Tad could hear the heavy pads of their feet hit the ground getting louder with each step as they came closer to his cell door. There were always two of them, and this time was no exception. The distinct sound of steel rubbing on steel as the lock's tumbler rotated in the door was what Tad heard next. The loudness of it reverberated through the cell and through Tad's head.

Tad had already begun to move to a standing position in the center of his cell. As he had learned over the last few weeks, he was better off if they did not have to fetch him out of the corner of his cell. The door was heavy and required extraordinary strength to swing it open. Even the dim light of the corridor was enough to blind him after hours of nothing but darkness. Tad did not move. He could see nothing and the pain of the light forced his eyes to squint and close then squint again intermittently. Tad felt the hot rough skin of the guard's grip as the demon wrapped his meaty clawed hand around Tad's forearm.

"You will be taken in front of the Duke. If you behave, he might not eat you," there was a hint of levity in his rough voice. The demon leered at Tad as if he were a culled goat. Tad had no expectations of any pity or niceness from these demons. Even though his magic was nullified, he could sense the aura of evil and hate that surrounded these creatures.

These guards were a darker reddish color, taller and more muscular than the ones that usually came for him for interrogation. They easily towered over Tad. He felt like a dwarf in their presence. Even though their hands and feet were as rough looking as sandpaper, the rest of their muscular body was smooth and rigid. The two-inch spikes along their arms, legs, and spine give them the appearance of menace and evil straight out of someone's worst nightmares.

The guards recognized Tad's temporary blindness and pulled him aggressively into the corridor. As they padded down the passage, each with a hand gripped around Tad's arms, his eyes adjusted quickly to the low reddish-yellow glow that illuminated the passage. He had been tortured in an open area off to the left of his cell a few days ago, but they had not come for him in the last three feedings since. He thought he knew why now. They wanted him fit to do whatever these demons were planning for him with the Duke.

Although Tad appeared compliant, he regularly searched for a way to escape whenever he was out of his cell. He knew he was no match for the demons that held him, but an opportunity would eventually arise.

The corridors were made of many turns and twists. Even with much effort, Tad lost track of the way. The guards took him around several corners, through doorways, up staircases, downstair cases, and back up more staircases. He became completely lost and turned around. The only direction he was certain of was they were now going upward as they had gone up several flights of stairs. Tad was starting to feel weary from the exertion of walking, the lack of food and sleep. Tad had not been this far away from the cells before.

They turned another corner right into a great empty hall lined with thick wooden tables flanked by long sturdy benches. It looked similar to the corridors with the same stone floor, ceiling, and walls. The only difference was these walls were lined with heavy wooden doors. Tad wondered if they were more cells. Maybe he was being transferred to a new cell block. He had the burning desire to reach down into his pocket to make sure his stone had accompanied him on this journey, but alas, with his captors on either side holding him up by his arms, he would not be able to confirm his companion just now. There were sconces that were evenly staggered between each door, helping to light the room. The trio continued forward, making their way across the great hall to double wooden doors on the opposite side. With every step, Tad could hear a mix of cheers, sneers, and growls coming from a loud crowd. He could not make out where it was coming from. The commotion seemed to surround him by the time they reached the other side. Each of his guards grabbed the large ornate iron handle on the double doors with their free hand and simultaneously opened them. The cheers, sneers, and growls nearly blew Tad over. The arena before him was enormous, bigger than anything Tad had ever witnessed.

The guard's claws tightened their grip, intensifying Tad's anxiety while the three walked through the door. Thousands of seats were visible around them, all filled with demons and humanoids of different shapes, colors, and sizes, some with tentacles, beaks, talons, or claws. Tad was standing in the prime box seat. It was a roomy space lined with heavy tapestries of humanoids bent in pain and unnatural contortions. The room also held four large cushioned dark wood ornately carved chairs that flanked a magnificent throne built of stone and skulls.

Several demons mingled about the arena viewing box. They stopped talking once Tad was brought in. The scene of demons socializing with each other so casually was confusing to Tad. He always thought of demons as a violent race, not ones with any culture.

The largest of all the demons was a figure who had his back to Tad, leaning forward with both hands on the railing of the half wall in front of him. Tad could feel this demon's evil more intensely than all the other demons in surrounding the great arena. Slowly the cloaked figure turned to face Tad. The large demon and it were deep in conversation.

"Master, we have brought you the prisoner." One of Tad's guards proclaimed.

Surprisingly the large demon's voice sounded pleasant and inviting, its smoothness could have coerced a mouse to lie down in the mouth of a large cat; however, his sinister face glared in stark contrast.

