"We will find a way to rid you of your demon." Says Grys confidently. "I know it must be terrifying knowing that at any moment you can lose control, but don't let it destroy you. I promise you, we will find a solution." At first Tate thinks Grys has no idea what he's talking about, how could he possibly understand what I'm going through? But then he realizes that he is just trying to be a good friend and I respect that. "Thank you." Says Tate. "Our first priority needs to be getting out of here." Says Crete. "Then we can worry about the mark." "Agreed." Says Hades. "But that does bring up an interesting question, where do we go once we're out?" "Once we are back on the Path of Unspeakable Evil we will have approximately another three weeks before reaching where I entered the path." Says Hayden. "That is assuming we want to go back the way I came." "What is it like where you come from?" Asks Hades. "Tell us about yourself, we seem to have time ahead of us while find our way out of here." Hayden withdraws completely after Hades question, everyone sees it. She is hiding something, but what? Wonders Hades. "What about you Tate, can you tell us anything?" Asks Crete. "Are you from the same area?" "Yes." Replies Tate. "There are six kingdoms in the area, all human. I would recommend going just about anywhere else, except I have never been anywhere else. For all I know everywhere else could be just as bad or even worse." "What's the problem with the area?" Asks Crete now with a spark of interest in his voice. "Like I have hinted at, the world is an evil place." Says Tate sadly. "Being a half elf raised in this land made me who I am today, but honestly it's something I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy." "Elaborate." Says Crete. Tate sighs and thinks these are memories and feelings he would just as soon leave buried. "Prejudices run high, as a boy I was nearly beaten to within a inch of my life for being a half blood more times than I want to remember. On top of that slavery is common practice, lives are bought and sold like cattle." "So how should we expect to be be perceived?" Asks Hades. Tate can tell by Hades no nonsense tone that this question is important to him. He doesn't want to discourage him, but at the same time he doesn't want to lie to him either. "I fear based on my own personal experiences that you have a difficult road ahead of you. Grys will fare better, he will be be perceived as a half elf like myself, but you two." He says gesturing to Hades and Crete. "You guys are unique. Your gray skin and red eyes are intimidating, I fear people will take you for demons." "That's ironic." Says Crete. "Since your the one with a demon inside you." Tate grimaces. "All I'm saying is the world knows nothing of you, there is no history that I have ever heard mention anyone like you. People are going to fear you and it's human nature to hunt that which they fear." "Let them try." Says Crete with anger now flooding his emotions. "No, it can't be that way." Says Tate adamantly. "We need to make the world understand your not a threat, not give them reasons to hunt you." "But I am a threat." Says Crete. "And they should fear me." "Be reasonable, your not thinking this through." Says Tate out frustration. "Your a power to be reckoned with for sure, their is no questioning that, but even you can not take on the world. You will have six armies after you and every assassin and mercenary from coast to coast hunting you. The reward on your head will be so large you won't have a moments rest. Do you want to be on the run your entire life?" "I don't run Tate, it's not who I am." Replies Crete. "I have already had his conversation with Hades and just like I told him...I will not provoke anyone, but you can be damn sure I will retaliate when I am attacked without justification." "And should that happen I will be there at your side." Says Tate. This takes Crete by surprise. He didn't think Tate liked him, let alone would be willing to fight at his side. He grins. "Your a good man Tate, I want you to know I have your back as well." That sends a chill straight down Tate's spine. Crete might be brash and rough around the edges, but Tate wants nothing more than to be liked be him. Crete has the potential to be a force for good like this world hasn't seen since the Broken Arrow. But Crete needs guidance, he needs someone to keep him on the right path and I believe that person is me. "Let's break up the bromance." Says Hades jokingly. "Seriously though, if everything your saying is true then what chance do we have? How do we get them to look past our appearance?" Tate sighs lightly. "I don't know, it's something we need to figure out." "It's simple." Says Hayden almost shyly. "How so asks Grys?" Hayden clears her throat. "Hades asked how to get people to give you a chance and not judge you based solely on your appearance. It's simple, you need to do something epic! Do something so big that your appearance is irrelevant in the wake of the event." Grys and Hades both chuckle at the same time. "Sorry." Says Hades. "Did you have something in mind?" "Well...no, not really." Relies Hayden. "It just seems like it could work." "I think it could." Says Tate excitedly. "It's just a matter of finding the perfect opportunity." "So your plan is to have us perform?" Interrupts Crete. "We should do tricks like a dog so the locals like us?" Hades places a hand on Crete's shoulder. "That's not what he is saying brother, the plan is reasonable. You said you would give the world a chance and I plan on holding you to that." "Okay, so let's take out the top assassin." Says Crete. "That should get us noticed." "But not in the correct way." Says Tate. "If you take out an assassin, all that is showing is that your even a bigger threat than the original." "I...I, I have something that might work?" Says Hayden softly. "Tell us sweet pea." Says Hades in a soothing voice. "It's dangerous, but I think it would work." continues Hayden. "In the southern kingdom, the kingdom of Conklin a group of powerful warlords calling themselves the Dark lords appeared from nowhere and began terrorizing the land. They raped, pillaged and burnt every village and town they came across. They leave few survivors and those that do live all say the same thing." "And what's that?" Asks Crete. "That they can't be stopped." Replies Hayden. Grys turns to Tate. "Have you heard of these Dark Lords?" He asks. "I haven't." Says Tate truthfully. "I haven't been down to the southern kingdom in years." Hades sees something in Hayden's eyes, something just below the surface eating away at her. 'What aren't you telling us?" He asks. She looks Hades in the eye and sniffles, trying desperately to hold back the tears. "They killed my family, my mom, my dad, even my little sister. They destroyed my life." She whispers. "It's why I entered the Path of Unspeakable Evil in the first place. I hoped to find power I could use to destroy them, I need to make them pay for what they have done." "I'm so sorry." Says Tate as he reaches out and hugs her tightly. "Thank you." She says hugging him back. She then pulls away slowly and smiles. "What?" Asks Tate. "Why are you smiling?" Hayden glances around at each of her traveling companions before looking back to Tate. "Because I think I found the power I was looking for."