The school year seemed to start off as one of the most promising. Many of the eldest children of the Death Eaters were in their Seventh Years and those that had not quite reached that most-sought-after goal were well on their way towards it. Even Rhys was having a better start to the year, or so the Dark Lord thought. He had been spending time with Draco Malfoy over the summer and it was hoped that Draco might rub off on the son of the Dark Lord. Sadly it was not to be, Rhys' behavior worsened, so Lord Voldemort attempted a different track. He engaged Rhys to a strong future Lady, Angelina Malfoy. The girl, he hoped, would mould the Prince into something more suitable. However, the Dark Lord was no one to sit around and wait. He had already begun a process that would give him the loyal Heir he needed, no matter if Rhys shaped up or not. He created Apollyon, an Amangrath of Voldemort’s own creation and training. This son was now a year old, growing much differently than a human, and was now ready to be introduced to the school and all the humans. It was quite a shock for everyone. Rhys and Rowena took the addition to the family horribly, rejecting the 'Abomination' that Voldemort had attempted to introduce. However, Elizabeth, the only daughter of the Dark Lord, reacted quite differently. She greeted her new half-brother with polite respect, even welcome.

Rhys’ hate and anger grew, driven by hearing his mother’s rants about The Beast and his own, now precarious position as Heir. One evening he cornered Apollyon near the Dark Forest and attacked him in a vicious and cowardly fashion. He didn’t care, all he saw was hate and the pain this…THING was causing his mother, whom he loved dearly. Apollyon only defended himself at first, unclear as to why his half-brother was attacking him and remembering his promise to their father not to hurt any of the students. Finally, however, Rhys went too far and survival instinct over-rode that promise and Apollyon killed Rhys. No one knows how the young Prince truly died, though the official story is that he wandered too far into the Dark Forest and was attacked and killed by a beast there. It wasn’t too far from the truth. Only the Dark Lord and Apollyon know what really happened and neither will ever tell Rowena or Elizabeth. Now the Halloween Ball is here and everyone is looking forward to this party as something happy to look forward to after the death of Rhys, their beloved Head Boy. Most students are still very uneasy about Apollyon, but he has managed to make two friends, Khaos Lestrange and Tuscany MacNair, who are helping him get along in the human world. Rowena has gone into seclusion for a time, to mourn the loss of her son, but there are rumors that she blames Lord Voldemort for the death. There is renewed talk of the Talon Servants, people who are loyal to Rowena Ravenclaw and want to see her on the throne. The Dark Monarchy seems to be shaking… can things be stabilized and Order restored? Or will it all crumble, war and chaos reigning over all? Or perhaps even worse…will this unrest be the event that shows the Muggles that Magic is real and Wizards walk among them?