"Look, I know she's your daughter." Captain Eliza hissed. Jerod gripped a rope tightly as he and Nimrode lowered a rowboat into the sea below. "But I can not allow her to live. She murdered most my grew and one of my highly trained fighters is missing. I don't want to send what few crew members I have to their deaths."

"No one asked you," Jerod shot back, "she is my daughter and I have to make sure she is okay." He turned back towards the boat. Deep down, he didn't blame her for wanting to protect what's left of her crew, however, if he was to bring down Marionette, he had to have as much help as he could get. "If you don't want to come, fine, this is still something I need to do. I wish I could have been there for her, but that's too late now."

Footsteps came from behind him as the boat got into position for boarding. "Look, whoever or whatever she is, killed my family. My sister, my Fiancé, my friends, are all dead because of her." Jerod swung one leg over the rail into the ship. "I'm coming with you." He looked into her eyes. Why would she help him all the sudden? Sure he wants her help, but he didn't ask her to begin with because he never thought she would actually lend him her aid.

"Thank you, we need all the help I can get."

"Yeah, yeah, now get in the boat so we can head towards the island. Once this is over, I have a mass funeral at sea." Jerod turned his eyes towards Egypt's and Kaito's lifeless bodies. Rising Son was a spell that could only be used once and right when death happened. Using it now would be useless. He sat down in the boat as Nimrode boarded followed by Eliza. Her tail wicked as she cut the rope dropping everyone into the water below.

Nimrode grabbed the paddles and began rowing. Draco trialed below them in the air, rolling his eyes. "What's wrong?" Nimrode growled. Jerod glanced up in the air watching as Draco laughed as he trudged besides them.

"I mean no disrespect, but, you are going too slow, old man."

Nimrode bore his teeth as he glanced up towards the Rekin, "You were quieter dead." Rekin laughed as she flew down to the boat, gripped a rope that was still attached and pulled the boat through the water. After what felt like forever, they arrived on a sandy beach. Trees of various kinds welcomed their sights. "Oh no." Nimrode whispered from beside him.

'What's wrong."

"It's the Isle of Mirrors. It's deserted and haunted." The tiger's gaze stared into the distance. Jerod glanced around the cove. Black mist began creeping towards them as the ground trembled. Captain Eliza drew her sword from her seaboard, Nimrode followed suite. Sucking in a breath, Jerod held his breath and raced into the surrounding area. Nimrod's voice faded into the background. He was calling to him, but he couldn't stop. He had to find his daughter before it was to late.

Laughter echoed through the forest. Jerod slowed to a stop at the bottom of a hill. That voice, it almost sounded like Astrid. Gawking about, he listened closely. It couldn't be Astrid, he was dreaming. His wife was the sweetest person he had ever met. Despite having this type of magic, she would have never hurt anyone. Hopefully Marinette had that same quality.

Taking a step forward, a shadow raced past him. Jerod jumped out of the way. The shadow paused before coming back towards him. The mage prepared for an attack An octamer appeared out of the shadow and landed on the ground with a hard thud, panting. "Razor?" He asked. The pirate rose back to his full height.

"Dad," he stated as he moved closer.

Jerod backed away from him, "I'm not your father. Where's Marionette?"

"It's Cassandra now," Razor glanced back up the hill from which he came. "Mother stole my body and imprisoned me in a mirror, I'm in Razor's body now." White daggers appeared in his hand. He didn't know what made this land so deserted but he did know one thing, Razor was trying to get him off his game. His wife died twenty years ago. There was no way she was alive.

"Jerod, get out of the way!" A voice called from the above. Jerod jumped backwards as Draco dove and shot black blades off his sword towards him. Razor turned into a shadow allowing the blades to pass through him. Razor's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the Rekin. Draco hovered between the two. "Go find Cass," he stated with his head turned, "I'll take care of him." Draco's eyes were cold and blood thirsty. Tears had appeared in the Pirates eyes as he gazed at the Rekin.

Opening his eyes, he blinked. He was wrapped in a black ball hovering over the heads of many skeletons. "Jerod," Astrid called, "nice of you to join us." Jerod sat up and glanced around. Astrid had him trapped within a ball of black energy. Depression began weighing down on him. He was alive, he would have never believed it had he not seen her. The Fea pulled her staff closer. The orb followed suit till he stopped directly in front of her. She waved her hand pushing him off to the side. "Go my children and destroy those who wish to steal the ultimate magic for themselves!"

