"Brother superior," called Jendi as he ran with Haven to meet us. "Not only did the king walk away with a woman from the well, but another followed not long after they left."

"I see." The new man did not look to Jendi, instead he kept his eyes on me with an unwavering stare that did not break with a single blink as far as I could tell. "Then, my theories were correct. Please follow us back to the temple, there's much to discuss and little time to do it."

"No," I said with a shout that surprised even me. "I'm not going with you. You tell me who you are and what you've done with Gwen." A shaking hand slid into my pocket. I didn't have anything on me other than my ID and the key to my apartment. My wallet and phone still remained locked in my office drawer where neither of them could do any damage while I was supposed to be a slobbering drunk. A decision I didn't think I'd regret. Not that I could have gotten reception out there. Still, I had the key and with as subtle of a movement as I could muster, I pulled it from my pocket and slipped it between my fingers.

"So you knew the one that came in before you," said the brother superior.

"Answer my questions," I replied through gritted teeth, which were more to keep them from chattering with fear than to be any form of intimidation. Frankly, it was fairly obvious none of these men would find a threat in me, and with Haven and Jendi, I didn't think that a well aimed key to the face would have worked anyway. Both proved to be strong and swift, but this new man, he may have stood tall and straight, but I saw the tired lines etched in his weathered face. He wasn't much older than Jendi, but he wore an age to him that spoke through experience instead of wrinkles. I wondered how much strength he had hidden on his lean frame. I, at least, didn't expect him to be quick and that really seemed to be all I needed to get a good swing in.

"My name is Brother Marden Derallia. I'm brother superior at the Temple of Breydar's Gate. We watch over the veil between our world and yours. The veil that Breydar's soul had been thrown through during the terrible Tearing some three thousand years ago." He takes a step forward, the lantern in his hand swinging with his stilted steps. He may stand strong, but movement revealed his weakness. "As for your friend..."

"She's not my friend." I squeezed my fists tighter and the concealed key cut into my palm.

"Oh," he said with interest rising in his voice. "I made an assumption. You seemed to care about her whereabouts."

"I'm not heartless," I said with a growl at his insult. "And..." I struggled as the guilt from earlier found a breath of air and the flame rekindled. "And it's my fault she's wherever she is right now. I don't know who this king guy is or this Breydar. I don't know what kind of drugs you guys are dealing or if you're the mafia or a cult or something, but she...she was just trying to help me and I need to at least apologize for it."

"You must be the heart," muttered Marden with a slight smile that hid a strange sort of pride behind his words.

"What's a mafia?" asked Haven, breaking my concentration and coaxing my eyes to leave Marden and look behind me.

"Something from her world, I imagine," said Jendi with a shrug.

"You guys need to lay off your own drugs. Or get a better act, I'm not falling for it." I could tell I'd be getting nowhere with these guys. They thought they could lure me into their warehouse with this fairy tale act. If I could just land a solid blow on Marden, I might be able to cut and run. Haven and Jendi seem pretty dedicated to him so they may be more concerned with his wellbeing than chasing after me. As I thought on it, I determined then that a cult must be exactly what they are. Which means Gwen was probably getting indoctrinated somewhere against her will. I just needed to get away and find help.

"You don't believe us," stated Marden with an annoying level of confidence.

"Of course I don't. I don't believe in this Breydar. What is he? An alien that will grant you salvation if you surrender your life savings and vow your life to working in a sweat shop?"

"What's a sweat shop?" mumbled Haven.

"Breydar is our creator. God of our planet. He was taken from us by Glaydin of the sun and Nemoreth of the moon during the great Tearing."

"Right," I said with a slow nod of my head.

"Come with us to the temple and I can better show you our world's history and your part to play in it." Despite his welcoming words, he does little to coax me along. He remained firm and standing before me with his hands clasped together and his tired grey eyes studying my every move and breath. It felt almost like he knew I'd never go with him and he was just egging me on. On to what, I simply didn't know and I didn't have any interest in finding out.

"I'm not going with you and I won't let you brainwash Gwen into believing this nonsense either." With that I sprang forward with my key poking out of my fist, clasped between my middle and ring fingers. I aimed for the cheek, drawing my arm back and releasing it with as much strength as I could manage. Being from the city I knew to take self defense classes and I had the basics down pat, but I still wasn't a fighter. I could defend, but striking outright was a bit out of the scope of the classes. Yet, I felt confident I could land my mark. Had I been given the chance.

A sudden blow hit my chest with a zap that spread an electrifying tingle across my skin and sent all my hair into a sort of static shock. The force of the blow sent me flying backwards, falling squarely into the arms of Haven. As I struggled from his hold, I turned my eyes back to Marden and saw a field of purple energy sparking and crackling around him like those plasma ball toys that react to your fingertips. It dissipated within seconds, or perhaps it just seemed to. I passed out shortly afterwards and frankly, I don't remember.