His vision returned back to normal as he lay there on the squishy water-like ground, his knees and hands pressing into it unsteadily as the grey surface threatened to pull him down while his chest tightened with fear.

His hand and neck throbbed with a sharp and dull ache as he tried to process everything that had just happened, his ears ringing with Zhan Tiri's words coming from Varian.

Disappointment.

"You disappoint me Diverion. You have so much potential and you're wasting all of it."

That's what he told him. Without hesitation.

He gritted his teeth as he clenched his wounded hand, immediately feeling pain blossom and blood run through his fingers.

His heart burned with an angry heat as he felt wounded from the father he never had around.
The one who had the nerve to say that to his face before stabbing him and pushing him into a portal.
To the one place he had constant nightmares about.
Where he dreamed of him being in the dark place where he would find himself one of the demons finally and dragged to it with glowing green hands, a skull crown laid upon his head as he lost his humanity forever to the part of him he tried so hard to deny.

The only place that could hold Zhan Tiri back and the kinds of monsters like him.

The Dark Veil.

Ash danced around in the windless void around him, the stench and aura of death weighing on him before he even opened his eyes.

He sat up shakily, clutching his bleeding, punctured hand as he looked around the miserable place.

He watched as dark demons bickered, gambled and milled around pointlessly. Boredom and a lust for destruction reeking off every single one of them as they then turned and noticed him.

Their eyes glowed a sickening greenish white before interested grins stretched across their faces.

Breathing heavily, Diverion scrambled to his feet shakily and ran away from the couple hundred prying eyes on him, not ready to face the evil that lay before him.

Or the evil that resided in himself.

Feet nearly slipping as he ran across the bubbling and swaying ground underneath him, he ran to the least populated area, just wanting to disappear.

Tears of fear and resentment threatened to spill as a demon flew overhead to some destination, luckily paying him no mind.

Diverion quickly threw himself behind a boulder mostly out of sight, glancing at his injured palm that was pressed to his chest. His violet shirt was now stained as he looked down, him biting his tongue to hold back the cry of pain and concern.

His hand bled heavily, the shock wearing off now and being replaced with biting pain that stabbed all across his hand.

Sucking in a sharp breath of tainted air, he held back the energy forming in his chest that threatened to spill out.

"Dammit.", he muttered closing his eyes tight, trying to make his instinctive power lull back to sleep.

Grabbing his coat sleeve, he ripped it off quickly and wrapped it around his injured and scarlet-covered hand.
The blood soaked through immediately, the tightly wrapped cloth doing nothing to stem the steady pulsing flow.

The inside of him protested, trying to aid him in healing as he rejected it again stubbornly as he pulled the bloody cloth tighter.

It took a great deal of strength to stay quiet as he tried to stop the bleeding, his heart beating fast and hard as he knew the demons would get excited seeing it spill.
Then whether he was half demon or not, he knew with a dreadful certainty that'd they see him as a human, as a victim, to pursue.

He then ripped off the other sleeve and took off his worn sleeveless coat, ripping it apart into several long ribbons and wrapping it around his injury.

He felt the energy inside him lessen as he finally ebbed the blood loss to a slow tiny stain through the several tight layers of torn cloth.

Leaning back against the rock in tired relief, he focused back on the problem of how to escape. One that would not require him to use the power he was still fighting and strengthening mental walls against.

But it was much harder then before. Keeping back the demonic energy that was a fierce part of him.
Being in the Dark Veil awoke it to scary powerful levels, the magic hungry to escape, to be used by the half demon prince he was.

He clutched his wrist tightly as he looked around the boulder, taking in the situation.

It was beyond bad.

He didn't see how he could get out of this. It felt impossible... and it practically was without him accepting and harnessing the power he had.

One he had promised to never use if he could help it.

He felt weak and exposed there, without his mask or weapons, his hand severely wounded and arms ridden with goosebumps and the angry tears threatening to spill from his eyes.

He felt no different from the smaller, weaker boy he had been several years ago, the one who would fall apart into a mess over a shot animal and who got ridiculed by his mother and then the separatists in turn. The one who got sick from the sight of blood, couldn't hurt or kill anything to save his life and couldn't even stand up for himself when he was picked on and bullied.

Why did he have to be so weak?

He bit his lip roughly as he glanced at the hordes of demons, his mind wishing that somehow he'd be saved.
Then regretting he relied on anyone to do it for him-

To fall right back into that old self who was little more then a nobody as soon as things got hard; it was was shameful.

He was the only one who should and could get himself out of this mess.
Sucking in his breath determinedly, he pushed himself to his feet.

He was tired of feeling like this. And he was going to figure a way out.

