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Though I slept very well that night, I woke up rather stressed. I couldn't help but wonder about what Siazach had showed me and what Tyranny had showed me. I wondered if I really had set the Earth on the path to destruction. I also knew that it was impossible for demons to come to Earth without becoming Mortal, which meant if I could find him, I could kill him. How I would accomplish either of those things would depend on weather or not I could track him in the first place, seeing as how Hunters from this temple had been at it for millions of years. I also couldn't shake what he had said about his brother. 'Assuming my Undead Brother stays out of my way". What exactly did he mean by that? Did he mean his brother was against him? Or wanted to rule in his place? I was almost tempted to apply the old saying, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but fuck, Undead isn't that far from demonic, at least if my past few weeks are anything to go off of.

When I woke up, Tyranny was already awake, standing over the stove in heavy winter clothes cooking something. The room had a heavy chill and when I looked out the window, I saw a thick layer of ice built up on the glass. I also couldn't help but notice that I was numb, everywhere. A result of last night no doubt.

"Isn't it a little early in the year for snow?", I asked through a yawn.

"Well good morning sleeping beauty at...11AM", Tyranny laughed, "and no, this Mt Kiado, it can snow in the middle of June, but to be fair this is about the time of year that cold weather sets in up here."

I yawned, "did you wake up numb this morning?"

He laughed, I saw his cheeks go red, "no...why you ask?"

"Yes you did!", I laughed, "your blushing!"

"I am not", he said.

"Yes you are! I can see it!", I smiled.

"I don't know what your talking about", he said turning so I couldn't see his head.

I was almost laughing too hard to breathe, "stop lying to me! This is a bad way to start a relationship."

"I'm not lying", he said, "I didn't wake up numb, I woke up frozen stiff! I still had feeling everywhere."

"Yeah right", I snickered, "your numb from yesterday and we both know it."

He shook his head, "how do you like your eggs?"

"Scrambled", I said stretching out, "you got some extra stuff I can borrow, I really don't wanna walk around wrapped in this blanket all day."

"Yeah", Tyranny said braking open some eggs on the side of his frying pan, "gimme a minute."

Tyranny set the eggs to cook and then went into his closet. He poked through it for a minute before pulling out what looked like blue jeans, a white long sleeve T-Shirt, a bubble coat and heavy winter pants as well as what looked like a cross between combat boots and the things that Dogs in NYC wore on their paws in the winter.

"Here" He said, "these are my spares. I'm skinny as far as Eastern Dragons go, so they should fit you okay."

Tyranny turned his attention back to the stove as I dressed. It was a little big on me, maybe a size too big, but it did fit pretty well and it was pretty warm. I walked up to the stove and brushed against Tyranny, looking into the frying pan. The eggs in it were golden brown, a color I had never seen eggs before. There were tomatoes, onions and bacon frying in the pan with the eggs and the smell drifting up from the pan was driving me crazy.

"You look like your about to pass out from hunger Emelia", Tyranny laughed as he put two English muffins in a toaster.

"Maybe I am", I said drooling a little.

"Try doing this with food you pick up at Walmart and watch what happens", Tyranny said.

"It turns out horrible?", I asked.

'Not quite", Tyranny said, "it actually comes out pretty well."

It took about ten minutes for Tyranny to cook the eggs. Once they were done, he made us each two sandwiches. I had eaten egg sandwiches before, but these were amazing. Once we were done eating, we went out to the main hallway. We were going for the garden when I noticed Hudson was down in the lobby looking at the huge statues of one of the Western Warriors.

"You go on ahead", I said, "I'll catch up, I wanna talk to my friend for a minute."

Tyranny nodded and went to the gardens as I walked up to Hudson, who was dressed only in blue jeans, a white shirt and a leather jacket.

"Hey Hudson", I said.

"What's up Emelia?", He asked blowing into his hands.

"Not shit", I said, "was going to help my mate with his stuff."

Hudson looked at me, smiling, 'when did that happen?"

"Last night", I smirked, "best night of my life."

"First time usually is", Hudson remarked.

I laughed, "You look like your freezing your ass off."

"I am", Hudson said, "as often goes, I came completely un prepared for the weather. Fuck it's the middle of September and it's snowing outside. My Camaro is covered in ice."

