"We make the rules together if it'll be a treaty. That scroll is from centuries ago." Another sculpture added coolly.

    I had no idea what to do or say, or feel. But one thing was for sure, there was a tight string of tension in the air.
As they continued with their contained argument, something blinded me. I didn't realise it at first, until I saw the dining gone and everything was pitch-black.

    I spun around, side to side.
        Nothing.

"Grandpa?"

    My voice travelled off. Not even an echo came to ease my aching soul.
 
'Move!'

Another strange voice boomed from somewhere close.
  Then the darkness faded and it was daylight. The sun scorched my eyes that I had to out a protective arm above them
           A whip cracked.
    'I said move you scumbags!'
         An order roared.

I  lowered the elbow, took in the sight of what seemed to be...slaves. All bound in shackles and chains at the necks and ankles. Their clothes were rugged and quite miserable.
      Their color, not pale, but a beautiful dark shade.

         A whip cracked again.

And I saw whoever was holding it. His green eyes were almost glaring at me. His uniform, all gray...a soldier. A soldier from a distant past, in the slavery times.

    'You! Why are you standing there? Move!' He growled at me.
I jerked suddenly scared. But realised it wasn't me. Rather, another officer that stood behind me.
       The slaves, roughly thirty, marched on, some looking so wasted, others strong, and others just too old for the mistreatment...
Three steps off and one old man gave up the fight, he fell on his knees from what seemed like weakness. His feet were rough and cracked with traces of blood from the barefoot walking.

     'Stand up you geezer!'

He just shook his head, indicating that he couldn't.

    'Fine. We'll just have to leave you here.' With that, he opened the shackles binding him to the group, then pushed him to the bushes at the side of the path.
     'Invite us to your funeral!' The mean officer mocked peeing on him.

As the bodily fluid splashed on the man's features, something was happening, his dark complexion was wasting off to a light one. "What the-"
   Before the officer could put back his manhood, the 'old man' sprang up, grabbed the male by the throat and dug his face on his neck... Blood splashed as the body fell.

   It's at that flash of a second as the pair of piercing gray eyes met mine that I realised just who he was...Athaga Cruise.

    
       "Agatha..." The mention of my name sounded like a yell from that vision or history.
I blinked when things settled to the present. To the Nataline leaders busy listening to Grandpa.
    Whatever he had said, made them all look at me.

       "She will be the bearer of the treaty. We both know why. Triling." The old man added. It didn't make sense to me at that time. And I didn't want to be rude asking questions in such an important session.

    "But the gem, it'll not stay with you. We're all aware what you can do with it. Or rather, what you've done," the one at the left end stated. Then threw glances at my aunts and uncles.

Grandpa sighed.
   "That was necessary. You never know when you need extra hands in a war eh?" There was the wicked grin, throwing invisible daggers at the Natalines.
   Since the dinner began, I hadn't taken a single bite of my food. Not when there was the stench of fresh animal blood at the table...
        
         Without a warning, the doors flew open quietly, then showed up Conner. His face stony as usual... Nothing ever scares him. Maybe centuries of wandering around  the world had shown him all possible and worse situations to be in.

    It's then that some shouts from outside hit.

"Let her come out and face me!"
"She had the guts to come frighten my mother!"

      "Will?"
I felt something inside me twist. And was on my feet before Grandpa could stand.
   "Agatha?"

Giving him a deaf ear, I half-ran outside. Only to bump into the sight of Will kneeling frame on the cold white stuff. His face was beetroot-red.

    "Where is she?" He barked again.  Clearly I wasn't the one he wanted.
  I hurried down the porch to his furious frame. Just as I was about to touch him, a hand caught my wrist from the blues.
   "What are you doing?" Asked Harry.
I scowled at him like death.
   "Get those murderer's hands off of me!"
      
        "YOU!" Will's growl deepened with intense hatred.
   "You killed Andy!"

All the demon could do was lay out a stupid smirk... Gawd! Where had the real Harry vanished to? Yah, he died.

    The guard restricting Will held his hands at his back to avoid him lurching on anyone in that state of sheer anger.
    

   "What's going on here for chrissake?" Grandpa demanded walking down the stairs at ease. Like he had all the time in the world to just walk. But of course, he was the most feared undead alive. An ancient figure to be worshipped.
    
   "Agatha, come here," he called me to stand by his side. And I obeyed without uttering a single letter...
Then his composed expression fell on Will's baffled face. He had gone grave-shut upon seeing the old man.

    Grandpa motioned the guard to let go of him with a sway of his hand. "What's your issue, young man?"
  "Becka!" He hissed rising.
"She threatened my mom!"

  Grandpa chuckled.

"I'm sure you've gotten things mixed up. My granddaughter is in solitary. And I certainly have no other Becka, do I?" He stated looking back at the family.
     "But she was at my house earlier."

  The old man beside me sucked one deep breath, as his cool set of eyes travelled to Conner. "Becka is in the dungeon, right?"
     For five seconds, Conner's eyes shut, angling his ear to the house.

"Yes, Sire. I can hear her."

   We all turned to Will.

"If you'd like, you can go down there to confirm yourself."

     "Camouflage."

An even composed voice spoke out from the double doors behind there.
Glancing at it, the four men in boring robes walked out. Their hands decently crossed inside the long sleeves over their abdomens.

       They took slow steps, like Grandpa's till they stopped on my right. The taller one motioned speechless Will to him.
  I could see the hesitation and fear labelled all over Williams poor face. Yet  was brave enough to go closer.

      "You must be William?"

"Yes."

The Lord pressed a thumb on Will's forehead. Immediately, his deep blue eyes went snow white as what covered the ground we stood.
      After three minutes, the thumb was retreated. And he looked my way as his eyes settled back to a comfortable color. At that crazy heartbeat, I could feel his questioning gaze.
 
  But the eyes left me for Grandpa. "I know who's behind this. I'll deal with her. Pardon us for this."
  Grandpa chuckled heartily.
Smoky air kept going up in puffs whenever one breathed or spoke.

They all didn't seem to realise how freezing it was out there, but I did. I hugged myself in that thin turtleneck.
         "Don't. Mistakes are a deviation of perfection. And we all know nobody's perfect."

  The tall one did all the talking, just like at the dining table.
  He pulled on his hood, and the other three copied. "We must take our leave. Got things to take care of. Thank you for your kind hosting."
     
     "Anytime. Hopefully the next time we'll complete off the treaty." "Yes, hopefully."
With that, they flashed out of sight. Their speed stirring up snow in the air.
  I coughed covering my face from the torture.
     
    Once out of the picture, Grandpa turned to Will. "I've heard a lot about you, William. You can use a cup of coffee, you look-" "I'll be heading home. Thanks."
   As he spun around, I saw his movements and dashed to catch his weakening body... I managed a shoulder under his.
   
    "Are you okay?"

"He needs to rest," said my sweet Grandpa. "Conner, take him inside."