*Pierre* I puked everywhere when I successfully created my first portal. I regretted all the food that I had consumed. The amount of focus I placed on creating one gave me a migraine from hell. Hassun only laughed at me, “it does get easier the more times you perform this task. Now you will get from one place to the other in seconds. Your response will be faster.” “I see the bonus but this is unnatural for me!” I complained as I readied myself for the next round. I am wondering if Merna ever felt like this at the beginning.” Motioning his head in a yes fashion, “Since she didn’t have anyone instructing her on what to do, I would assume that she failed more times before she got a handle on creating portals!” Hassun informed me. “We are going to do this again!” Groaning, “I’m not a friggin mage!” I did as I had been instructed. I focused on the location that I wanted to go to. A swirling mist started to form. At first, it was small, the more I focused the bigger it became. Walking through the door, I ended up in the proper destination. “You are getting better at this. Later I will get you to work with Yenos. Not only is he our fastest tracker. He specialised with using portals to his advantage.” I exhaled roughly, “Anything that will help me improve my skills, I am eager to learn!” I said with a bit of sarcasm. Slapping my back, “We are done for now, go get cleaned up!” *Ashur* - torture I strolled into the dungeons, and no one could break Natcattiram, with great pleasure I was given the task of interrogating Natcattiram. He was kin, one of the individuals that Merna had pointed out who was handing over information to his informant. Entering the cell Natcattiram started to howl with laughter, “there is nothing that you can get me to say!” He hissed at me. “Father told me to take over the questioning!” I started as I strolled to a restrained Natcattiram. “Let’s get started shall we!” “You know the laws as well as I do boy, you can not do a thing to me!” He started to laugh. “That is where you are wrong!” My dragon form was inching closer to the surface. “Who is your informant?” I tapped the blade on my palm thinking about where I was going to stab Natcattiram.“You half breed bastard!” Natcattiram spat at me. “Your whole family are shortsighted … the irony in this all is you are of the dark and still absent minded.” “Wrong answer!” Digging the blade into Natcattiram's leg I glided it up to his hip leaving an open gouge. “Who is your informant?” Natcattiram laughed even harder, “it took a hybrid for you to see the truth and yet you are still ignorant to what is happening.” I had sliced Natcattiram several times before I healed his wound. He wouldn’t die yet, that I would make sure of. The spell that prevented him from telling the truth was going to cause him a great deal of pain. From Natcattiram to the other kin, they were answering all the same. I would have to get creative if I was going to get what I wanted out of them. *Master* - torture, sex I wasted no time in getting Merna to point out who she believed was betraying me. Merna said it was kin. When Merna was not around I asked my sons if they at any time told Merna who was kin to us. Both responded with a no. I then went to my daughters and Puabi to ask them the same question and all of them informed me that Merna had no clue as far as they knew of our kin. Of all the kin that had resided here, twenty-nine of them were working for my siblings. They were the offspring of those that my siblings had killed in the purge. Each of the twenty-nine had been children when their parents fell to their knees succumbing to their fate. Giving their offspring sanctuary and protection! I was past fuming, I stomped the halls with half of my dragon form present for all to see. ‘How could I be so blind to the obvious?’ Our routine was changed to wandering the halls and entering every chamber. It was Merna’s idea that we act as if we were doing a maintenance check of each room. It was my thought that we appeared as if we were also going over the inventory and supplies. One of Merna’s fears was that we would spook the individuals, having them flee my domain. Behind us, I had four mages ready to stop the individuals from getting away. They had been a servant of mine for well over a millennia. I know Kudiya says I place far too much faith in Merna and should also question her motives. I would not tell anyone what Merna meant to Ashur and me. I would just listen to his bellyaching for the duration until it was safe for her. When Merna first came here she was scared and cried. Now she carries her head high and is not scared to speak her mind. When those who came here were questioned, their stories were the same, Merna was not supposed to be there with the group. Pierre informed Sadragon that he was not originally going to invite Merna, but figured that she would keep his temper in check while dealing with Markous.‘Merna was never supposed to be part of the group!’ My inner thought spoke to me. ‘The rest of the group was fated to trespass on to the land. Their fate was sealed, Merna was the only one that should not have been here.’ I passed the entranceway that would take me to the dungeons. I huffed as my train of thought went from Merna to my kin. Of course, when first questioned, each of them denied any involvement. They would not compromise their positions in this house. It was Venam that started to speak after hours of consistent pressure from Zefer and Alma. Venam may have been speaking but it was not enough for me. The others would not break and I was close to breaking necks to get the information that I desired. I was in the cell with Ashur when Merna strolled into the room. Tied to a table, Natcattiram was starting to laugh hysterically. “What do you think this hybrid could do to me that you have not tried. I will never tell you what you want to hear. I would rather die!” “Merna!” I glared daggers at her. ‘I had another dream while I was walking in the halls!’ Merna linked me, “What is the purpose of this?” Merna directed her hands to the blood. “You will get no answers this way!” Merna did not spare a second glance my way, “I can make Natcattiram answer, though first …” Merna placed her hand on Natcattiram’s throat, “Ninkal unmaiyaip pecuvirkal, unmaiyait tavira verillai! Allatu hpiniks paravaiyin utpura tiyal patikkappatunkal!” Merna glanced my way, tilting her head to the side and clasping her hands together now. ‘What are you doing here?’ I glared daggers at Merna. Not replying to my question, she continued to glare at Natcattiram, who was laughing at her. “Try asking him your questions now!” Ashur glanced at Merna, “how long have you been spying on us, Natcattiram?” Nothing happened to him. Natcattiram tried to get himself free from his bondage, “How could you believe a human born over your only kin!” He glared at Merna as he started to howl with laughter. Merna studied Natcattiram, “Natcattiram, Are you a spy?” Her tone was flat. Natcattiram held his tongue as long as he could, “I am not a spy!” Contorting, he hissed out in pain. The blue flame danced around Natcattiram's body lashing at his bare skin. Merna pointed towards Natcattiram, “he is lying!” She licked her lips before smiling, “Phoenix fire … it is a bitch!” Merna slapped Natcattiram's leg, “You might want to start telling the truth …” she chuckled, “This will not kill you but the more you lie the more internal pain you are going to feel!” She brought her attention to Ashur and me, “Ask only yes and no questions … the flames will show if Natcattiram is not telling you the truth.” Merna placed her hands on her hips “You need to leave!” I ordered, “Merna!” I gave her a warning.Placing her hands up in the air, “I am leaving!” She lowered her hands and left the location. “What is phoenix fire?” Ashur asked once Merna was out of the cell. “Powerful magick… something that is not acquired by just anybody. Phoenix fire is reserved for fire birds also known as phoenix’s.” My blazing eyes were fixated on Natcattiram. His eyesight was a cesspool of dread. “Phoenix’s have not been seen …” My mind started to wander. ‘Father!’ Ashur’s voice had a hint of worry. ‘How is it possible for Merna to possess phoenix fire? Mannel had eradicated their kind before Earth was formed. That would mean …’ ‘I do not believe it! There must be a mistake … The last time there was a report of seeing a phoenix was before the last purge … that was over twenty-eight thousand centuries ago. Since there was no evidence to back it up, it was considered a myth … a story that everyone wanted to believe in!’ I was speaking to myself more than anything. The sound of Natcattiram's voice brought Ashur and me out of a state of shock. “I …I” Natcattiram stuttered, “I am bound by a blood oath, I can not tell you the truth regardless if I want to speak.”