Myths of Power

**AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wasn't liking the style that I was using so I have switched to something more common.**

--The Dungeons of Haladan--

Pain shoots up and down Josephs arms. The darkness was deafening.

"Wake up" the voice echoed in his ears. "Wake up, now!"

Joseph head slams against the wall as he bolts awake.

"Arg!" He tries to raise his hands but is stopped by heavy chains." Well that's one way to take my mind off my arms."

He squints and looks around trying hard to take in any light.

"Who's there? Leland?"

"No." the voice sounded close. Joseph leans and looks around into the room.

"Where are you? I can't see."

"Don't worry about that now..Do you still have that collar on?"

Joseph felt up towards his neck and his fingertips met up with cold, hard iron. The pain shooting through his body was stopping him even feeling its' dead weight. Before he could answer, the voicemused, "Well, I guess that will stop you from changing."

Josephs eyes were slowly begining to soak in some excess light. He couldn't make out much, but he was aware that he was in the dungeons. He looked around for the source of his new found friend but there was still much hidden in darkness.

"You seem to be able to see well enough in this bleak...I presume, dungeon. Who are you? Where are my friends?"

"Who I am is not important right now. You must find a way to remove your shackles and collar.The guards here don't take well to your kind."

The comment made the hairs on the back of his neck stand and he could feel the collar tighten. "MY kind, huh." Joseph had heard this comment all through his life. It was as if the person saying it was treading him under foot.

With this the voice took on a more apologetic tone. "I'm sorry. I did not mean it in that way."

Jospeh turned and grabbed one of his shackle chains in both hands and began to pull.

"I'm used to it, unfortunately." he pulled the chain taught a few times and released it.

"Doesn't look like these are coming out of the wall any time soon. You didn't answer me, you know."

"As I said, My name is not.."

"I mean about my friends. Have you seen them?"

There was an uncomfortably long silence. "I have not."

Joseph sniffed the air. "Hmph. Hiding your answers like you hide in the dark huh?"

"I'm not hiding Joseph. At least not..."

Before the voice could finish, a lid at the top of the cell slid open. A guard leaned over the top.

" Quiet down there you animal."

Sounds of pouring liquid and solids echoed above followed by the banging of block and tackle. Joseph eyes were half blinded by the light but through his squinting he could see a bucket being lowered.

Laughter screamed from the opening. "Ha ha ha...enjoy you dinner, dog!" The cover slid across but the lowered rope prevented it from fuly closing alowing light to stream in. As Joseph's eyes became used to the light, he took a look around for his cell mate. And found no one there.

"I told you I wasn't hiding Joseph."