Filled with a fear that he had never known, Argus jumped on his horse and raced at breakneck speed to the place where Stacia and the children were carefully hidden.  Throwing the door open, his heart stuck in his throat and tears glistened in his eyes when he found his beloved Stacia mortally wounded and dying. Argus rushed to her side and as he took her cold hand into his own, experienced the instant healing and soothing of his wounds by her mere touch. “I love you, Argus,” she said in a shallow breath. “Do not worry,” she consoled him, “I’ll be with you always.” As he gathered her body in his arms, Stacia quietly died. Argus felt his already fractured heart break. “How can I continue,” he sobbed. At once he remembered the children, and rushing to their chamber discovered that they were gone. As he stood looking about the empty room and the corpse of his wife, he contemplated his loss and let out a scream filled with the grief and anguish of a thousand men.

Back in King Sirus’ chambers, Ereshkigal, one of Sirus’ closest disciples announced, “Argus suffers tonight, like nothing I’ve ever felt before.” Ereshkigal was a phenom born with the ability to actually feel and experience a person’s pain, agony and grief. As she grew older she discovered that the greater a person’s misery, the more pleasure she was able to derive from it. And now she was in ecstasy reveling in Argus’ anguish. King Sirus was intently watching her face when suddenly her expression changed from one of pleasure to one of fear. The corners of his lips curled to form a half smile as he watched Ereshkigal recoil from the sensations that others could not feel.

As the realization of all he had lost set in, Argus challenged his Creator and began to doubt his faith and his status as an elite member of the Lyte. His anger and hate for Sirus continued to build, overwhelming his senses. Acting like a man possessed, he killed the injured knights that were left in charge and who failed to protect his wife and children.

After giving Stacia a proper burial and regaining his strength, Argus united his armies and rallied an enormous crusade against King Sirus to end his evil dynasty once and for all!  In his heart he swore to Stacia that he would not fail.

Siridean returned to King Sirus with the mortally wounded Wu. After placing Wu in the servants’ waiting arms he orderd, “Take him to the infirmary and summon the physician at once.” Siridean turned to the waiting king. King Sirus’ face erupted into a wicked grin as Siridean handed him the vile containing Stacia’s blood.

As King Sirus gatherd with his Inner Circle in the high tower, he toasted “At long last,” and drank the blood of his sister. Thunder resonated. A ghostly mist emerged, transforming into the image of Stacia. She glided to appear before the king saying, “He will be coming for you my brother.” King Sirus, reveling in his newfound powers replied, “I know!”  Floating in Sirus’ midst, she continued “and he will kill you.” 

“But not until he swears his soul to me!” Sirus proclaimed. 
Stacia calmly considerd his words before saying, “He is a man of conviction and will not stray from his chosen path.”
“He already has!” King Sirus responded delightedly.  “Without his faith in the Lyte, he is powerless against us now my sister!”
Her image began to transform back into mist before uttering these final words, “You underestimate him, Sirus.”  Then she disappeared into the night.

But conjecture is not exclusive to the reverent. Sirus prayed to the dark spirits, and they answered him, "Wickedness awaits you. This is your gateway to eternity. Go and seize your destiny." Satisfied by their wicked sanction, the King was not alarmed when news finally arrived that Argus was just outside his province leading a great army. From his balcony he awaited their arrival, inhaling the blackness of night directly into his dark soul.