After sheathing her sword Jade saw her father and approached him. If she was going to do this, she needed to know what she was up against.
"You seem to know a bit about who the enemy is," she said to her father. "I need to know everything you do."
Her father sighed. "Your mom, Saje, and myself left Atlantis after an incident involving these three. Your mom can fill you in on the details later, but what you need to know now is who they are.
"Galof was a highly respected general of Atlantis; after a falling out with your aunt he committed a heinous act of dark magic that gave him the ability to create shadow soldiers and possess others. He made them identical to the shadow soldiers. He is able to survive a mortal wound by recreating his energy in a separate location and reviving himself over the course of thirteen weeks. A blow to the heart will kill him, but only to the heart.
"Syvix was a high profile sorcerer who was being detained at Atlantis. He always disturbed me, like he was using us. Sometimes I think he wanted to be caught. But I shouldn't be surprised by anything he does; before he was imprisoned he was Lucifer's right-hand man."
Jade's shock must have been visible on her face because her father paused to let this information sink in. The war waged one thousand years ago was started by Lucifer and the Dark One. Lucifer was an old Guard of Atlantis who destroyed the city. The Dark One was a greater mystery, his power was unknown and his origin a secret even from Lucifer. Lucifer turned on the Dark One but was spared; he was sealed away in the domain he created deep below the earth's crust. A place he called Hell."
"What about Xaug?" asked Jade.
"He was Saje's Apprentice," her father continued. "Saje was told about the dark destiny that his student, Xavier, had ahead of him. He thought he could change it, to keep him from darkness, but when Xavier found out what his true destiny was: Xaug was born. The three of them left Atlantis together and after the defeat we had at their hands we left Atlantis, realizing it was not where we belonged anymore.
"Saje is doing everything in his power to ensure that his pupil sees the error of his ways before it is too late."
********
"Wake up, Saje, we have some catching up to do."
Saje could hear a voice.... a familiar voice....
"Wake up, we have much to discuss."
That voice...so many good memories associated with that voice, and yet....
"Wake up now!"
"I'm awake, Xavier," said Saje, coming around. He looked up and straight into the eyes of his old apprentice. The eyes so full of hope and promise were now cold and angry. His voice was not angry, but bitter.
"We have some catching up to do," repeated Xaug.
"And what could you possibly want to discuss with me?" demanded Saje. "You never seem to be interested in what I have to say."
"Because what you say had no importance, but I felt it would be prudent to let you know that your efforts to reach me are in vain. I know my destiny and your attempts to alter it are hopeless."
"You have a choice," pleaded Saje. "You can stop this. You don't have to be this person you've become."
"This is what you don't understand," said Xaug. "You are trying to keep my from my real self."
"When I trained you, you showed no sign of this hostility, this hatred that's consumed you."
"BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LET ME!" screamed Xaug, his composure suddenly dissipating. He inhaled and attempted to regain his calm. "You wouldn't let me do anything that went against the norm; you wouldn't even let me know the truth about my destiny."
"Because it doesn't have to be your destiny," said Saje, his eyes welling. "I wanted to tell you the truth, let you decide your fate but the council—"
"The council?" exclaimed Xaug. "That's your defense? The very same council that does everything in its power to discredit you?"
"You're right, I should have made the choice to tell you regardless of the council's authority," said Saje. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay Saje, I forgive you," Xaug said coldly. "Because the truth is you had no choice. The concept of free will is a lie."
"You don't know that!"
"I do know that," said Xaug, reaching into his robes. "I know because I've seen my fate."
He pulled out an old leather-bound book with a clasp holding it closed. The buckle for the clasp had the symbol for infinity on it. The sight of it filled Saje with the deepest dread he'd ever felt. This was the Book of Destiny; it showed the future to anyone who paid enough energy to use it. He had heard stories about many people dying in the attempt to read it. Even Arda wouldn't dare use it.
"What did you see?" Saje demanded. "And how did you see it?"
"I gave up a portion of my energy just after you ran off. I'm still recovering my strength but what I saw was worth it," said Xaug a smile twisting across his face. "I will be victorious!"
Saje stared at the book in his hand as Xaug continued. "The question is: did you tell her yet what the prophecy said?"
Saje looked down.
"Of course not, you don't have the spine. You refuse to tell her the truth just as you did with me. After all, why should you play favorites with your pupils? Why extend to her a courtesy you did not extend to me? Why should Jade be trained better than Xavier."
Saje had looked up when he'd spoken Jade's name.
"Yes I know her name. I also learned on my trip to Cresalda that she is the daughter of Gremdar and Arda. Their daughter and your pupil, crushing her would be sweet revenge. I can't wait till the amazing moment when my vision will be realized. Now if you have nothing more to say I'll get you ready to leave."
"What are you going to do with me?"
"I'm going to trade you back to Arda. As much as I would love to kill you, you're more useful alive, as a bargaining chip. Go back to them, tell them what you learned. Maybe you can be honest with your apprentice for once in your life."
"So you don't care?"
"I already know how it plays out in the end," said Xaug with a shrug.
"And you won't hunt us down?"
Xaug smiled. "Now where's the fun in that? I will hunt you down, I will kill you if I get the chance. Jade's off limits for the year but you, Arda, Gremdar, the dragons—none of you are off limits. I'd well enjoy a bit of sport."
"What makes you think they will trade something of value just for me?" asked Saje.
"I know your code of honor and I know they'll respect it. You wouldn't want them to give up something of value just for your life, which is why it won't be for just your life. I'll throw this into the mix." He held up the Book of Destiny. "It's too dangerous in my hands, right. I have no more need of it; Jade is the only threat to me thanks to the power of the prophecy. And she'll be dead by this time next year. I'll trade this and your life for the Crystal of the Dark One. With his power added to mine I'll be unstoppable—well— more unstoppable." Xaug reached into his robes and pulled out a green orb. "I found this on you when you were brought in. A communication device ,right? I'm guessing Arda's design, but no matter, I can use this to facilitate a trade." He started to walk out of the room when Saje realized there was one question he had yet to ask.
"Wait," he began. Xaug paused in the doorway. "Was there any part of your training that you remember fondly?"
Xaug turned to face Saje. "Of course. You were a good teacher, even with your faults. The reality is I am only as strong as I am now thanks to what I've learned from you, along with the prophecy. The power of the prophecy would be useless with a great understanding about magic. Unfortunately that part of our relationship is over and the sooner you realize that the better."
He turned around and slammed the door. Saje felt like the door to ever saving his old apprentice, the boy he had thought the world of in spite of his destiny, closed with it.