Maddox felt the power surge and followed it to his long-lost apprentice. He smiled devilishly as he reached out to Zion, whispering in his mind as his fingers wrapped around his very soul.<i>"Feels good doesn't it Zion?"</i>he said as he pulsed more darkness into Zion's veins<i>. "Ah I have missed you, my disciple" </i>he hissed as he projected himself before Zion, a dark silhouette standing before him.<i>"It's time to come home, don't you think Zion?" </i>he suggested.<br/><br/>Maddox turned his attention to the failing barrier and growled. His eyes snapped towards Zion's home and noted the barrier around it that seemed to be impenetrable by his demons who circled the mansion. He caught a glimpse of Azurine in the back courtyard and he sneered. "<i>So that's where you've been hiding my pet</i>," he said under his breath just as the locusts started to swarm the inner city, eating every bit of vegetation in their path. With a wave of his right hand, a black funnel cloud appeared in the main gardens and began to swallow the bugs as it tore a violent path towards the barrier itself.<br/>--------------------------------------------<br/><i>"No, no, no.....no, no! Milo, it can't be!"</i>Azurine cried as she drew up an image of lighting the fire herself and watched Zion burn to ashes. She recalled his screams as the fire engulfed him and the smell of his burning flesh that she never forgot. A tear fell from her right eye as she looked to the north and saw the swarm of locusts coming towards the mansion. Lunelra had stepped onto the back courtyard and tilted her head to the side, staring at Azurine.<br/><br/><i>"Something wrong?"</i>she asked as she placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, unsure of what Azurine was upset about. Azurine turned around to see Lunelra but a few yards behind her. Her gaze dropped down to her sword as she probed Lunelra's mind for her intent.  Azurine sensed the distrust and backed up a few paces.<br/><br/><i>"The barrier to the inner city is falling,</i>" she said as she pointed to the green electrified mass that started to fade. Lunelra looked up and took in everything she saw, including the swarm of locusts that beat against the barrier Zion had placed on his mansion. She also took note of the demons that flew above that barrier, circling the mansion like hungry ghosts.<i>"I must go,</i>" she said as she started to walk towards the barrier's edge.<br/><br/>Lunelra removed her hand from the hilt of her sword and raised it towards Azurine.<i>"It's not safe out there mage</i>" she simply stated, yet it had a cold tone to it.<br/><br/><i>"I can't stay here"</i>she replied, looking over her shoulder at the warrior. Then she walked through the barrier.<br/><br/>No sooner did she leave the protection Zion afforded her, the demons were upon her. Each one taking one of her arms and holding her in place. She struggled to no avail, screamed obscenities at them as they dragged her kicking towards Maddox's tower.<br/><br/>------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Exion had finished packing and throwing his saddlebags on the back of his horse. He had rounded up five hundred of his best men to return home to the battle that ensued while the remaining thousands continued the fight here.<i>"I'm coming home my dear</i>" he whispered towards Azurine as he mounted his horse. It was a day's ride back to the kingdom if they ran the entire distance without stopping. He held his hand up to motion for the soldiers behind him to mount their steads, then kicked his horse in the side and galloped into the dense forest ahead with his men in toe.