Freak!

Monster!

Kill it!

Destroy it!

Die hellspawn!

There voices followed him. Urged him on as he ran from village to village seeking refuge. But they only chased him.

He could do nothing to help. He tried using a spell to stop them and that only confirmed their suspicions.

So he was left running. Running from them as he had run from Rezo.

Rezo. The one who did this to him. The one who broke him. The one he hated.

His grandfather. The one who cared for him. The one who took him in. The one who helped him.

Tears built up again.

Rezo was the only one who offered him sanctuary from his curse. The only one who didn't look at him like a freak. The only one to smile, as cruel as it may have been. He still smiled at him. Still talked to him. Still cared for -

No! Rezo hated him! That's why he had done this. That's why he had made Zelgadiss suffer. Because he hated him.

And Zelgadiss hated Rezo. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to kill him if only he could. If only he was strong enough.

The tears flowed freely again, creating little rivers between the stones of his skin. He was lost. Who was he? Where was he? What was his?

And what of Rezo? What had become of Rezo? His.grandfather. Bitter words surrounded that thought.

"This will always be with you." Rezo's words. A prison to carry on his back.

How had Rezo found him before? And why did he let him go? Did Rezo know something he didn't? Was there no other cure in the world? Was the Red Priest himself the only person who could return him to a human body?

What did he have to do to get it? Did he have to plead? Get down on his knees and beg to Rezo? It was the only thing he hadn't tried. And Zelgadiss would.

No! He wouldn't! He wouldn't give Rezo that satisfaction. He had to be strong. Rezo had given him strength and he had to use. Turn against his creator.

Oh, but it was so hard. Rezo was too strong. Zelgadiss knew that. Not in a lifetime of study would he reach Rezo's current position. And.he didn't want to kill. Not like those who had killed his family. Those who had taken away hope.

Rezo was his only living relative left. There shared the same blood.

Tear were dry.

No. He wouldn't return to Rezo. Not until he could make a difference.

Forever.