The Forgotten Zodiac

"She's not with me." Manny said sullenly, having given up on breaking the ropes. They held on with all the strength of steel...

"I sense deciet in your voice," The man murmured, not taking his eyes off of Kendra. He lifted his lantern, and with a horribly bright flash, Kendra found herself blinded and stunned for a few precious moments. Long enough for the man to rip her scythe away and get her tied down. "You'll be coming with, then."

"Peace, friend," Kendra said, working to keep her tone steady. "I have only just stumbled across this darkness-spawn. I know not why you seek him, or why the King has need of him. You need not bind me - I know I have naught to fear from the King, and if it would prove my case, I shall go with you willingly," she said.

"I assure you, young miss, my intention is not to cause harm. But I cannot risk your escape, so you'll forgive the bondings." He lifted her and dropped her onto his shoulder, taking Manny's net by the rope and pulling it down from the tree before starting to drag it off. "Worry not. We only have one more person to collect..."

"If you hurt mommy..." Manny snarled.

"Again, my intention is not to cause harm. Only to deliver."

"Then, I pray, I hope you forgive me," Kendra said under her breath. The ropes binding her wrists slipped off suddenly and she twisted away from the other demon as the ropes snaked their way onto his wrists and ankles. "Are you familiar with transmutation, sir?" she asked, lifting her scythe from where it had fallen and leveling it at his throat.

"I am. The dear Prince Verolen is quite the master involving the arts of transmutation." The man said solemnly, not showing an inkling of fear.

"Verolen? You know Verolen?" Manny whimpered.

"I said that I said. My duty is to the throne...and those who are to be seated upon it." He sighed. "If you're going to kill me, may I at least have a warrior's death?" He shifted, pulling his lantern a little closer (as it had fallen upon the sudden attack), but he didn't pick it up. It was frozen on red, signaling the obvious danger he was in. And it slowly grew dull, now that he wasn't holding it.

Kendra slowly lowered her weapon, resting the sharp edge against his throat but not pushing hard enough to cause any damage. She seemed to have some sort of internal struggle, before drawing back. "As you did not come to cause harm, I do not see why I should inflict it," she said, taking another step back. It quickly became obvious that she was going to leave Manny to his own devices - any enemies of the King, she thought, were not her concern. Not to say she agreed with the current political atmosphere, but she did not want to get entangled in anything that may later cause her harm.

"I take my leave of you," she said softly, walking backwards as she did not trust the man to turn her back on him for any amount of time. "Farewell."

((She's going to go talk to Eve and tell her about Manny, tho. Not going nowheres.))

((Pfft.))

The man stared after her, and twisted around so his back was facing the lantern. It flashed white, and the ropes snapped around his wrists. He forced off the ropes around his ankles, sighing a bit as he stood. He took up Manny's net again.

"Wa-wait, Verolen, you said Verolen. You're taking me to Verolen...right?" Manny questioned.

"I am."

"Then get me out of this net! Verolen is my friend, I'll go with you!" Manny didn't think that the man could be lying. The thought didn't cross his mind. The man turned and frowned down at Manny, and slowly pulled at the opening of the net.

"I do not sense lies. But know this...if I even begin to suspect that you may try to run...I will not hesitate to stop you."

"Got it. I'm going nowhere." Manny shook his head.

"Very good." The man tutted. Without warning, a portal opened beneath Manny.

"Wha...but...you--mommy! You have to get mommy!" Manny wailed.

"The woman who you associate with as your 'mother' will be following you shortly. For now, I will leave you to the Manakete's care." The man turned and walked off, leaving Manny to sink into the portal.

--

"MOMMY!" Manny's scream woke Sylas from his nap in mere instants.

"Shut up!" Reetah's voice came next. "How did you get here?! How--"

"Mooooooooom!"

"Oh, boy..." Sylas sat up, grimacing. "That doesn't sound good..."

"What now?" Bermuda groaned, exasperated. He'd just about had his fill of suprise visits for the time being. "Is that Manny?" he asked, recognising the voice after a moment or two more of wailing. The Oceanid Prince stood shakily and moved over to the door. "Hello? Manny?" he called.

