The Forgotten Zodiac

Manny whimpered, shaking his head. Finally, he lowered his hands and pulled off the burlap piece that he had called his 'face' not so long ago. He was young, only around Sylas' age. His black eyes blinked softly at his 'mommy', and a smile spread over his pale lips. "I...I tried to make myself look more like you...more normal."

"I see that," she smiled, smiling warmly at him. "You look very nice. I'm proud of you," she said, sliding a bit closer to him. She studied the mark on his forehead, then reached out her hand to touch it. She stopped just before touching him, though, and asked, "May I?"

Mannequin seemed to perk up a bit, knowing that Eve liked his new face. He climbed out of the bush and slowly nodded. "Be careful, though...it...it hurts."

"Okay, wait," Verolen frowned. "What is...this, exactly? I've seen him before, but...what is he? And why is he calling you 'mommy'? Were you controlling dark magic before, Eve? What's going on...?"

Eve smiled and turned to look at Verolen. "Of course," she said. "I thought I had told you. I can control Dark Matter. It is a fairly common ability among the people of the Shades," she said. "And I made Manny, so it is only natural that he call me such a name."

"I...don't remember. I died a lot recently, it might have messed with my memories." Verolen shrugged, but smiled a bit. "I guess that makes sense..."

"No it doesn't," Bershee snorted. "Dark Matter is not meant to be controlled, it's far too unpredictable! What if he suddenly turns into a beast? What would you do then, hmm?"

"I can be a beast." Manny said suddenly. "The Naiads made me learn. I can be a big beast that eats everything." He started pulling off more of the cloth on him, though he left his shirt and pants. His new skin was flawless, but it lacked a few things he would have to fix; like fingerprints. His skin didn't wrinkle the right way, but it looked more or less normal. It was easier to look at him, although it would take a little while to get used to.

"We don't want you to be a beast, Manny. It's good to see you again." Sylas said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you...I don't want to be a beast, either." He nodded. "And I love seeing my friends, so it's very good to see you."

"It's very normal," Eve insisted. "We bend gravity, all disrupt the electromagnetic fields around us, ecetera. Why not, then, bend Dark Matter to your will? Everyone has the ability to leave their imprint on the environment around them - I've just learned how to harness mine," she explained.

"Because it does not always bend," She frowned, still not satisfied, but she calmed down a bit. She wasn't freaking out about it (not entirely), but she still wasn't happy. "Would you bend to a king who wishes what you do not? Dark Matter, especially in a mass so large as that, is dangerous. I'm not going to make you get rid of him, but all of us should dread the day that you lose control over him."

"I don't think it's all bad," Sylas pointed out. "He's a good little kid. And...well, that's exactly what he is. Just a kid. I doubt he would lose it for no reason...and he listens to Eve. He obeys his mother, and--"

"Then dread the day when Eve is no longer there to control him."

"Please, we have enough to worry about right now without you being all gloom-and-doom," Eve said, standing up. Little Gabe had worn himself out healing Rush, and staggered over to Aries, holding out his arms in indication that he wanted to be held.

Bermuda was sacked out, laying on the ground nearby.

((Gotta go nao. Love you~~))

"Hm, I suppose..." Bershee sighed. "I believe you are correct. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be so negative, but...it's serious, you know."

"Yes, we all know." Sylas rolled his eyes.

Aries hugged her dear son tightly, pulling him into her arms. She kissed his face and forehead, smiling. "That's my good little warlock," She said lovingly.

Gabe let out a small sound, somewhat along the lines of a purr, and fell asleep in Aries's arms.

L'arc went over to sit by Bermuda, then looked up to Verolen. "What happened to him? What are these marks?" he asked, indicating the rune marks on Bermuda's skin.

"I don't know. He didn't seem to want to talk about it. I just know that he had been in a lot of pain...he couldn't move for a week." Verolen sighed.

"They're marks of extremely powerful and forbidden magicks. They'll scar and remain on his skin for a long while yet. He's okay, for the most part..." Bershee said quietly.

"What did they do to him?" Verolen demanded. Bershee just blinked at him quietly.

"It's best if he told you himself. When he's ready."

L'arc nodded. "We don't want him to feel pressured," he said, resting one hand on Bermuda's shoulder. "He sure seems to be under enough duress of his own. It'd probably be best to take him on back to the Manakete Palace, as soon as Jerod's feeling up to it," he said.

"Hm? Oh, yes..." Jerod nodded, sitting and moving into a meditational stance. "I'll be ready in a moment. Hold on."

"Right. Thanks, Jerod." Sylas nodded, knowing that he would take Bermuda back alone. Sylas looked over at L'arc. "You sure you don't want to go with Bermuda...?"

"Well... if you can spare me, I would like to go," the Forest Prince said. "But I thought Verolen was going with him, and I really think that you could use me over in Oceanica," he said.

"Oh yeah, Verolen is going with..." Sylas frowned thoughtfully. "Well, I just...don't want you hurt anymore, L'arc. Like Bermuda. I don't want any of you hurt..."

"I have to protect you, remember?" L'arc said, standing up. "I don't want to have to worry about you while I'm with Bermuda, and I know that he'll be safe with Verolen."

"That's right," Verolen nodded. "I'll protect Bermuda with my life."

"I suppose..." Sylas put his hand in his pocket, feeling the pearl. At least he wouldn't drown. "Alright. It's your choice, I know."

"Best not to argue," Bershee chortled.

Quay, in the meantime, had started to wander back to the river, murmuring into his sending stone. He was trying to arrange for a ship to pick them up and carry them to the islands that he called home.

"Quay, don't wander off," Aries called to him, but was ultimately ignored. She sighed and picked up Rush, ignoring the massive weight that he was. It was like lifting a boulder. "Co-come on...we ma-may as well follow him back to the ri-iver..."

L'arc nodded, standing up and moving away from Bermuda's side. "Jerod, you get them there safe, all right?" he said.