Amaya opened her eyes. "Oh good Lord in Heaven above. Are you alright? You've been asleep for ages and I was worri-" Barker cut off. Amaya smiled. "You were what, Riverstone?" She mumbled. Barker looked down. "I was-I was worried, OK? You worried me." He admitted. He smiled at her. Amaya gave him the biggest, brightest smile that only she could give. "I will be right back. I just need to call Felicity, my wife." He told her. Amaya's smile vanished. "Off you go then." She said stiffly. Barker walked out of the room and dialed Felicity's number. "Barker?" Felicity answered. "Hello dear. Syrus is still missing. No clue where she went or even if she's still alive". His voice broke. "Can you come over here? Help me look?" He asked her. "Oh Barker, I'm terribly busy. I'll come over if she doesn't turn up in about...three or four weeks perhaps." Barker was shocked. Three or four weeks and she might show up? "You've got to be joking. Our daughter is missing and you can't even be bothered to come over here and-and-" He said angrily. "On the topic of children. I know you'll be pleased! I'm pregnant!" Felicity screamed happily down the phone. What? How? He'd never- "Oh you know Jonathan Markhouse. Lovely gentleman. Well we were paired up the day you left for Fey. I was terribly disappointed that you couldn't be there, of course. But Jonathan was so kind about it. He hopes that it is a girl. He wants a daughter. Isn't that sweet? A new baby Myeuen to add to the world! The Leaders are all so exited about the pregnancy. If everything goes according to plan and the baby is healthy, they will let me have another baby! Isn't that great?" She tittered excitedly. "I'm not going to the birth." Barker told her. He could practically see her frown. "Well I don't know that you'd have been allowed there in the first place. It isn't your child, its mine and Jonathan's. And I don't think the Leaders would appreciate your presence anyway. It would be best if you stayed at home, and gave Jonathan and I some alone time with the baby. After its birth of course I wouldn't spend much time with you, I have my duties to Jonathan, Myeu and of course the baby. It must be brought up properly. But I'm sure I could see you sometimes. I'm quite sure I'd be allowed." "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked softly.
His whole life was falling apart. His daughter was missing and here was his wife telling him that she was pregnant to that stuck-up, formal face Jonathan. "I didn't tell you because I only found out today. I've been busy. They checked every evening. I might have a couple of hours spare time now that I am pregnant. But you never know, Jonathan might have something planned. I want you to come back, if you're allowed you can watch my baby grow. I want you to see the baby after its born." Barker was distraught. He had to make a decision. "I'm not coming back. I don't want to see Jonathan's baby, the guy is a jerk." Felicity gasped. "He. Is. Not. A jerk. Do you hear me? Not a jerk! He is a lovely gentleman. A very lovely gentleman. He is so sweet and kind. Pack your bags. You are leaving. You owe him an apology." Barker hissed. "Did you forget that our daughter is missing? I'm staying right here until she gets back." "She is not important! Leave her alone. This is about my child and my child's father, who you owe an apology." Felicity spat. "Syrus is your child! What have you got against her? The fact that she is half Feyarie? Well, if you don't love her, you don't love me. I can't believe I ever thought that you cared about us. I never should have married you. I never, EVER, want to hear about your precious stinking baby again. We are over." He hung up. Then he ripped off his wedding ring and made it explode. Bits of gold spat everywhere, but none of them touched him. Felicity would know they were done when her wedding ring, which she refused to ever wear, turned grey and lifeless.
Barker walked back into Amaya's room and Amaya stared at him curiously. "How is your wife?" She asked politely. "I don't have a wife. I divorced her." He replied. For some reason Amaya smiled, and somehow it was even bigger than the smile she gave him before. Barker smiled back. "I'm so glad." She whispered. "I still love you. But it makes me angry how she hurt you. I did try to warm you, I did. We could have married, had our own children." Barker took her hand. "And why can't we? I'm sick of outsiders, she used me. There is no woman I would rather marry than you." He said. Amaya shook her head. "It was fate that used you. You were always meant to have Syrus with Felicity. It is that life that gave her her personality, one she would not have grown into if she was our daughter. It is how she is now, that will decide her fate. Whether or not she chooses the- the dark path." Barker took her other hand. "You were looking down the dark path, something was blocking you. But you saw something. Then you collapsed. What was it?" He guessed. Amaya wouldn't meet his eyes. Barker let go of her hands, and instead cupped her face, then tilted it so he was staring into her eyes. "Amaya" He said softly. "I need to know."
Amaya took a deep breath. "Down her path I saw an old evil. Volcano, the father of all darkness." Barker backed away. "No. She couldn't. She wouldn't have anything to do with him." Barker was filled with despair. He shuddered. Amaya put her arms around him as he started to cry. "I hope not." She said softly. "I hope not."