Reetah opened the door, dragging a wailing and kicking Manny inside. "You take care of this!" She snarled, still not in a good mood. She dropped him on the floor, leaving and slamming the door.

Arachne crawled down from the bed, smiling a bit. "Manny, calm down," She said softly, stroking his hair back. "Shh..."

Manny hugged her, sobbing miserably. "Mommmyyy...."

Bermuda stepped back to allow Manny into the room, watching the scene with a bit of perplexity before approching the mannequinn. "It's all right... what happened? How did you get here?" he asked.

Manny sniffed. "A-a demon...with a lantern and a mask and dark clothing, h-he put me in a net and threatened Kendra and she left, and he put me in a portal, and now I'm here, and...mommy's not!" He cried.

"Calm down...Eve will be here soon," Arachne reassured him. "That man was Zex. He's a servant to the heir of the throne."

"You called on him?" Verolen blinked. "Arachne, you know he doesn't work for free, he--"

"It's fine, Verolen. I've got that all worked out." Arachne shook her head. Verolen frowned at her, then sighed.

"Fine. Do what you have to..."

Manny sniffed. "E-Eve is coming?"

"Yes." Arachne reassured him. "Eve is coming."

Zex stared at the mountain path, contemplating on whether he should follow Kendra, or wait for her to leave. After a moment of thought, he started upwards. At the very least, he could wait a little closer. At the very least, those two women had nowhere to go. But if that mass of Dark Matter had known the prince, would the woman also know? Perhaps he shouldn't go in with nets and threats. Perhaps he could just speak with Eve and get her to come quietly. After all, she should like her destination, if her 'son' had...

"Is it you again?"

Kendra came into view as Zex approached the top of the mountain, watching him carefully. "What is your business this time?" she questioned, frowning deeply.

Zex raised his empty hand, and shifted his lantern behind his back so there was no chance of a flashbomb again. "I come to bring miss Eve to Verolen Krow the second. If you'd like to accompany her, I have no qualms about it; I only attacked with the intention of capturing you because I didn't know if you were one of the ones miss Arachne had requested. After a bit of thought, I've determined that I should only have you taken if you wish it to be so--but I must take Eve."

"The second?"

Eve came out of the cave, blinking suprisedly at the stranger. "Not his father?" she asked. She came up beside Kendra, who appeared to look less guarded now.

"The prince?" asked the southerner, lowering her scythe.

"Aye, the prince. And the princess. Currently hiding out in the Manakete palace. I was employed by young Princess Arachne to ensure your safety. As I'm sure this woman here has informed you already, I've already taken Manny to them." Zex said calmly. "If you believe I am lying, you have permission to strike me down where I stand. No objections." He set his lantern down, holding his arms out in obvious acceptance.

"...I can see you mean no threat," Kendra said, glancing over to Eve before considering the stranger again. "Tell me, what is it that you call yourself?" she asked. Eve stayed quiet as the other girl voiced the very question she had wondered, as well.

"Zex. My name is Zex." He said softly. "It is a name both of you are likely unfamiliar with; I am someone who only exists when my masters call upon me. It has been so since my first call to duty, and it will remain so for what's left of my life." He picked up his lantern again.

"I see. Well met then, Zex," Kendra said, inclining her head slightly to the no-longer-a-stranger. She then turned to Eve, who spoke again.

"I see no reason why we should not go with you, then," she said. "If you will take be to Manny and the others. It would be preferable, in fact," she added.

"Very well then. I suggest you hold onto anything you wished to take with you. And take these," Zex held out Ether Shards, two of them, strung onto a necklace. "A gift from Princess Arachne. Let us make haste."

Kendra nodded to Eve, and the two girls took the Ether Shards offered to them. Kendra traveled lightly, so she had with her everything she needed. Eve, having just escaped from the Phantom's stronghold, didn't have anything to bring with her.

"We're ready," said Eve, turning to Zex.