The best way to start?, none other then his wonderful demonic father.
And he knew exactly where Zhan Tiri would be, as he headed straight for the most concentrated ring of circling lower class demons.

His fear was gone. He had pushed it all away and brought out his anger, clinging onto it to radiate his statice to the creatures he passed.

They all watched him, not daring to touch him as curious whispers came among them.

Diverion felt their presence, the eagerness waiting for him to falter as they followed close behind as he made his way to the throne.
His eyes were set forward, looking straight ahead as he took a final deep breath against the nerves that ran on high underneath him.

He couldn't let himself fall or show weakness, otherwise he'd get torn apart alive.

The landscape was more chaotic, more unsteady beneath him as he arrived at the inverted mountain... the pit, which held Zhan Tiri's fortress.

Looking down into it, he took in the decayed and knarled vines spiraling down into the blackness, pulsing like a heart with a green glow, the skies and demons flying over head mirroring it from a black lake far below.

Hanging platforms were strung deep below along with peppering holes in the walls of the pit underground. And everything that he looked at shifted or glitched with a blurring grey, changing his perception the longer he tried to make it out.

Grinning sharp teeth rested beside him as he grabbed a vine before sliding down onto a ledge, starting on his way before he could think about it any further.

His stomach leapt to his mouth as he accelerated faster and faster, before his feet crashed and dug into the earthy and hole infested walls.
Knees feeling like they were about to blow out from the force, he dug his hands into the thick vine, holding tightly as he heartbeat raced.

"You can do this.. you can do this Diverion.", he whispered through gritted teeth, trying to calm himself down.

He looked around, seeing if the demons still clung to him but saw he was alone, the exit now hundreds of feet over his head somehow.

The uneasiness of the place was intense now he was inside of it, the dark magic of the place wanting to unravel his very DNA.
He suspected the only thing keeping him alive was his will, albeit a very small percentage... and his father's blood within his human flesh.

Looking down, he could barely make out the bottom of the slightly rippling black water, showing his wide bloodshot eyes from afar.

Shaking, he tore himself away from what he had saw, and continued his journey down to the bottom.

He then focused on not falling, and breathing steadily as his hand burned against the natural rope. Keeping his mind on the job at hand in order not to lose his sanity from the place.

Strange whispers echoed around him as it got blacker in the pit, and several times he found himself somewhere else in the fortress as the grey glitching mass passed over him.

Soon the only light source was the deadened pulsing vines as Diverion stumbled and slid his way down before finally feeling his feet hit the water.

Relief flooded him as he let go of the wall and the plants, squinting and looking around, trying to make sense of the place.

The whole floor was covered in water as he could tell, it shifting and behaving like water as he splashed it with his dirty boot. Strange green reflections rippled over it as he strained the walls around him for doors, the holes hidden and shifting constantly around the place now.

The lake held grief in it somehow, radiating loss, sorrow and the birth of something evil. Something dark and twisted. Also something he couldn't quite place that didn't belong.

It chilled him to his spine as the water swirled around his ankles, faint wind blowing strands of hair across his neck as entrances appeared and reappeared.

The only thing he had now was his instinct in this place. And maybe... that would be enough.

Stepping forward and walking through the shallow water to the other side, he stepped through a disappearing entrance, finding himself in a ghastly lit hall.

Notches in the walls held discarded faintly glowing spheres that upon closer inspection were demon eyes.

Feeling goosebumps rise up his arm, Diverion walked down the hall, his feet sticking to the floor like syrup.

Staircases led up, down, sideways and he descended and climbed them as he made his way through the maze of endless now seemingly pointless halls.

Frustration rose up in him as he found another dead end after two hours, before he turned around to find himself at the very beginning again. The entrance he had first used open wide tauntingly as he kicked the water roughly, "Dammit! I know you're in here somewhere!!", he yelled out into the darkness.

Nothing answered back, but he could feel the energy intensify in the liquid circling his ankles at his anger.

Looking down at the black water, he stared back at his face and gasped.

Reaching up and touching his face with one hand, he bent down studying his eyes and face.
His image shifted and blinked in and out to something he had never seen before and one which he always had before in the mirror.

Before now, his face had always been shown as one of a demon, his eyes black and devoid of light or showing the eyes of a person who was lost forever.

Never had he seen a face like this... one that must be his and his alone.

A bright blue and one amber eye stared back at him, both of them sharing a lace of green. His nose was a little awkward, but it was his. And a couple of odd angel kisses dotted his face.

Letting out a little laugh of relief as he looked at his image for the first time, he brought his face closer to the water.

Emotion surged through him before his hand sunk through the water up to his elbow as he knelt down.
The dark water swallowing his arm shook him out of his stupor, making him pull back quickly and stumble back.

