“We’ll try,” said Chris Alan. And after fond farewells, the crew of the *Hind* returned to their ship, and the *Hind* jumped toward the Sphere with its prisoner on board.

***********************

Light years away, Edwin was aboard Nicholas’ own ship, watching the *Hind* vanish through one of Nicholas’ special mirrors.

“*No!* He did it *again!*” Edwin began to curse and swear as never before: to curse at Starbright, to curse the White Hand…

“Temper, temper, Eddy,” Nicholas laughed; he was enjoying Edwin’s tirade.

“*You* weren’t much help, either,” Edwin snapped as he pointed at Nicholas.

“It was *your* plan, so maybe *you* should bear all the blame.” Nicholas almost felt like laughing again.

“I will destroy him and all he loves if it’s the last thing I do.” Edwin breathed and calmed down.

“Stir up the Old Man too much and it might well be so. You should know better than to try to bully the teacher’s pet.” Nicholas shook his head. “Or at least to bully him so openly.”

“*Silence!*” Edwin’s eyes flamed in anger as he looked towards Nicholas. Nicholas merely stood up and put on what appeared to be leather gloves.

“Eddy, you really should learn when to shut up. You lost, and a deal is a deal. Now *I* am leading all future attacks on this Realm. If you have any ideas, feel free to voice your opinion, but *I* am the boss now.” Nicholas used his voice to stamp his authority.

“How *dare* you?” Edwin fumed.

Nicholas clapped his hands and dozens of floodlights filled the room. Edwin sank in pain.

“Oh, look! No shadows for you to manipulate or to hide in. Oh, and don’t think about teleportation. You see, I had my best scientists rig a special temporal field, one designed especially for *you*. My old pupil Amethyst’s powers over space and time were my inspiration for *that*.” Nicholas laughed. “You are a brilliant Adami, but just an Adami all the same. Did you *really* think I wouldn’t find a way to counter your powers, Eddy?”

“You forget, Nicky, I’m the High Priest of Chaos now, the Dragon’s Heir.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“You’ve negated only half my power, fool.” Edwin stood up, filling his eyes and his body with flame.

“That fire will do you no good against *me*, Eddy.”

“My Dragon’s Fire against your own? Are you so certain of that?”

“*I’m* the Disciple of Fire, Eddy. I think I’d win.”

Edwin quenched his flame and apparently conceded to Nicholas. “All right, Nicky, as agreed, you’re the boss now. All my tools are at your disposal.”

“Good – for now it’s *my* turn to make a plan.”

Edwin walked toward the door, only to double over on the way. He was practically roaring in pain.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing; you have plans to make.” Edwin hid his face and hands, but his voice was agonized.

Nicholas grabbed Edwin’s left hand and jumped back in horror; it was now covered in black scales with long black fingernails. Edwin’s face seemed to be slowly growing scales.

“What have you done to yourself?” Nicholas looked on Edwin in horror; within seconds, he’d gained a black-scaled body, green eyes, and a fanged mouth shooting forth a forked tongue.

“You paid your price for the power you wield; now I must pay mine.” At that, Edwin was transformed to his normal self. Without another word, he left the room.

Nicholas didn’t know whether to feel disgust or pity; but Eddy had long ago chosen his path. Nicholas had his own plans for Chris Alan, and they wouldn’t be pleasant. Then again, they never were.