The crowd began dispersing. Astrid smiled at him as she spun and walked back inside the castle. Jerod's orb followed after her. "Astrid," he called out to her, "What happened to you? I thought you had died." The Fea stopped and turned to face him. Her face was that of Cassandra but it had to be Astrid, or was Astrid pretending to be Cassandra. He stared into her eyes, the were hard, cold. They lacked that playful gleam they held when he first met Cassandra. This all had to be the beginning of a nightmare.

"I took over our daughter's body." She stated before heading back down the hall. "It's a powerful spell that only the strongest of my type could use." Banners clung to the wall, they were black and sown on their surface were skulls and crossbones. His wife giggled with glee as she stared at the closet on. "Jerod, you're so pathetic."

He turned his back upon her. Her shoulders were squared back, she stood tall, and the dress that she wore left little to one's imagination. "I guess since you're my beloved, I should tell you everything." She pulled away from the banner and continued down the hall. Torches lit as she stalked past. "When I felt myself slipping from this world, I used a forbidden spell that merged Marionette and myself together. Naturally, I stayed silent and watched as my young daughter blossomed into the Fea I could be proud of."

Astrid spun towards him. "Little by little, I let her magic slip out. I let her fear scared, feel like she was a murderer. Surely, by now you realize, I used you for a family I couldn't have on my own." Jerod closed his eyes and turned away. What was she saying? When he met Astrid she was the sweetest girl he had ever found, scared of her own shadow nonetheless. She needed his protection and he did everything within his power to make her feel safe and wanted. Now she stands before him, telling him she only used him? This couldn't be possible.

She shook her head as she continued on her path. She remained silent during the rest of their trip. The sound of doors slamming against a wall drew him from his thoughts. She escorted him into a throne room before throwing the orb against the floor causing it to pop. Jerod fell against the floor with a hard thud as she sat down on the throne with her legs crossed. He bit his lip, she was beautiful yet terrifying at the same time. "What happened to Marinette?"

"Oh, her?" Astrid placed a hand over her mouth as if she was trying to stifle laughter. "We no longer share a body. I sent her into the mindless abyss to be eaten alive by the madness within."

"She was our daughter, how could you treat her like that?"

"Marinette, was your daughter." She hissed, "had she been my daughter, she would be here instead of me with me acting as her thoughts telling her what's wrong and what's right, guiding her every step of the way."

"What do you want from me, Astrid?"

"I want to offer you the spot of my king."

Jerod rose from where he had been on the floor. Sure, they had been married once, but there was no way he would give in to her. Perhaps he could quietly leave her here and act like she was still gone? If he was being honest, the girl he married was gone, his wife would never be like the woman before her, or so he had thought. "Jerod, once I take over the planet, I will need you by side to rule with me. Together we can take over the galaxy and be supreme ruler over all."

"No! That's not an option, where is the Astrid that I married? You are not her."

Astrid's grin changed into a frown at his outburst. She rose from her seat and without a word, sent a black lightning bolt hurting towards him from her scepter. Jerod rolled out of the way allowing it to hit the floor where he was. It left a burned mark on the title and a horrible smell in his nostrils. Fine if she wanted it that way then he would gladly play along.

Jerod placed his hands on the floor, summing his wings once more. He hated to do it, but he didn't have a choice. Raising forward, he shot into the air and flew towards her. Astrid flew out of his reach. He turned towards her as she flew forwards. "Holy gatherings!" Light shot out from around his body in circular patterns. Astrid landed on the marble tiles with a hard slam, placing her staff between herself and the attacks.

Jerod held his hands out to the side. Daggers made from pure magic appeared in his hands. Thankfully he didn't need to use this spell on the Icerr's yet, however, on Astrid, it would be a world of difference. Jerod charged towards her once more. She flew towards him as well. He swung his daggers towards her, she blocked him with her staff. "Why are you fighting me? Whether you join me or not is not for you to decide, if you make me kill you, I will just resurrect you with no hopes of owning her own life ever again."

He pulled back and glanced in different directions. He needed help, but how was he going to let anyone know where he was at? He glanced at the ceiling and smiled, he knows how to summon people to this spot. Flapping his wings, he soared towards the ceiling shining bright as he traveled. Astrid growled from below and charged up towards him. Rocks fell all around them as he broke through the barrier. Jerod allowed his light to shine as a beacon to the others on the islands.

Astride shot out of the ceiling. Storm clouds began gathering over the small island. Ran fell down upon him. He screamed as the rain seared his flesh. Was this acid falling on him? His wife flew up beside him. Lighting cracked against a darkened sky. Jerod held his hand out towards her as she was struck. He could lose her or Marionette, not yet. They were his life. Black flames consumed Astride, blocking him from her side.