Loud splashed filled the air as he breathed heavily looking at the spot where his hand had gone through. It had been shallow in that place before he put his hand in...
So why-?

Thinking hard, Diverion walked back over and tested the area with his foot, pressing down roughly and not going deeper then an inch or two.
Stomping his foot and then jumping down hard, water sprayed up but remained shallow and the surface underneath solid.

After a few times, he stopped and looked at the void underneath him before slowly pressing both hands into the water.

Darkness sucked him in through his arms and face first before he could change his mind, the dark liquid pulling him underwater.

His lungs filled with the stuff, drowning him, as panic seized him entirely.

Then as fast as it happened, it was over.

Coughing and gasping for air, he found himself on his knees on land, a bright white lake beside him.

His head was spinning as he then clung the glowing dirt, his senses finally catching up to him as his hair fell down to the gravity that still ruled the world that his body defied.

Somehow, he was upside down.

Everything was upside down on this side, and the lake he just gone through must've been some kinda passage to this new strange environment.
Catching his breath shakily, he stood up shakily, spitting out the water in his mouth as he blinked taking it in.

The ceiling -or the floor for him- was all a sickly white, throwing him off balance as he took careful steps forward afraid of suddenly crashing to writhing mess of vines below.

Demons swirled around his head and shattered cries of the damned drifted and echoed through the cavern.

He then suddenly stopped, staring at the giant throne in front of him shaped vaguely like humanoid limbs and faces. The seat before him radiated the same dark light as everything else, and its clawed feet stood over a slowly swirling vortex underneath it like a boned cage.
And sitting atop and blocking the way to that suspicious small vortex was none other then Zhan Tiri, clutching the armrests in all its splendid gothic glory.

Bracing himself, Diverion held his body up defiantly, knowing he'd have to fight to get to the throne guarding the portal. The portal be knew instinctively must lead to the mortal world he had been cruelly thrown from.

"I see you've finally found your way here.", Zhan Tiri started, a thin smile crossing his lips, "Only to want to leave again so soon I presume."

He grimaced, holding his fists up defensively, "I certainly didn't come here by my choice."

"I wouldn't say that's a bad thing son, this visit was long overdue.", Zhan Tiri rested a hand on his chin, his dark eyes boring into him. "And you accepting your legacy of the greatest and most powerful warlock in history is also overdue, but not unredeemable either. I wanted you here for a reason, and that's to get you to see the gift you're naturally born with."

"I don't bloody want this damned so-called gift!", he spat angrily, "Why won't you let it go?! And do you really think impaling my hand is the way to go about it?!"
Diverion held up his injured palm up aggressively, waving it in disbelief, "What kind of parent does this?! HUH?? I'll answer for you. NONE!!"

"A small price to pay to make you see the fault of your consequences.", he retorted back, waving his hand as magic forced him to his knees, "You've refused my title, my honor that I've built over the years and have refused stubbornly to avenge the work that I was stripped from by my worst enemy. You disgraced me and embarrassed your mother's statice and all we worked for. All because you refuse for some reason to train The Arts, like an ungrateful brat.

"You say I didn't love Chella, that she was just a tool just like that Varian child is.", he continued, his fingers clenched tightly as he held him down, "But you are wrong about that. I loved her and watched over her the best I could. What she summoned of me wasn't enough to keep me around, and certainly wasn't enough to finish the business I had with Corona and Demanitus' legacy. I couldn't stay, and the fragment I had in that mortal world was temporary.

"You ask why I won't let go of your power, have given you relentless dreams and your mother and I wouldn't let a moment pass without urging you to pursue it.
It's because you're a creation of powerful destruction. One I know that could easily stand by my side and be a great ally and son. One that could take down Time itself and have it our grasp, your own hands Diverion.., and shape a future that we both know we want.
One that could raise back what we lost, my wife and your mother. And it's more urgent then ever you stop fooling around and just accept who and what you are so the world isn't held back by limits and can work freely like we both know it should.", he breathed frustrated, "You are my son, and nothing you will say or do will change that fact."

Shaking his head as he struggled against the dark tendrils holding him, he glared up at him, "You have a lot of nerve claiming I want the same things as you do. And even more for bringing up Mother.
I don't care about continuing your stupid legacy and paybacks. I don't want dark magic or you running crazy around in my world, and no matter what you say or do, you can't change my mind!!

"You're crazy, you're evil and all you are is selfish! Oh, and don't forget manipulative as hell!!
I'm not an idiot, I know how you work- you've only done it to me for my whole life- and I know better then to believe you caring about someone other then yourself.
That's why I reject you. And still will my whole damned life.", he said pushing himself to his feet, walking towards him slowly with great effort as the vines tightened, "And if you knew what was good for you, you'd get the hell out of Varian and keep yourself here. And you'd let me go and never speak to me again."

