Unfortunately, evil always seems to find more evil. All evil things are drawn to each other, seeking out those who would help them in their cause. Though the veil to the underworld was hidden, the evil beyond it was great and as more and more lost souls were cast there after their death, and so the evil grew. It began to permeate the air around the Veil such that other beings could detect it. There was no one who knew how to open it, but that didn’t stop them from trying.

As the sons of men began to allow evil into their hearts, and as they began to stray farther from their God, they began seeking out other ways to fill that void inside them. They began to worship other beings, or objects. They sought out meaning for their lives in ways that caused darkness to creep into their hearts. God desired men to have free will and he would not force their loyalty to him. Sin was corrupting the world and Lucifer was allowed some control in the human realm. That sin gave Lucifer just the opening he needed to whisper lies into the ears of those who would listen. He pointed them in the direction divinity and sorcery where they learned how to contact the dead. They thought that they were contacting loved ones who had passed on, but in reality they were drawing the demon spirits to them and giving them power, so much power that the demons began to be able to manipulate the actions of men and women still living.

Once again, an angel of God came to the leaders of the supernatural races. He asked that we keep a close eye on the evil gathering in the world. The veil to the underworld was no longer a secret to all men. They began seeking it out under the direction of the demons that had seeped into their hearts. Surprisingly however it was not a human that became the tool used to make it possible to open the Veil.

One male continually sought out any interaction from the malevolent beings. Over time the demons relentless bombardment of his thoughts led to actions that they themselves directed through him, and one day he found himself at the Veil. The demons continued their assault on his mind and he became so attuned to their wickedness that he clearly heard, the directions on how to open the Veil. He followed their instructions to write the ritual in a book, so that when the appointed time came, the book would be read, and the ritual performed. I happened upon the male when he was attempting to read a language that he didn’t even know, though he had written it. I took the book and tried to destroy it, but nothing I tried was successful, so I hid it in our vast library. It has been here, untouched ever since.”

The room was quiet once Thalion’s voice no longer filled the space. The group continued to look for the book and it was awhile before someone finally said something.

“That does not explain how the Kings of my people have known how to open the Veil,” Cypher pointed out.

Thalion did not respond, but paused in his searching.

“Thalion,” Cypher prompted.

Finally, Thalion turned andlooked at the King.

“The male that found the Veil, the one who wrote the book, he was the Warlock King.”

Cypher’s eyes widened and he froze where he stood. He felt like he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs and what air he did get in was thick and difficult to exhale.

“That still doesn’t explain how the others have known,” Lilly said, as she walked over to Cypher’s side. She took his hand and rubbed it gently, a silent reassurance that she was with him.

“Cypher understands how they all have known,” Thalion said, as he continued to stare at him.

Cypher nodded. “When the King dies the next in line is given his memories, all of them.”

“How?” Lilly asked, as she tilted her head back so she could fully see his face.

“Blood,” Cypher told her. “All things come from blood; life, memories, healing, and even evil.”

“I hate to break up this moment of painful revelation,” Cyn quipped as she walked over to Thalion, “but I found it.” She handed him the very book they had been looking for.

Thalion felt a chill run through him as he held it. Cypher’s eyes landed on the book and he felt an unexplainable need to take it, to protect it.

“Cypher?” He heard his name being called, but it sounded like it was coming from far away.

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s drawn to the book because of the knowledge that it holds.” Thalion’s words snapped Cypher out of the trance he had been in.

“Evil is drawn to evil,” he repeated what the elf had said while telling the story. “Is that why? Is the darkness in me trying to connect with the evil in that book?” Cypher's voice was thick with contempt and his heart tightened painfully in his chest as he was once again reminded that he had made poor choices so many times, and some very recently.

“No,” Lilly said firmly as she planted herself directly in front of him. He looked down at her and he was able to breathe a little easier as he saw the determination in her eyes.

“You are not evil. Have you made bad choices? Most definitely, but we all have. We have all, at one time or another, done things that were, for lack of a better term, sinful. It’s how we handle the aftermath that determines who we really are and what path we are on.”

Cypher raised his hand so that he could cup Lilly’s cheek. He touched her gently, as if she were precious and fragile. His eyes softened as he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

“You make me better; you push out the evil,” he whispered against her lips.

“Then kick the idea that you are evil to the curb,” she snapped. “My heart could never fall for someone evil, so that settles it.”