The Forgotten Zodiac

"Indeed." Zex nodded, moving between them. "I shouldn't have to tell you not to struggle," He said softly as a portal opened beneath them."

"There. See, Manny?" Arachne stood, leaning heavily against the bed. Mannequinn practically screamed and threw himself onto Eve, hugging her for all he was worth.

"I was scared, so scared," He sobbed, shaking his head.

"I have brought them, as requested, miss Arachne." Zex strolled foward and kneeled before her.

"Thank you," She smiled weakly.

"...I still don't understand," Bermuda said, watching the scene before him. "Arachne, who is this guy?" he asked.

Israel chirped quietly as he watched the reunion, standing close to Verolen.

"This is Zex. He's a servant to the throne, and to those who would possibly be upon it. He's...loyal, at least, and he did his work." Arachne answered calmly.

"How are we paying him?" Verolen questioned.

"I told you...I already arranged for that." She picked up her bag and took Zex's hand. "I'm ready."

"Wha--Arachne?!"

"It's okay, Verolen. I'm not going home. I'm going under Zex's protection. He wants to ensure that the line to the throne, at least one of the links, is kept safe no matter what. It's not that I don't think I'm safe with you, I just...with my foot gone, I've felt like nothing but a deadweight. Even if I have a fake one, I still...I can't do much." She looked towards Israel. "Don't blame yourself, please. It's no one's fault." She smiled a bit.

Israel looked stunned. "You... you're leaving?" he asked, looking suddenly distressed. He let out a sad trill and ran over to Arachne, picking her up and carrying her back over to Verolen. "No you're not! You're not leaving!" he declared.

Arachne made a soft sigh and wiggled out of Israel's grip, but she didn't move away from him. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him. "I have to, Israel...I'm of no use to you all here. Please, don't worry...Zex is keeping me from my father, too. I won't be in any danger..."

"I would take my own life before allowing a single scratch on the dear Princess." Zex said quietly.

"And once this stupid war is over, I can come back. So please, Israel, don't be sad..."

"But what if I'm not here when the war is over?" Israel said, looking distressed. "How could I die without seeing you safe?" he asked.

Arachne couldn't really answer that one. She leaned up and kissed Israel on the cheek, sighing a bit. "I hope and pray you'll still be here."

"Can't we...offer something else?" Verolen questioned desperately.

"No. You know the contracts. It will be done as it was written." Zex shook his head. "Take all the time you need to say goodbye...but understand that you will not see her again until this war reaches its nearing conclusion."

Israel made a mounful sound and trotted over to the nearest balcony. "I'm going to the roof! Leave me alone!" he said, then lifted off.

Bermuda shook his head slightly as Israel went off to be alone, then stood and went over to Arachne. "I'll do my best as a healer to keep them all alive," he promised. "We will all miss you."

Arachne nodded, smiling a bit. "Thanks, Bermuda." She said softly. She turned as Manny approached her.

"U-uhm...thank you." He said, shuffling his foot. "You...you didn't have to, but you did anyway..."

"My brother needs you." Arachne smiled. "You and Eve both..."

Eve smiled at Arachne. "We'll do our best to keep him safe," she said.

"Aye," agreed Kendra. "I thank you for your aid, princess. I will repay the debt," she said. The demoness turned to Princer Verolen and smiled briefly, then turned back to Zex. "You keep a close eye on her, aye?" she requested.

Zex bowed. "She will be well hidden and well protected." He insisted.

"He'll take care of me. It's...well, it's time to go..." Arachne smiled a bit.

"Arachne...just..." Verolen was apparently struggling to hold back tears. "Take care of yourself...yeah?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna go pick flowers now, okay?" She walked back to Zex's side, taking his hand again.

Within moments, the two were gone.

"... a good lass if I've ever met one," Kendra said, shaking her head slightly as Arachne disappeared. "But for the moment, I believe that some introductions are in order," she said, turning to the group.

"I am Kendra, a ranger from the southern darklands," she said. "Well met, all of you. And how do you call yourselves?" she asked.

"I'm called Bermuda," introduced the nereid with a small bow. "The siren on the roof is Israel. He'll be back soon."

"I see," Kendra said with a nod. She turned to Sylas and inclined her head to him. "What of you?" she asked.

"I'm Sylas," He struggled to maintain a normal color in his cheeks. She was quite pretty... "I may be a human, but I side with the forest."

"I'm Verdi!" He piped up, grinning.

((Aw, Sy.))

"Good even to you both," she said, nodding. She then turned to Verolen. "I am humbled to be in such company," she said. "And quite honored. Pray tell, though, where I am?" she asked, looking around. "I have heard that this is the Manakete Palace, but I see that none of you are of dragon blood."

((xD He IS a boy.))

"The Manaketes are allied strong with the forest. Seeing how said forest is constantly being invaded and razed, we took to the Manakete palace for safety." Verolen explained. "Don't bother being humbled, I'm not used to being treated like a prince. Just act like you would around anyone else." He shrugged, going back to checking Sylas' stiches. "They look fine, thankfully. No infections."

"Now we're just missing Rush," Manny said sadly.

"And Byrne," Sylas pointed out. "Let's not forget L'arc, he got dragged off, too..."

"Have you seen him?" Verolen frowned.

"Yes. He was at your father's palace. He...uh...wasn't like himself." Manny wrung his hands. "He was like a monster. He tried to kill mommy..."

Eve sighed and shook her head slowly. "There was something wrong with him, but heaven knows what," she said. She then paused. "Wait, where's L'arc gotten to? Dragged off by what?" she asked.

Verolen frowned, then shook his head. "Some kid..." He decided to explain to the extent of his knowledge. Ullar was Reetah's son, but he had died in childbirth, and Reetah had performed a taboo to bring him back. Apparently it had turned the kid into a bloodthirsty monster of some kind, who had grabbed L'arc and run off.

When he was finished with his story, it was clear that Sylas was getting fidgity. "Come on, will you just put the bandages back on? We need to go find him..."

"Sure, sure." Verolen nodded, getting to work at once.

"Mayhap I can help with that?" Kendra offered, going over to Verolen and Sylas. "I know a thing or two about doctoring. Aught may I help you with?" she asked.

Bermuda glanced up at Sylas's wounds and winced softly. "Wish I could've done more..." he murmured softly, as if he hadn't intended anyone to hear his words.

Sylas shook his head. "It's fine. I had...surgery. Twice." He shrugged. "It's fine, I'm recovering well enough, and we really need to go get L'arc..."

"Fie. Anyone with wounds like these should be at ease until they are fully recovered. I am certain your friends are capable of finding this lost member of your party," Kendra said. "So then, rest."