KAYROS

Brandon Kayros feared the worst. 4 suicide attempts and he was now forced to remain in a hospital room under close scrutiny by the institution's staff. He had known that the others had been eradicated one by one and since hearing of Scarlett's escape, he wondered who could have given the order. The Left Hand was destroyed, Alicia Sinn wouldn't care to free Scarlett, Danny Starr would have had her killed without a second thought- why kill the others, but leave Scarlett not only alive but free her. Brandon wondered if Derek Rayne had somehow still been alive- it was the only thing that made sense but he knows that's impossible.

As Brandon awaits his certain fate, he still manages to be surprised when The Baphomet is allowed to enter his hospital room.

"Brandon." The Baphomet greets him, but Kayros seems less intimidated and more taken aback.

"What are you doing here?" Brandon asks.

"You know why I'm here..." Baphoment responds.

"No..." Brandon says, "No, wait... no, this isn't right..."

Baphomet stands quiet, a bit taken back himself at Kayros' response.

"Who are you..." Brandon asks.

"You know who I am, Brandon." Baphomet says.

"Baphomet." Kayros replies.

"Yes." Baphomet confirms.

"No, you're not." Kayros says, shaking his head.

Baphomet doesn't know how to respond, instead, lowering his eyebrows as he measures up Brandon before him.

"You're not this world's Baphomet... although..." Brandon studies him with great curiosity, "You appear to be the very same... a clone? No... no, they wouldn't have made another of you."

Baphomet says nothing at first.

"How do-" Baphomet begins to ask but Kayros interrupts him.

"Because The Baphomet from this world has been dead for 20 years." Kayros says.

Baphomet contemplates, and for the first time, a sense of fear becomes clear across his emotionless face.

"So, what..." Kayros says, "Did you cast a realm-seeker?"

Baphomet smiles.

"No." Baphomet says, "I was excommunicated."

"For?" Kayros is confused.

"Ambition..." Baphomet answers, sitting down on the bed across from Kayros.

"Ambition." Kayros repeats back.

"I've always been... talented in points of weakness; loop holes, if you will." Baphomet explains, "I saw the opportunity to thwart control from Redemption's grasp and lead the Left Hand towards certain victory- I was found out while attempting to open the sepulchers and was punished, sent away from my realm and into this one."

"Hmm..." Kayros says, "Sounds like you're the same across the board."

"How is that?" Baphomet asks.

"The Baphomet of this world tried the same thing..." Kayros says, "But in this realm, they didn't bother to excommunicate him- they killed him secretly to prevent his acolytes from rising up in resistance."

Baphomet stands up, turning from Kayros.

"And as you can see..." Baphomet says, "What inevitably happens to the Left Hand under Redemption and Dermot Winterdawn and Rachel Winston."

"Yeah, Danny Starr happened." Kayros redirects blame.

"Mr. Starr will soon answer for his ignorance." Baphomet promises, "but right now, I need to know where your loyalty stands."

Kayros looks up at Baphomet.

"How long have you been in this realm?" Kayros asks, suspiciously.

"Long enough to know what you believe only few still know." Baphomet says with a grin, "But, as far as I can tell... your loyalty has always been with the Left Hand. I need something... and I believe you can lead me to it."

"A realmseeker." Kayros guesses.

"No." Baphomet turns to him, "Something else."

"So you're... not going to kill me?" Kayros asks.

Baphomet laughs and places his large gloved hand over Brandon's shoulder.

"You're here on behalf of the dark..." Baphomet says, "And with every soul lifting their left hand to our order, the light will continue to dim."

With that, Baphomet's hand leaves Brandon's shoulder and he turns away from him. He walks out of the hospital room and Kayros realizes the door is left open with nobody coming to shut it. He cautiously, as Scarlett had, moves out of the door and peeks both directions but sees nobody, not even The Baphomet in sight.

As Baphomet enters his vehicle he dials a number stored on his cellular phone and places it to his ear.

"He's out." Baphomet says, "He will wait some time but then, we know he will find her and when he does, we will find Tyler's location..... yes... now... the final one.... What do you mean....."

Baphomet is clearly angered by the other person's reply.

"I was looking forward to Mr. Starr..."

"I see..."

"I'm disappointed but, I understand. I'm a fan of poetic justice, myself."

"Very well. I will head for the XWF as we have discussed."

Baphomet ends the phone call and shakes his head at the disappointing turn of events that prohibited him from being the one to kill Danny Starr. He, instead, adapts to the caller's wishes and types in the GPS to XWF Headquarters.