"Welcome, Welcome," the huge demon offered. "I am Archduke Shazikarik. Please come sit here." He pointed to the empty chair to the left of his own. The demon had two huge horns on the top of his smooth head and two red leathery wings with giant spikes on their peaks. The demon was easily twice the size of the guards holding Tad. His monstrous hands were almost the size of Tad's chest. Tad could feel the power that was in this demon's gaze. The Archduke made the demon guards holding Tad look like kittens in comparison. Tad did not move. The guards prompted him to the chair with a shove. The other demons in the box were mingling once more, talking, and looking out over the arena.

"I thought you would enjoy a little entertainment," the Archduke continued. Something told Tad nothing could be further from the truth. Barely noticeable the Archduke tilted his head toward the right with a soft be, authoritative voice, "Zanna, get our young friend here something to eat."

A woman appeared out of the shadows. Tad had not noticed her there before. She is a little shorter than Tad. She had high cheekbones that enhanced her beauty, not that it was necessary, for she was already one of the most beautiful creatures Tad had ever seen. She wore a gown made of white silk that clung to her body, revealing every curve of her slender figure. Her dark auburn hair was a mess of curls piled on the top of her head. I wondered how long her hair would be if she let it all fall around her, thought Tad. He noticeably shook his head to brush away the thoughts going through his head about this beautiful creature. She had a shimmering blue aura that made your light red skin glow strangely intriguing. Ugh... a succubus Tad finally recognized. With that, Tad tightened up his mind to any further invasion of intrusive thoughts of her. He was not about to lose his mind over a succubus, no matter how brilliant she looked.

The woman glared at the Archduke before relenting, giving him a curt bow, and retreating behind them. She was back within moments before any words between the Archduke and Tad could be exchanged with a small stone tray of food. She extended it to Tad, but he hesitated to take it, immediately questioning its contents. She huffed with exasperation and dropped the tray to Tad's lap before disappearing back behind him. There was no question that she was angered by the lack of his quick response to receiving the food. What Tad did not know was why.

"Easy Zanna," said Shazikarik, his eyes never moving while he simultaneously patted a glass bottle etched in a twirling gold design attached to his belt, clearly meaning his gesture as a warning.

The crowd of demons had quieted, bringing Tad's attention to the arena. It was a large oval pit with enormous stonewalls rising from a packed dirt floor. Shazikarik responded to Tad's new interest. "We call it the bone pit," he said proudly, showing his huge fangs and sharp teeth in an evil smile. Looking closer, intermixed with the dirt, Tad could discern a layer of bones.

"Eat, Eat," Shazikarik ordered, bringing Tad's attention back to the food lying in his lap. Tad examined the food for the first time. He recognized nothing. He picked up what looked like a cheese cube and popped it in my mouth. It was not cheese. It was not bad. Then again, Tad had not eaten much in days. He was sure anything with the smallest about of value would have tasted good to him at this point. With no hesitation, he popped another cube into his mouth. A look of satisfaction crossed Shazikarik's face. It occurred to Tad that eating food in a demon fortress given to you by a Duke of Hell was perhaps not the best life choice, but he was hungry. His hunger overruled judgment, and Tad ate another cube.

Tad was nearly done with the entire plate of food when the crowd started to cheer again. He saw nothing that would have caused the commotion. Whatever entered the arena was doing so from below the box seat. However, the moment the object of attention stepped into view, Tad knew at first glance what it was and, more importantly, who it was. He shot out of his chair, let the food plate slip to the floor, and shouted, "Beothorn!"

Shazikarik looked at Tad expressionless, "I am told you know this dwarf, human. I believe you have proven it to be true. " said the Archduke of Hell stated with a curl of his lip.

Without taking his eyes off Beothron, Tad demanded, as if he had any control over the situation, "release him at once." he paused just half a moment before adding, "or let me fight alongside him." Tad did not know what was in store for Beothorn, but he was not about to stand by and let him go through it alone. Together they had a better chance of defeating whatever came their way. Shazikarik raised a curious brow before snapping his fingers. Immediately demon guards who had been patiently standing behind them grabbed Tad's arms, pulling him down in the chair and firmly keeping him there.

Beothorn stood in the center of the arena with his ax at the ready in one hand and his shield engaged in the other. Across the arena, a large steel gate raised to release five eager goblins. Beothorn used skills that Tad recognized, he watched as his father, with shield and ax, lay waste to the five creatures. The goblins' rushy shortswords were too slow for the unskilled goblins to have a fighting chance. Tad looked sideways at the ArchDuke. If the demon was disappointed, his face was not showing it.

Beothorn's fate would never be known to Tad. As soon as the match was concluded, the ArchDuke nodded to the demon guards, who escorted Tad back to his cell.

Tad lay on the hard stone floor once again, feeling absolutely defeated. His thoughts of his adoptive father and Tad was locked in a cell, unable to escape or call upon his magic. Hopelessness overcame him.

***