Masquerade of Madness: The Council's Redemptionn

A figure cloaked in black watched them from a distance, smiling. Good girl, mother's proud, the figure thought. Then Monett disappeared, transporting to Casalynn, using relocation.

The Authority force members were freaking out, their city on high alert for the council members they could not find. They were also searching for Vincent. But they had no idea where he went, no clue that the council held him a prisoner.

The council chamber was sealed, allowing no one to get in or out. Inside, what was left of the council chatted bitterly about the turn of events. Their leader, Siphon, was supposedly in captivity, but they knew better. They could feel his energy creeping around Casalynn. They could hear the running of the Authority Force and the king's guards outside.

The council knew they were in deep trouble, considering that even their lights had to be turned off. They could not see each other, but only feel each other's presence. One of the twenty-six remaining members spoke up, "We should give up. Siphon was foolish."

"He is our leader! You speak blasphemy!" another yelled out, slamming his hands down on the table. Suddenly loud bickering about what they should do ensued.

"Boys," Monett called out calmly. "My little angel is doing her job. Soon we will have the half-breed within our grasp, but just in case, Vincent has an idea where he is. Let's visit him."

The council members stood up, and one by one followed each other to a long twisting stairway that led secretly away from the chamber. Some of them hated being this close to each other. So they separated into their groups of two, so no petty fights would break out among them.

When they reached the bottom of the stairway, they spotted Vincent's kidnapper and Siphon, whipping Vincent.

"Why are you not in the Casalynn dungeon A3?" Vincent growled out. After all, he had witnessed Siphon's arrest and had personally told the Authority Force what to do with him.

"It is amazing what memory erasing and implanting can do. So far the individual who is in the dungeon thinks he is me." Siphon laughed. "It is amazing, these gifts we possess. Why tarnish ourselves more by living with the humans?" His lash hit Vincent again, who just grunted, handling the blow. "Tell me why do you protect him and give in to his demands, a thing like that should be locked away!"

Vincent sighed, "You would not understand. You were taken away from your family at a young age, and your wings were clipped. You would not know the reality of love and family bonds."

Siphon's laughs grew maniacal. "And yet I am the one on the outside of the chains."

"You are also the one who is on the outside of everything else," Vincent spoke accusingly.

Again Siphon whipped Vincent.

The small dungeon had not been in use for hundreds of years. Dust and other particles thickly coated the floor and the walls. In a far corner, remnants of skeletons were dispersed in the dust.

Vincent's chained hands hung above his head, pulling his body straight as the merciless beatings continued. He hurt, but not enough to give them any information about Creed or anything else, for that matter.

The council stared in utter shock, reveling in the fact that their leader was here. Some of them laughed at the cruel treatment that Vincent was receiving.

"We are truly a fallen race," Vincent mumbled to himself with dismay.

"What was that?" Siphon asked, proud that Vincent was giving in.

"I said that our race has fallen. We are nothing more than the humans or the Nards."

He hit Vincent's bloody peeling back with such force the dungeon echoed within it. Vincent held in his pain and took a deep breath.

Monett laughed, eager to see him suffer, but knowing that Vincent would not give them that pleasure.

Jade had been silently watching behind the poles that held up the entire building. She formed her body to be the same shape. Sometimes she would make herself microscopic, but the air in Casalynn was always heavy with water, so it was very hard for her. Her body contracts with the water so the more water; the harder it is to control. She watched, day after day, as the council pelted her master, but still, he would not surrender. Why Jade whispered to herself, why is Creed so important?"

She did not notice a certain someone sneak up on her. Sizzler's black, greasy hair was the first thing Jade smelled. She grew agitated as he wrapped his hands around her. "Love, I am a love-struck fool. Call me Sizzler, and I shall call you wife."

"Hmm, no thank you," she said meekly. "I do not believe in cross-breeding."

"Oh, but I do." He backed her up against the wall.

Siphon noticed Sizzler's actions and laughed. "Boy, I would love to know what you did to him."

"Master, help!" Jade pleaded.

"No," Vincent replied, somewhat agitated. "This is not the time or place for your lovers' quarrel. Go somewhere else. Do something useful. Report to the King where I am."

"What!" Jade shrieked, as Sizzler attempted to kiss her. She drew her tentacles out to push him away, but he grabbed them and kissed them, clinging and caressing. They weakened in his grasp.

"Master, please," Jade begged.

Siphon cracked the whip across Vincent's back again. "Pay attention! Listen to me!"

"You know," Vincent growled darkly, "it's almost funny."

"What is?" Siphon asked curiously.

"How you disrespect your race, yet you demand the same respect."

The council members gasped. "How dare you define us as such?"

Vincent gritted his teeth as the Casalyian that had kidnaped him walked over to him, holding a highly decorated box with four locks on it. He placed it on a table, just inches away from Vincent. He slowly lifted the lid on the box, revealing a dark blue orb surrounded by black barbed wire inside.

"My name is Darius. I am the Keeper of the Orb of Casalynn. I am truly sorry you have to bear this."

"Just get it over with!" Vincent said coldly, wondering how long he had been in captivity. He did not worry about his wounds or the fact that he was going to get impaled by that orb. He worried about his brother.

The orb of Casalynn looked fragile. Vincent noted as he crossly studied the object, that would soon be residing in him. Darius softly shoved it into Vincent's midsection, but the orb had other plans; it swirled painfully into Vincent until it could no longer be seen.