those he once called friends. He was one of the last surviving servants of the master since that fateful day and he had learned through trial and error how to survive.

Footsteps outside snapped him out of his thoughts. They were a ways off but he pretended to not hear them. Once they got to the door he leapt to his feet as they entered. Three figures in black stepped through the door and into the dimly lit room. The smallest, he guessed, was Amira as she was the only woman in their group. Her small frame was deceiving, however, as the power of Mulguran could be called upon at any time.

He, however, had refrained from using the demon’s powers as of late and he suffered for it. Only when he was commanded to use it or whenever Mulguran took over his body did he use his power.

The other three were young and foolish like he was all those years ago, drunk on power, though part of him felt sorry for them. Little did they know the consequences to come would crush them with guilt. They truly were the perfect beings in which Mulguran preyed on as they were easily manipulated and convinced as long as more power was bestowed upon them. Young and naive just as he once was.

Amira pulled her hood off along with her black coat, revealing her face and outfit underneath. She wore black pants with a dark shirt that sat loosely on her body, slightly obscuring her female form.

The man in black could tell she had been crying, her eyes had a hint of redness to them, though she hid it well.

“Was she too burdened by the guilt of her actions?” he thought to himself. Surely, as her story was a tragic one. He knew how she had come to serve Him and he felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl, especially after being forced to murder Erik.

Selfishly, he hoped she would be rewarded, as it would turn the attention away from him, giving him more room to maneuver.

He wasn’t the first to serve Mulguran and he wouldn’t be the last. He did not understand his master's desires but he had taken a liking to Amira, whether that was through torturing her or he truly saw potential in her, he didn’t know. As of late his favorite now was Amira. She had given much to him and Mulguran reveled in her pain.

“You’re getting slow, old man.” one of the assassins mocked. “You didn’t notice us till we were at the door.”

He said nothing, as he wished to be perceived as a slowing old man but in reality, he could snap their necks in an instant if he wished. He had planned this for years, slowly making Mulguran think he was ineffective as possible and he had already fooled them.

Just one more reason for Mulguran to believe he was losing touch with his skill.

“Nothing to say, huh.” another spat to the side. “You lost Frostmoon. You had one job.”

Amira said nothing, only moving to one side of the room, ignoring the insults being thrown around.

They started to say something else but fell silent immediately as Mulguran materialized before them.

The room went dark and the tear in space opened up to reveal the demon standing before them. Amira stood to her feet instantly, fear painfully obvious in her eyes. At once, all four of them bent to one knee before their master.

Mulguran hissed, his face contorting in different emotions. His red eyes flared, and they all winced, hoping his anger was not directed toward themselves.

“C-” one of the assassin’s started to say but was quickly shut up by Mulguran’s power, constricting his body.

“Human names will not be spoken in my presence.” he hissed.

“Forgive me, my lord.” he whimpered. “I only wanted to report that he lost king Erik’s sword, not us.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Mulguran sneered. “Hold your tongue until spoken too.” he turned his menacing stare to Amira. “You have been found out. You were reckless! You left Jebbin alive. You didn’t think to finish him off before leaving the dungeon?”

“My lord?” Amira looked up in shock, taken aback by the news. Obviously, she had believed she had done her job in killing him but instead he scolded her like a child.

“Jebbin wrote your name in his own blood!” Mulguran hissed. “Now Cara knows it was you who killed him and will now know Erik’s death was also of your doing!”

Inwardly, the man in black groaned in pain as he realized Mulguran would look to him now rather than her to lead the group to kill Cara.

“Please forgive me, my lord!” she yelped. “I will make it up to you. We can intercept her before she reaches Unari.”

“Silence!” Mulguran barked. “You overestimate yourself. Your emotions have finally overshadowed your usefulness.” he gestured to him, ignoring Amira now. “You will take these… pups and show them how it’s done.”

“Yes, master,” he replied, lowering his head. “I am yours to command.”

“All of you will do as he says,” Mulguran ordered.

“But my lord.” the two assassins objected. “He is old and weak. Perhaps one of us can lead?”

Mulguran said nothing for a moment, then his eyes flared bright red again and he reached through the tear in space and slashed him across the face with his long fingernails. He screamed in pain and jerked backward, utter shock and fear in his eyes.

“You dear speak back to me!” Mulguran screamed.

He quickly pulled his arm back through the portal, which the man in black took great notice in. It looked to be painful to him to cross into their world. No one else seemed to notice.

“You all are servants,” Mulguran said harshly. “You are my playthings. You obey, nothing more. I had high hopes for you all, yet you continue to fail. Revealing yourself to them was an amateur mistake at best.” he addressed Amira with that.

“For...give… me.” Amira choked out. “My lord.” her eyes shot to the ground.

“Master?” he dared to interrupt him. “If it pleases you, she will have value to me to assassinate Cara.”

Mulguran, still glaring down at Amira, whipped his head around to gaze at him, his wings and horns stretching wide. His rage abated an instant later.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I can still use her, master,” he said. “She will be bait to the humans. They will stop at nothing to find her once Cara reveals her secret. We can use their blindness to entrap them. Rayman will act foolishly, this is for certain.”

“Your plan is sound.” Mulguran praised. “However it is too late. Felkuru is there, along with the Emarine. You don’t stand a chance against them now. They know we lurk in the shadows. Our element of surprise has passed.”

“Please use us as you will,” he said. “What is your plan, master?”

Mulguran again gazed down at him, his eyes flickering, “I will bring my full might upon this world. Nothing they do can stop it now. Only those who I deem worthy may survive.”

Every human in the room froze, wishing themselves to be included in that crowd. They feared they would not be chosen for such a gift. Bowed and still covered with his mask, he feared what was to come next even if he was spared. Mulguran wished to control his body to exact his rage upon Cara, but that didn’t mean he would extend the invitation of survival in the aftermath of it all.

“Fear not,” Mulguran said. “You have all proven yourselves, though barely.” he shifted his gaze to the other three. “Even you. The Thrak I have sent after Cara have failed. The Emarine soldier, along with Fel rescued her before they could kill her. You,” Mulguran pointed at him. “Will finish what you started.”

An audible sigh of relief escaped their mouths, Mulguran would assign them a new task, which would give them another opportunity to prove themselves, though he guessed Amira’s sigh was not out of relief but rather, pain.

“Would it not be easier to watch them fall to the Thrak?” he asked. “I will risk my life for you, master, but if she is to die, must it be by your hand?”

Mulguran looked at him intensely, measuring him up, his red eyes flickering slightly from deep thoughts. “I want to see the life drain from her eyes,” he said simply.

“Of course, master.” he nodded.

“My armies have gathered, Vulkira has already fallen thanks to Fel. Xer will soon follow.” Mulguran announced. “I still have plans for Tykin. As for Kligira, they will be the last to fall.”

“The army beyond the wall?” he asked the demon. “They were defeated.”

“That was merely a fraction of my forces.” Mulguran laughed. “You will see.”

“Yes master.” he bowed lower.

“After your mission is complete you will travel to the Fossland Mountains and remain in the ruins there.” the demon said. “The Thrak will not touch you. I still have use for you after I take Isulia. You four will have roles to fill when I am finished.”

Mulguran waved his arms and the portal shut behind him, leaving them alone.

“Well,” he said to the room. “Let’s go kill the queen.”