"So is the entire Mountain", Master Otani said appearing behind me. He had traded his black robes for heavy winter boots, pants and a jacket. He had a winter cap on and his beard had ice in it. He had also replaced the old, weather beaten wooden stick he used to walk with for a metal cane.

"Master Otani", I said bowing slightly.

"Come child", he said, "I must speak with you. Hudson, you as well."

'About?", I asked beginning to follow him.

"About Siazach and an ancient prophecy", Master Otani said.

I gulped. With nervousness setting in, I followed Master Otani to a back room. In the room waiting, was Tyranny along with another, who I guessed was human because he was standing bi pedal and didn't have any wings. He was about 7 feet tall, was wearing a white camouflage jacket and pants, had a black vest with pouches hanging off of it and an AR-15 with an ACOG, Fore grip, fixed stock and suppressor on his back with a Desert Eagle in a holster on his leg. His hood was up and embezzled with the same red hemstitched designs as Siazach's robes. He also had no scent whatsoever, like he was just a figment of your imagination.

"I have brought the child", Master Otani said.

The figure turned around. All I could see under the hood was a white Shemagh and sunglasses.

"You are Emelia Lyrroth?", he asked.

"Whose asking?", I snarled, "you might have tricked master Otani into allowing you in, but your not fooling me!"

"Emelia", Master Otani said sternly, "calm yourself, I assure you I have not been tricked, I know exactly who this person is."

"Who is it?", I asked.

"Siazach...has spoken of me in your torments no?", the figure asked.

I found myself slightly taken back by his words.

"How the hell do I know?", I asked, "I don't even know who you are!", I said, still not quite sure about what was going on here.

The figure un wrapped his face, revealing only a bleached white skull. It wasn't Siazach's, it was too white.

"I am Siazach's brother", the skeleton said, "I go by Kaslur and I understand my brother has caused you much grief."

I sighed, "he has."

"I feared so", Kaslur answered, "it's because of him I am forever trapped in this form. It's what I get for doing what was right."

"What did you do?", Hudson asked.

"Several million years ago", Kaslur began, "my brother and I were hunting. I didn't know what at the time, but he told me there was good money in the hunt, so I didn't question his motives, though I should have. We came to a cave, he sets down his pack, takes his spear and rushes in, telling me only to follow him if he shouts. I stand out in the cold for about ten minutes before I hear screaming, but it isn't his. It persists for several minutes before it stops, then a blod boiling scream rolls from the cave. I grab my bow and my iron tipped arrows and rush inside, finding my brother had slain an entire family of Western Dragons, ten in total, two adults and eight children. One of them, the eldest, I'd say was 15, the youngest, looked like she was a new born. He had cut them open with his obsidian knife and stolen their fire bladders. Had I known what would befall us both for this, I would have killed him on the spot."

"What happened to you?", Tyranny asked.

"Well", Kaslur began, "two days after that incident, he comes home with a burlap sack full of gold coins. I learned this later, but not only had he sold the fire bladders and vitriol, he had gone back up to the cave and butchered the bodies. He sold the meat, hides, bones, everything got sold. Days after that, I was hunting with him again. I had made it clear that if he ever committed such a heinous act again, that I would kill him where he stood and bear whatever punishment our father cared to bestow upon me. We came to a den of bobcats, these were animals I often hunted solo, I was raising my bow to fire when I was pushed into the snow and felt five, large and heavy claws sink into my shoulder. Siazach had been pinned as well, and when I saw a glimpse of his attacker, I realized they were Eastern Dragon Bounty Hunters. Master, I believe you sent them?"

"I did", Master Otani said, "I was but 100 years aged at that time."

"Anyhow", Kaslur continued, "the dragons hauled us up, and demanded to know which one of us was Siazach. That they had been sent to kill him for murdering a family of Western Dragons.

"And you told them?", Hudson asked.,

"I did", Kaslur said.

"And?", Hudson asked.

"They made it slow and painful", Kaslur said, "they cast a spell upon him so he would survive long enough for them to complete their execution ritual. The first thing they did was open him up like a suit case and pull out everything expect his heart and brain. Next, they skinned him, down to the bone. They charred his still living skeleton, heart and lungs black before cutting a hole in the top of his head to pull out his brain."

