“I’m afraid that I have failed. Ulammar will not be able to fight Karash when the war ends. As it stands now we’re on the brink of civil war. So far there’s been no fighting. Although that’s only because we have their representatives hostage.” Said Samael.

“Fret not Samael. After all I’m sure it was out of your control. Was it not?” Asked the One Eye with a wide grin.

“Ye-yes... I’m afraid so.” Stammered Samael.

The One Eye crouched in front of him and patted the top of Samael’s helmet. “I’m sure you’ll do better next time. Lamia! How goes Abathur’s experiments?”

“With the recent acquisition of the Drakghul we expect to make some headway. However, it’s still too early to tell. Some experiments have had more success than others.” Reported Lamia.

“What about the war? Sethos? Apollyon?”

“It’s… Going? Hard to say. Right now… At least on my end we’ve reached a stalemate. Battle plans are being drawn up, but we’re still indecisive.” Explained Sethos.

“I’ve hit a roadblock you could say. Director Kilbourne and his legionnaires will prove to be most difficult. Although I can lean on Karnissius Sulyvahn’s hatred of him. If need be I will plunge Karash into a civil war. If nothing else it’ll diminish their fighting capacity for a while anyways.”

“Yes because the previous civil war in the Kaulkan states went so good.” Quipped Usha.

“Why don’t you just say it to my face Usha?”

“You’ll be sending men to fight children. That fight won’t last long. The previous civil war was against civilians. It will not be enough to weaken Karash.”

“I might have a solution to that.” Interjected Lamia.

“Do you now?” Retorted Usha.

“Apollyon may tolerate your tone Usha, but don’t think for a second that I will.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Usha…” Samael began.

Usha then sat back in her chair.

“Thank you Samael. At least some of us can accept failure with grace. As I was saying…”

“Like you did when Aldritch escaped.” Quipped Usha.

Lamia ignored her comment even if it did grate her a bit. “We’ve been working on a parasite capable of manipulation. It’s still in its early stages, but we’re confident that we can use it to control people.”

“Don’t we already do that? I mean… I did it. Sort of.” Said Sethos.

“Not quite. The one you used took control of the host once it was deceased. That’s how they all work. They’re incompatible with a living host. These however can bypass that problem. The end result being total manipulation without the risk of it being feral.”

Hekate sat back and watched the meeting unfold. He had not uttered a single word since they began. He focused his attention on Samael and the One Eye. The One Eye glanced at him.

“Is there perhaps something that you would like to say Hekate?”

“A few questions actually if you wouldn’t mind?”

The One Eye grinned at him as he crawled across the table. He crouched in front of him, his face merely inches away from his. “Not at all.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that you would sneak into Spyre the way that you did? Also… Why are you keeping in conversation with King Astopheles?”

“The first is rather simple I didn’t want to blow your cover. As for the second well… It has more to do with Herald Maxwell. Although you’ll find out in due time.”

“What does she have to do with any of this?”

“The boy has met two of the four already. He will meet the other in Zul-Aman, and the last will be in Dol-Sur. It is inevitable.”

“Who are they?”

The One Eye’s grin faded. “The lost children. There was… A story where I’m from… Now how did it go…” The One Eye punctured his eye with his sharp nail. Then he shoved his entire hand as he pulled out his own brain. He held it out for the others to see as he inspected it. As if he could find the place where the memory was located. “So many memories… Such a long life… Regardless… It is best to let events play out.”

“You wouldn’t happen to be holding out on us would you?”

“If nothing else Hekate know that life will have no surprises for me. No matter what comes my way. The young girl, Embry Essar, will eventually see things our way. Isn’t that right Apollyon?”

“Right…”

“Essar?” Asked Lamia.

“Yes. The daughter of Aldritch Essar. Surely you must’ve known Lamia?”

“I did not.”

“Ha!” Usha let out a hearty chuckle. “Bet you weren’t expecting that twist.”

“Even I’ll admit that’s funny.” Added Sethos.

Lamia growled. “Shut it.”

The One Eye then wrapped his tongue around his brain and swallowed it. “I suppose that will be enough for today. I’m sure that you all have business to attend to.” He then transformed into his disguise, opened a portal back to Spyre, and left.

Sethos, Usha, and Lamia followed suit leaving only Hekate, Samael, and Apollyon behind.

“You know something. Don’t you Apollyon?” Inquired Hekate as he looked at his older sister.

“Hmph… Nothing seems to elude you little brother.”

“For what reason were we brought back?”

“Just do your part.”

“BULLSHIT!” He slammed his fists on the table cracking it. “We are…”

“I imagine it has something to do with her. Am I wrong?” Asked Samael as he tried to prevent a fight between the two.

“If you dare say her name I will not hesitate to kill you.” Threatened Apollyon as she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword.

“You couldn’t have saved…” Samael began.

“ENOUGH!” Yelled Apollyon as she drew her sword and stopped mere inches from Samael’s head.

“So that’s what this is about.” Hekate thought as Samael placed his hands on his sister’s sword.

“I’m sorry.” Said Samael as he stood up and bowed his head.

“Tch.” Apollyon then sheathed her sword, and opened a portal back to Karash.

“For how long did you know?” Asked Hekate.

“I always knew.” Sighed Samael. “All because of father.”

“She should’ve just known her place. It worked for you and me.”

“Did it really? I tried to love my children, but it was difficult. I always knew that as long as father was alive they would always exist to do his bidding.”

“Even children hated by their parents try to love and understand them. Isn’t that right?”

“Truly.” Samael let out a small chuckle. “There are times when I miss those days. Before… Everything.”

“So then what do we do?” Asked Hekate.

“We bide our time. Apollyon is still the strongest out of the six of us, and even together we stand no chance against her. We’ll outsmart her and outmaneuver her.”

“But will that be enough?”

“For the time being at least… Our hopes rest solely on the shoulders of Onyx.”

Apollyon wandered into the cave until she came up to a large block of stone standing at almost six feet tall. The block was chiseled and depicted a woman. Apollyon planted her sword on the ground, and kneeled before it.

“I swear to you on my life… That I shall end my father’s legacy.”