His voice was low and full of intensity as he stared face to face with demon king seated in front of him.

A vulnerable target to Zhan Tiri's rage if he chose to use it.
But that didn't bother him. Or even concern him as he stood his ground.

He then felt the vines give way, falling down below into the mess below.

Dread then settled in him as he watched a smile cross his father's serious features, his human and horned face showing delight.

"I've said it and I'll say it again, You can't change who you truly are Diverion,", he grinned, "You just proved that right now."

"Just get out of my WAY!!", he screamed. "Before.. BEFORE I-.."

The demons circled around closer as Diverion felt panic slip in, his voice and determination losing its force.
He felt himself losing control as fear just dragged him deeper and deeper from the realization he had just used his power without thinking. Without even knowing it.

Grabbing his head in his hands he stood there shaking slightly.

What was he going to do anyway to fight his way back? Use his magic?!
He had no weapons.
And he had no legendary evasive or martial skills to defeat an army of demons if needed or let alone his father with his magic.

What was the plan?! The point of coming here again??

He then felt a hand on his shoulder as he looked up, Zhan Tiri's face next to his, "You might as well stay son. Here you can learn and be yourself. Even look like yourself too for the first time in your life.
Your power's roots are here, and the magic knows it. Embrace it Diverion.", he said softly.

Diverion glanced at his hands and then saw to his dismay it was completely healed, smoky energy wreathing off his both his hands and fingers in sickening twisting patterns.

He had no control any longer.

The magic was coming whether he wanted it to or not.

"You master this, master your power, you won't have to live with that curse Chella gave you any longer. You won't have to run and hide from people who want to hurt you.
You'll be free, and once you open up the portal, the ones who truly belong to be trapped here you can throw in here. And we'll achieve great things together that benefit you, and the world that you want.", he whispered in his ear, "I know it appeals to you.

"And it's a little difference or big matter if it's manipulation or not. The truth remains the same.
Power equals change. And you can't change anything in that mortal world without me and without your magic.

"And if you just accept this? I'll make it even more worth you while.", his father spoke slowly, his words pulling him into listening, "I'll let that Varian kid have the rest of his soul back and I won't hold it hostage any longer.
I know you won't turn that down even if you do with everything else, because his very soul is on the line."
He laughed softly, a dangerous one far from friendly, "Refuse this any longer, REFUSE ME, and I'll destroy it completely. Then all the good bits of him he had before will be lost forever and all because of you.", he hissed tightening his grip. "I'm done playing nice let me make that clear."

Diverion felt his face go white as he then turned, watching as Zhan Tiri then summoned the ghostly remnants of the alchemist's soul in his free hand.
It shone with a gentle warm blue light, pulsing in a way the horrible glowing fortress did not.

Ears burning in rage from the threat, from the words of promise of something better and dark truth; Diverion shook himself out of his grip backing up several paces, heart beating fast as he stared up at the flickering image of Varian.

Guilt tugged at him.
And not only that, but the idea of being able to be himself as much as he knew it would ultimately be a lie.

He was frozen with indecision, his mind unsure of the choice to make as he felt the weight of a very soul weighing on him.

He didn't even know him personally or have a fondness for the people who searched for him. Far from it in fact.
So why should he feel inclined to help him??
For people who kidnapped him, broke his ribs and nearly got him killed by an exorcist?!

The more he tried to convince himself he didn't care for this random alchemist, the more he knew it wasn't true.

His father was right.

He cared.
About each and every single life.
And as much as he could help it, he fought to keep it alive, animal or human.

It was why he looked after Varian after landing in the middle of nowhere and not hurting Fenra out of payback for the things she did in the past to him.
And it was why he refused to use his magic and training to hurt others and cause pain.

His thoughts that had been swirling in a chaotic mess then suddenly cleared.
A strong determination ripping through the fog of doubt and guilt as he clenched his healed hand tightly, the magic strengthening around his wrist.

His father had made a fatal flaw- mistaking his empathy for life as a weakness instead of his greatest strength.

Looking up at him, he felt the closing in demons back off at his renewed energy, "You're right. I won't let you destroy him, not if I can help it.", he voiced, "And this power I have is coming whether I want it to or not."

Balancing the flickering blue soul in his palm, he smiled at him devishily, "And what does this mean you'll now decide to do then?"

"I think you know damn well what I intend to do Father.", he said summoning dark balls of fire, "And that's mastering my power like you've wanted all along, taking that soul and getting back to the mortal world. And you aren't going to stop me."