I shivered, "ouch, that's a horrible way to go."

"The horrible truth is that Eastern Bounty Hunters will never abandon this practice of execution", Tyranny said, "I knew someone who was falsely framed and killed in this same manner."

"Before my brother's death", Kaslur said, "the bounty hunters asked him if he had any last words. With his dying breath my brother cursed me to walk the face of the Earth for ever. The Eastern dragon finished the ritual by charring my brother's brain and then pulling it out of his head. During this process, the heat from the fire melted his eyes out of his head. I had never seen anything so horrific as this execution before, and the Bounty Hunters promised me I would suffer the same fate if I ever killed a dragon myself, even in self defense."

"Wow", Hudson said.

"Talk about cruel and unusual punishment", I said.

"In Eastern culture that death is considered the highest privilege", Tyranny said, "my Dad taught me that when an Eastern is sentenced to death, that is considered a very honorable way out because it allows you to make up for the harm you caused your victim. I told my Dad that if I ever have to die and I get to pick how I go out that I want my throat cut. It's a much better alternative to dying like that. I honestly couldn't care less about how honorable I am."

"Regardless of anyone's honor", Kaslur said, "I didn't think my brother had the ability to apply a black magic curse, then, time passed, time that should have killed me didn't, all it did was strip the flesh from my bones, bit by bit until I was little more than the skeleton that stands before you."

"So that explains why Siazach is so pissy", Hudson said, "but what about the end of the world thing?"

"What did he show you?", Kaslur asked looking at me.

"He showed me a toxic, poisoned hell in which all obey him", I said, "in a nutshell."

Kaslur sighed, "I should have guessed. He intendeds to wipe out the dragons at this temple, then start on the rest of the world, which means we must stop him before he can get to us, though it will not be an easy, or difficult task."

"If it's not difficult or easy then what the fuck is it?", Hudson said.

"It will be nearly impossible", Kaslur said, "there are several sights around the planet where ones like I and he may become mortal to end this plane of existence. These planes are guarded by demons turned mortal and there are great numbers of them. To prevent Siazach from entering and to seal Earth off from Hell completely, these planes bust be closed. C4 Plastic explosive will do the job, but one can not do it alone, the sheer numbers of guards will take them apart and as we in this room are the only ones capable of facing Siazach in a confrontation should he slip in behind our backs, we can not afford to leave the temple all at once."

"Three of us are Army trained", Tyranny said, "days from Draco are fuzzy, but a run around a course with the Mk-19 should get me back into the grove."

"We have no sufficient space for you to use your weapons without damaging the temple", Master Otani said.

"There is an old Japanese Naval base about 45 miles from your temple", Kaslur said, "how ever, the base gets regular visits from tourists and even if it were abandoned someone is bound to come searching once grenades and Dillon minigun start going off."

"Could we go up the mountain and practice up there?", I asked.

"I suppose you could", Master Otani said, "I may be a couple million years old, but I have kept up. Make sure to suppress your firearms or you could bury my entire temple under sixty feet of snow. Dress warmly or you'll risk frost bite."

"Umm", Hudson said, "hate to be the frozen towel here, just have my leather jacket and cap, nothing else."

"I have some winter equipment that will fit you Hudson", Master Otani said, "before I was a decrepit old man, I worked out enough."

"You worked out?", Hudson asked as he and Master Otani left the room.

"Of course", Master Otani smiled, "I'll never forget the time that I dropped a 25 pound weight and broke my foot."

Hudson and Otani left the room as Tyranny and I turned to Kaslur.

"Get your weapons", he said, "I'll meet you outside."

Tyranny and I went back to our rooms. I grabbed my vest out of my trunk, screwed the suppressors to my weapons and strapped it on. It fit rather snugly over the winter clothes, but was still pretty comfortable. Booted up the electronics and then waited outside the door for Tyranny. He came out with his vest strapped to his back. The Mk-19 and M249 were both suppressed and looked brand new.

"Time to put some slugs down range", Tyranny smiled, "you look hot as fuck in that Dillon."

I smiled and looked him over.

"Let's go killer", he said, "don't wanna keep bones and your buddy Hudson waiting."