The Forgotten Zodiac

Diana only took a step backwards, shaking her head. "I...I killed people, Galai. And I know I did, I remember it, and I did it willingly...just because Remor told me to. And that's not the worst part," She shook her head, shivering. "They followed me here. They followed me to Alastor and back. They're everywhere. I turned them into monsters and now they're haunting me and they won't go away, and...I'm scared. Even with Forin and Luen around, they scare me so much. They say such nasty things and there's nothing I can do be-because...it's my fault they're like this. I did this to them, s-so..."

Galai's expression twisted down into a sad look, and she persisted in holding out her arms. "Child, you were not of your own mind when that happened. You and I and Luen and Forin and all of your friends know you would never kill people like that. Remor is a twisted, horrible man. And he's dead anyways. You're okay, dear."

Diana shivered again, shaking her head. "It was my own mind, Galai. Even if I didn't remember you or Forin, I...remembered my parents' death. Nothing else. But that doesn't mean I wasn't me...and Remor...

"He's not dead." Diana sniffed. "He's not. I can hear him, too. I found this under my bed," She held out a syringe filled with a familiar liquid. "Remor wanted me to use it on Forin, or Nate, or Werr...he won't get out of my head, I know he's still alive somehow, I..." She dropped the syringe, walking into Galai's embrace. "I'm so scared..."

"Even if he's still out there," Galai said soothingly. "we'll never let him hurt you again." She stroked Diana's hair back gently, murmuring soothing things to her. Luen also walked closer, pushing his nose against the girl's neck.

Diana hugged Luen's muzzle, and he could feel her trembling. Even though Galai was there, even though Luen was there, she was still scared. And it made sense; for four months, she was basically a monster. A pet for Remor's evil deeds. That's all she had been, for the longest time...and now, Remor was threatening to return, to mess things up again...but he couldn't still be alive...right? He couldn't. It wouldn't make sense. So why did she hear his voice in her head? Why?

It wasn't long before Diana was asleep, cradled in Galai's arms. "She speaks many truths. Spirits of great unrest are following her about." Obelisk said quietly as he entered the room.

"I see it." Titus tutted. "There's not much we can do. It is as she said; she turned them into monstrosities. Their hearts were filled with the desire of vengance, so when they passed on...well, here we are."

Luen flicked his ears upsettedly, watching Diana even as she slept. "It wasn't her fault, though," he said urgently, stomping a delicate hoof on the ground. "Remor forced all that on her. She had no choice." He nuzzled her cheek gently, then said "There has to be something we can do. Something!"

"Not you. Or Forin." Titus shook his head glumly. "We could...ask Zee to take care of it, but you know he would demand your soul, Luen. There's no way around that. She'll just have to live with it...it's not like they can do anything to her. All she can see are shadows, anyway. Whispy things. Hardly a threat."

"But they're a threat to her. A child's mind is fragile. You forget, she's not a Tartaran, Titus." Obelisk snorted. "Hm. Perhaps Malice can be of some assistance. Perhaps--"

"My lord," One of the wolf guards stepped in, holding his head high as he dragged someone into the room behind him. "We found this in the dungeons. He's not a Tartaran, so we weren't sure why...and...well, judging from the wounds he has, he should be dead..."

"Oh?" Titus raised a brow, watching in mild interest as the wolf dragged Zex into the room. He was awake, but only halfway, his fingers wrapped around the dead lantern. Lance had somehow put him here. Zex realized that, albiet numbly, as he glanced around as much as he could in his dreary state. And if he was going to get home, his lantern needed charged...

Which meant someone had to die. So he'd have to fight, but...he couldn't move. He just...couldn't. Not right now. Not enough energy. He didn't even have enough to close his eyes the rest of the way, so he wound up just staring at the ceiling. Remembering the teeth tearing into him...tearing him apart and devouring him...

Luen took a step back, looking stunned. He had no idea who this strange boy was, or why he looked so...dead. He backed up a pace, finally saying "What...do we do with him?"

Galai also looked over at Zex, her expression turning down into one of sorrow. "Oh, the poor dear..." she murmured, her bright white eyes fixed on him.

((Luen knows who Zex is, doesn't he? He was there when Zex attacked Alastor. .3.))

"First thing's first," Obelisk stalked forward and ripped the lantern from Zex's hands. He grabbed the boy by the throat and lifted him up. "He's a slave of Veros. Undead. He can't die from simple wounds...even if I were to crush his windpipe..." He squeezed a little tighter. Zex made a slight choking noise, slowly moving his hands up (mostly on instinct) and grabbing Obelisk's arm. He didn't move again until Obelisk dropped him. "It's because of you that my wife died, you know." The ancient one said quietly. "My fragile flower...there are worse things than death. Things I'd much like to show you..."

