"How are you feeling?" Asks Crete upon reaching Tate. Tate glances slowly up at Crete. "I'm alive, but I don't feel like it." "That's not surprising." Says Crete. "What you accomplished was incredible, I really didn't think you had it in you. The odds were against you and you persevered. I respect a man that doesn't quit." The faintest hint of a smile crosses Tate's face. "Thank you, that means a lot coming from you." He then hesitates. "Also thank you for coming for me." "Tate?" Interrupts Hayden. "What is that mark on your shoulder?" Tate's expression changes as he looks down at the dark mark. "Their is something you guys need to know, something I need to tell you. I'm sorry, I'm not proud of this." "What is it, what's wrong?" Asks Hayden. Again Tate hesitates. "It's okay, we're your friends." Says Grys. How do I tell them? Thinks Tate. Will they look at me differently when they here what I did? I finally got Crete to acknowledge me and now this will negate everything he said. By the gods...where is Crete's axe? It's not on him, where is it? Feeling panicked now Tate reacts without thinking. "Where is your axe?" He asks Crete sounding desperately concerned. Crete's brow furrows in confusion. "My axe? Why are you worried about my axe?" He asks. "You don't understand." Exclaims Tate. "Maybe it would best if you start at the beginning." Says Hades. Tate swallows uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." "Sorry for what?" Asks Hayden. "There is nothing to apologize for." "It's the mark." Says Tate. "It's about the mark." "Slow down." Says Grys. "Do as Hades suggested and start over at the beginning." Tate nods in understanding. "Crete and I went out to explore the ruins and we were ambushed by a wyvern, during the battle I was struck by its tail knocking me out. The ground must have been unstable, it opened beneath me and I fell. Due to the height of the fall my body was twisted and broken, I was dying..." Hayden gasps. "So what about the mark?" Asks Crete. "Like I said I was dying." Reminds Tate. "When I thought it was over and I was ready to give up the Dark Child appeared. He told me he could save me, but it would cost me. In exchange for my life he wanted Crete's axe...I guess it's an ancient artifact. He called it the Ethereal axe of Draznor kaa, he even went as far as to admitting that the axe can harm him." "Makes sense on why he wanted it then." Says Grys. Most of the group nods in agreement, everyone but Crete that is. "I'm sorry." Says Tate sincerely to Crete. "Wait." Interrupts Hades. "That still doesn't explain the mark on your shoulder." Tate sighs in frustration. "No, the Dark Child double crossed me, he never mentioned anything about a dark mark as part of our deal." "Dark mark?" Asks Hayden. "You gave it a name?" "Not exactly." Replies Tate. "The skeleton king had seen one before and was telling me about the horrors I would face because of it. He claimed the mark is a key or a doorway for a greater demon, he says I'm possessed." "NO!" Cries Hayden. Tate then turns back to Crete. "Where is your axe?" He asks concerned. "First...my axe was not yours to barter." Says Crete sternly. "Second...I left it at the camp fire, it's to big to carry easily along with my hammers. Knowing we were hunting something I decided to leave it behind. These ruins have not been visited in countless years, I'm sure the axe is safe and sound right where I left it." "HAHA HAAHAA HA HA!" Laughter erupts from seemingly no where startling us all and then disappears just as suddenly. "I think it's safe to say that your axe will not be waiting for us brother." Says Hades. Tate leans his head back against the stone pillar and closes his eyes out of frustration or fear, or maybe both. "What does it mean if I can't fulfill the terms of our deal?" He asks more to himself than anyone else. "Your deal is null." Replies Grys. "It's obvious he has the axe, you met your end of the obligation." "Good luck proving that. We know he has it, he knows we know he has it, but unfortunately he knows we can't prove it." Says Hades. "I hate to be the voice of pessimism, but Tate is screwed! And on top of that lets not forget he is possibly possessed by a greater demon." "NO!" Shouts Crete. "The deal was void as soon as the Dark Child altered the terms of the agreement. Tate says the mark was not part of the deal, therefore the deal is terminated." "Like I said." Starts to say Hades, but is rudely interrupted by Crete. "No, it's like I said. If The dark child disagrees with decision then LET HIM SHOW HIMSELF NOW." Shouts Crete. Everyone goes silent for a moment expecting the Dark Child to appear, but thankfully he remains unseen. "See." Says Crete. "Nothing to worry about." No sooner does Crete finish speaking and Tate begins screaming in agony, he begins clutching his shoulder where the dark mark resides. "ITS BURNING, ITS BURNING ME!" Shouts Tate. "IT HURTS, by the gods it hurts!" Then without warning Tate closes his eyes, when he reopens them they are glowing bright yellow, but even more disturbing is his voice. When Tate speaks his voice is no longer his, it has been somehow replaced with an eery malevolent voice of a female. "Make no mistake, my master demands payment as agreed upon. Fail to honor the agreement and my hosts life becomes forfeit." Says Tate in the woman's voice. He then licks his lips in a sensual manner as if the thought of his own life becoming forfeit was a rare delicacy. "Who are you?" Demands Crete. Tate laughs. "Do not concern yourself with me Gray Human, instead focus your attention on the agreement where it belongs. My master wanted you to see how vulnerable my host is and now that you have he expects no further talk of deceit. You have been warned." Tate's eyes close once more, this time however upon reopening them they have returned to his natural blue color. He looks dazed and a little confused like he has no recollection of what just transpired. "What?" He asks. "Why is everyone looking at me like that?"