It had been about six months since the attack on Rogue Inc’s entire public front by the Acolytes of Ra. The survivors were either rounded up and killed or fading away to secret backup locations in the backcountry. So many had died for reasons they had never known. They were targeting Fradimeir indirectly through those that had served him. Worked for him. Even his friend and closest ally had not been spared and had nearly died. Only the bite and gift of immortality from Fradimeir had saved Von Tiet. Now a hybrid like himself… a scarce thing that Fradimier bestowed upon someone. As he saw it as more of a curse than a blessing. 

Fradimeir and Tiet had taken refuge in a secure mountain location in the Appalachian Mountains. In an off-site training site that was well stocked and maintained. 

Fradimeir stood leaning against a wooden post of the porch of the main cabin looking out at the small lake that they had resided beside. His thoughts took him back to a time when Pharaohs had reigned over the known world and Gods had walked the streets. Back when he had first met the being that had been known as Ra. Becoming one of his Vanguards. 

They had been friends for a time. Fighting and uniting a fractured Egypt that at the time was unrivaled in size and technology. But its true power came from how the supposed gods could handle magic or transform at will. Something similar to what Vampires and Werewolves had been doing for eons. It had been rumored that these gods had created everything mystical. However, I found that was a lie. Created to exert control over those in their service. Trying to create an unbreakable loyalty to their cruelty. 

In the end, the gods were slain or exiled. Leaving Ra for Fradimeir to face. His unique creation having a counter to the God’s powers he was able to fight Ra and win…but at great cost. The family he had created in Egypt was killed in public executions. His sweet Alara and their daughter pay the price for Frad’s disobedience. 

However, he had not gotten all of them. And those exiled had sworn their vengeance on this world would come someday. And that day had come. 

“Fradimeir?” Came Tiet’s voice in his memory vision. 

Snapping out of it Frad looked back at Tiet and smiled. His neon-blue eyes glowing in the growing darkness as the sun set for the evening. 

“You were remembering again? Weren’t you?”

“Yes…of deeds and wrongs done long ago,” Frad responded softly. 

“We have not heard anything about them since the attack. Perhaps they are gone for good now.” Tiet said. 

Frad stood up straight and turned around shaking his head in disagreement as he did. “They have merely returned home. Where their power is strongest. We failed. I failed.”

Tiet bit his lip softly as he thought about what Frad was saying. “There was no way you could have prepared for this…considering everything you have gone through in your long life. You were preoccupied.”

Frad had frustration growing inside him. “But I owed it to them…” He stopped as he did not want to speak their names. Even thinking about it caused his heart to hurt as if it were stabbed by a million spears. 

“They are gone…you are here. You can not live your life as if it were still 3000 bc”

“It was more like 5000 bc and thank you, my friend,” Frad said. Feeling a little better. But still having the feeling nagging at the back of his brain that something more needed to be done. 

He walked out into the darkness towards the lake to be alone. Listening to the lapping of the water as it hit the rocky shore. Sitting down on an old log along the edge of the lake he watched the moon rise. Shining its brilliant reflection on the lake as the stars came out around it. 

You have forgotten just how much you owe. A voice from the lake. Frad stood up looking with his neon-blue eyes trying to find the source of the voice. 

“Who is there?” He said. 

The obsidian throne must not fall into the wrong hands…or all that spilled blood shall be forsaken. The voice continued as a vision of a woman with red hair dressed in furs sat on the black obsidian throne with her leg thrown over the arm of it. Her brilliant silver eyes appeared to glow as she stared at Fradimeir. 

“You…” Frad said as he dropped to his knees. 

Your fate was to protect us…Rogue. But you failed. Now you must avenge us. She continued as she began to bleed from a cut on her throat. Blood covered her chest as it spilled down like waterfalls. As she screamed. 

Suddenly Frad opened his eyes and found himself knee-deep in the water as the tide had come in. Looking out at the lake he tried to calm his heavy breathing and with a wet hand tried wiping the sweat from his brow. 
 

He had to go. He had to find the Acolytes of Ra and make them pay.