"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" a loud voice boomed through the throbbing pain in Vulbogiô's mind. He cracked his eyes open, coming face to face with his angry father. He held Seglï by her hair, who covered her naked body with her dress.

Clutching the side of his head he sat up, "Father? What is go-" he was interrupted with a sharp punch to his jaw.

"Don't you dare!" his father growled, "You slept with my wife! What kind of ungrateful son you are!" His father's eyes held complete fury and turned to slap Seglï in the face causing her to whimper pitifully. Vulbogiô's eyes suddenly widened and looked down at his naked body, the previous night's events coming into his memory.

"No," he whispered before looking at his fuming father, "Father, it's not what you think. I did not-"

"You are no longer my son. Guards! Take him to the dungeons!" he growled before turning away as he dragged his unfaithful wife by the hair.

"No! Father! You must listen!" he rose, but not before the guards grabbing him and guiding him to the dungeon below.

***

"Son?" a whisper said through the walls of his cell. He'd been here for quite sometime begging for someone to listen until his throat was raw.

Vulbogiô sat up, the chains attached to his wrists and ankles clanking slightly, "Mother?" he croaked, dashing quickly towards the door of his cell.

"Yes my love it is I," the soft whisper said again, "Your father plans to execute you tomorrow morning for sleeping with his wife."

"Mother," he spoke grasping the iron bars of his cell, "I didn't sleep with her willingly, she asked a servant to slip a drink. Please mother you must believe me."

His eyes widened at the bandage that had covered his mother's eyes had been removed, showing the sadness that flicked in the depths of her eyes. She was wore a dark cloak that gave her the appearance of a man, "I believe you son. I knew the Queen would try something to get you executed but her plot went wrong. The King has commanded for both of you to be killed tomorrow, however I know a place where your father cannot find you," she spoke pulling out a key and slipping it into his chained hands, "We must go now, hurry."

Vulbogiô unlocked his chains and his cell door before following his mother. She guided him through a series of tunnels and hiding from passing guards before coming to a dead end. She pulled a brick away from the wall and stuck her hand inside, the click of metal being heard. Placing her weight against the wall and with his help they pushed it revealing a hidden door, "We must hurry, the guards are bound to notice you're gone."

"Mother, where are we going?" he whispered following her into the hidden passage.

"Vulbogiô," she began to say, clutching the the cloak even closer, "There is something you must know. Long ago there was a palace constructed for the royal family, however beneath the palace the gods opened a doorway. Many entered but no one has ever returned. It has been said that the door reveals your true destiny." She stopped near a wall with a faded serpent crest, repeating the same actions she did before.

When the door opened, black stone walls shined with their own light providing a vision of exquisitely carved walls, faces of the gods smiling down. In the middle of the room, a glowing circle pulsed with magic that Vulbogiô could feel in his bones, "Is this the door?" he spoke in awe.

His mother nodded, "Yes," she murmured removing a bag that was hidden underneath her cloak and placing it into his hands, "Now go."

"Mother, why can I not stay? Perhaps father will listen to what I have to say," he pleaded.

Thin arms wrapped around his waist, "My son, his mind is made up. The anger has consumed his heart and not even a child will make him listen. Go!" she said pushing him closer to the gate.

"Come with me. My father has brought you pain, we can start new somewhere else," he said, reaching for her hands.

"I cannot, my path lays here. Now go before the gods themselves send you away," she argued standing on her toes to place a gentle kiss on his forehead, "May the gods guide you to your path." And with that she pushed her son into the celestial doorway, his body consumed by the white light.

Vulbogiô held his breath, his eyes shut. He felt a burning sensation take over his body, but as quickly as it came it vanished.

He felt a soft ground beneath his skin, cold air seeping through his lungs. When he opened his eyes, he saw massive trees reaching out to touch the sky.

A low growl was heard behind him. Vulbogiô stood still, slightly turning his head only to come face to face with a furry beast, it's teeth bared and stained with blood. He cursed under his breath slowly walking away, his eyes trained on the beast. It growled again this time standing on its two legs manifesting it's immense body. Vulbogiô reached for the blade he usually kept on his side, however he forgot it had been taken away when he was thrown in his cell. Clutching the bag his mother had given him, he began to run. Trees passed by him with blurring speed, sharps stones digging into his bare feet. He stopped on a curved road that seemed to be carved out by stone, yellow marks painted down the middle.

"Dream Oo-oo-oo-n!" a voice screamed from afar. He turned only to come face to face with another beast with eyes of fire.

Then he was airborne into the air, pain slicing through his hip.