Zex coughed weakly, struggling to speak. It felt like his first day alive again...he was so lost and confused...and hurt. "If...I could go back...I'd wait until she were better...before following my orders," He rasped.

Obelisk kicked him. "That doesn't make it any better, you disgusting--" He hissed, but stopped when Diana stirred, mumbling something. Obelisk sighed out of his nose, turning away. "I'll deal with you another time. You're lucky Forin isn't here right now, scum...Galai, he's an enemy. One of the monsters that took over Alastor and poisoned Werr. Look on him with pity if you want, but...he's nothing but a murderer."

Zex watched him go, then attempted to stand. He managed to get fully upright before slipping on the steps up to the thrones. He fell again, but surprisingly, Kiraki caught him. She lowered him to the ground again, helping him sit up. "Relax." She said softly, running her fingers down his spine. "I'm...trying to take your pain. It isn't working too well..."

"He's an undead monstrosity," Titus snorted. "A valiant attempt, Kiraki, but useless. Magic will seldom work on him. He already has barely any soul to mention...do you even remember your past? Before you signed your soul away to Veros?"

"Bits and pieces..." Zex looked down, mustering up the energy to close his eyes, wishing he could sleep but knowing it would never come. "It doesn't matter...all I know now is this miserable existence I have now. What does the past...what does it matter? I'm just...lowlife scum, anyway..."

"Quite."

((Oh yeah. I doubt he would remember, though. I know I didn't. xD))

"Titus..." Galai said softly, looking over at her mate with a pleading tone in her voice. "Please." She turned her delicately-sloped eyes at him, then turned to Zex.

"I feel you know where Luna is."

The room instantly grew completely quiet, and Luen felt a flood of relief go through him that Forin wasn't in the room. The Tartaran would go utterly crazy with anger if he knew Zex knew where his girlfriend was.

"Will you tell us where she is?" Galai asked.

((Okay then. xD))

Zex blinked up at Galai, swallowing hard. "Gossain. Hallbar Manor. Veros used his magic to keep her trapped there...she's in the dungeons. You won't be able to get her out very easily..." He opened his eyes again, staring up at the king and queen. "I'm sorry. I was meant to take the young girl, Diana..."

"That child has endured much already. I do believe we would prefer Luna be in captivity rather than her." Titus muttered, rolling his eyes. "But why Luna?"

Zex stared at him. "I was scared...things were falling apart. I looked at Luna and...I...saw the Goddess. She looks just like her...sounds like her, too. She...I couldn't just leave without her. But now I'm here and she's there, and--" He gagged on his own words as pain shot through him. Kiraki drew her hand away; she had been inspecting his wounds and accidentally touched something too roughly, apparently.

Galai frowned, saying "Luna...the Goddess?" She exchanged a look with Titus, then said "How do you know what the Goddess sounds like? And Luna...Luna couldn't possibly..." But she blinked and looked at Titus again.

Luen searched their expressions, looking torn. Finally, he shifted forms and walked over to Galai, taking Diana gently from her. "I should go find Forin," he said, quickly turning and trotting off, the girl tucked down into his arms.

Zex sighed. "She was confused too. But look at me...I'm undead. Just like Obelisk said, I was dead once..." His smile was small, and rather...sad. "If all sinners went to the underworld...no one would go to heaven, right?"

"So. You're saying you've been to heaven and returned?" Titus raised a brow. "Pardon our skepticism."

"It's fine. But I know what I saw. And heard...and I know I was dragged from that place...like a giant, black hand reached up into the sky and dragged me down, and...and the next thing I know, I woke up. Next to my own tombstone." He looked down at his hands. "And here we are now. I mean what I say; Luna is...like the Goddess. I dunno. She just is."

Galai bit her lip slightly and looked at Titus again, then said, with a carefully calm voice, "We need to talk this over. We aren't going to hurt you-" She touched Titus' shoulder before he could protest. "-but nor can we simply let you go. If you would go peacefully and allow the guards to tend to you and give you lodge in the dungeons, it would help your stay here. I do not wish to use force against you."

Zex blinked at her, pondering his choices. "I...heard that there were healing springs here. If it's all the same, I'd like to soak in those first. For...just a few minutes, perhaps...I won't die, certainly not, but...I still feel pain..." He muttered.

"Fine. But you will be guarded." Titus waved his hand to dismiss the matter. "We'll have more questions to ask of you later."

