"My my, I see you have found some friends since last I saw you and unless my eyes deceive me...one is my dear old pal Kortt. Greetings old friend." I quickly look to Kortt and see the disgust upon his face. "We have the grimoire." Says Kortt. The dark child smiles. "As always it's right to the point with you." Just then Crete steps out from the shadows, Kasza'Zuel takes one glance at him and gasps as though he has seen a ghost causing him to stumble backwards. "It CAN'T be!" All eyes turn to Crete. The expression on his face leads me to believe he is thoroughly enjoying the fact that Kasza'Zuel appears to be afraid of him. "I thought you said he was a threat? He's cringing like the child he appears to be." Says Crete. "Now now CRETE, no need to get cocky." The dark child regains his posture and gives a quick tug on his vest, a gesture to signify that he's still in control. Then it hits me. "Wait a minute? How do you know his name is Crete?" I ask. The dark child turns to me. "That's right. Crete and I go way back, We have history. Hahah hahaha." Chuckles the demon. First it's confusion that sweeps over Crete, that is immediately replaced by rage. "You don't know me demon!" Responds Crete in a aggressive tone. "Haha hahahaaa ha. But I do, I know you better than you know yourself. In fact I know all of you." The demon child cranes his neck to look past Crete. "Hades my boy, always a pleasure and Grys...what can I say, we were never close but seeing your brothers again more than makes up for your disappointment." My head is spinning, it seems like everyone knows everyone. How is that possible? It doesn't matter, that's not why we're here, this is about Hayden. "WHERE IS HAYDEN?" I demand. "Wait a minute!" Interrupts Crete. "What's our connection demon?" Kasza'Zuel grins. "Loss of memory? Well that explains a lot. Crete my friend, I have granted you the means to conquer this realm and would be more than happy to do so again. Just come to me, come stand at my side and together we will rule this world." Kortt steps between Crete and the dark child. "ENOUGH! Do you intend on honoring our agreement or not? Then I'm completely taken by surprise, Crete spins Kortt around and is once again nose to nose with the Broken Arrow. "This is Between him and ME, stop trying to dictate my decisions. I can handle this." Kortt gracefully steps to the side and motions for Crete to address the demon. Crete nods and begins moving in the demons direction. "Yes. Come to me." Says the dark child. Crete shakes his head and pulls the sword with the skull from his back. "I don't think so." "Why deny the inevitable?" says the dark child. "You will come to me, maybe not today but if the past is any indication you WILL come. You always do. Hahahaaa ha." "I wouldn't hold your breath." Replies Crete while taking an aggressive stance. "Maybe your reign of terror ends today, maybe I end you today!" Without warning Hades is suddenly standing before us. "Let's get back to why we're here, where is the girl? Show her and honor the agreement or prepare yourself...the choice is yours." The demon child bows. "As you wish." He begins waiving his arms in a smooth and decisive manner. Suddenly a glowing glyph appears on the wall and a portal begins to materialize inside of it. Thats when I see her. "It's Hayden, I see Hayden." My heart skips a beat, I see her lift her head and I know she sees me as well. A tear begins to flow down my cheek. I really wondered if I would ever truly see her again. She begins rising to her feet and moving our direction. SLAM! My heart sinks as Hayden smashes face first into a invisible barrier knocking her back onto her ass. Her hands immediately go to her face, she hit hard. "Haha haha hahaha. First the grimoire, then and only then will you have your precious Hayden back." Says the dark child who reaches out his arm to receive the book. I look to Kortt for guidance. I see him analyzing the situation, finally he says... "Give him the book." Reluctantly I toss the dark child the grimoire, he catches it and I swear his yellow eyes become more terrifying. He then waives his hand in front of the glyphs. "Hayden my dear, it's been fun but your freedom has been payed." We watch as Hayden gets back on her feet, this time she moves slowly with her arms stretched out before her. When she reaches the spot where she collided with the barrier and feels nothing a beautiful smile begins to form in the corner of her mouth. Then one leg steps out through the portal down onto the stone floor in front of me. It's real, it's happening, Hayden is back!