"Fine. Hold the prison food. I can't eat." He turned and waited for his guards; one wolf, and two Amnairian warriors. They escorted him out before he could say another word.

Titus sat back in his chair. "He's not going to stay here. He'll break out somehow." With the shadows' aid, he brought the lantern into his hand. "This cursed tool will get him out. Knowing Veros' skills, it...must run on souls. It traps them in limbo and uses their dissapated energy to fuel whatever spells Zex needs to use. Such an ugly thing..."

"You're not so beautiful yourself, you know." Veros' voice chimed out weakly from the inside of the lantern. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tamper with my pet...he's very delicate, that one. He seems calm, certainly, but he has strength that doesn't come from me. Goodness knows we wouldn't want that used against your 'peaceful land', hmm?"

"Shut it." Titus snapped.

"No. I don't have to listen to you. Just be warned, you big-headed buffalo. If I don't have Zex returned to me soon...well, let's just say he can still hear me loud and clear. I can still give him orders. In fact...I could drive him insane if I wanted to. You don't want to deal with him when he's like that, trust me. There's a whole list of things I could do to him..."

"You plan on getting your pawn back by threatening him?"

"Him? Oh no...you're the one who will have to deal with him. You wouldn't believe how resourceful the dead can be, Titus." Veros chuckled. "Let's make it twenty four hours. Three days is far too long..."

"Why not make it one and be done with it? Drive him mad now. I'll only do what I've been planning from the second I saw him! I'll lock him in the dungeons and leave him to rot for the rest of the eternity you'll likely let him suffer through." Titus snarled. "Galai, cleanse this stupid thing. I want to hear not another word from him."

Even as she did it, Veros' laugh echoed around the throne room for several long seconds.

Galai cringed upon hearing the cackling laughter, then quickly stood and moved over to Titus, taking his arm and leaning against his shoulder. "What do we do?" she asked softly, turning her almond-shaped eyes up at him.

He had no answer, and all they could do was stand quietly together, each lost in their own thoughts.

*

Sam and Corban moved off along the hallways, with Corban being how he usually was; smug and snarky, while Sam limped along, one hand still over his empty eye. It wasn't long before they encountered Werr and his group, which consisted currently of Welk, Isslia, Cynyr and Lexi. Werr was seated quite happily on Welk's back, with Isslia bouncing along next to them, a fluffy ball of fur and life. Cynyr stalked behind them in the shadows, Lexi curled up on his back and clinging to his think fur. She looked pale and worn, but happy as she watched Werr from the corner of her eye.

Galai cringed upon hearing the cackling laughter, then quickly stood and moved over to Titus, taking his arm and leaning against his shoulder. "What do we do?" she asked softly, turning her almond-shaped eyes up at him.

He had no answer, and all they could do was stand quietly together, each lost in their own thoughts.

*

Sam and Corban moved off along the hallways, with Corban being how he usually was; smug and snarky, while Sam limped along, one hand still over his empty eye. It wasn't long before they encountered Werr and his group, which consisted currently of Welk, Isslia, Cynyr and Lexi. Werr was seated quite happily on Welk's back, with Isslia bouncing along next to them, a fluffy ball of fur and life. Cynyr stalked behind them in the shadows, Lexi curled up on his back and clinging to his think fur. She looked pale and worn, but happy as she watched Werr from the corner of her eye.

Werr pulled on Welk's ears to stop him as the two approached. "Sam? Samual Finnigan, it's so good to see you," He slid off his friend's back, grinning as he approached the other king. "Welcome to Kaislun! You'll love it here, this place is wonderful. The best food, cleanest water, friendly locals--well, mostly. But hey, this place is great. And best of all, it's safe. I don't even think Titans can reach us in here. How are you? Did the trials treat you well enough?"

To answer, Sam pulled his hand away from his face, revealing the still-bloody hole in his face. He gave a strong smile, however, despite the fact that he looked a vague version of a mix between Welk and Cynyr, with his dusty-blonde hair and red-maroon eyes (neither as bright or vivid as Welk's) and his missing eye. "Pretty well, I'd say," was the answer as he grinned.

Werr blinked in alarm at first, then laughed. "Well, so long as you're okay with it like that. Nothing like a few battle scars to prove your worth in a fight. Hey, have you met Lexi and Isslia? Nate's around here somewhere too, although...he did try to kill you last time he saw you. He had his reasons, though," Werr chortled. "Anyway, this is Lexi, my girlfriend. And this is Isslia, Welk's girlfriend."

"Hello," Isslia said quietly, smiling in spite of her obvious shyness, judging from the way she buried herself in Welk's mane.