Sitting next to Zachariah and feeling the intensity of his anger, Tucker is not the most comfortable being on the plant. On the contrary to his brothers whose attention is on the mass of rage to his side, Tucker's eyes follow the Major blay as he comes into the grand hall and stops in the middle of the circle that their thrones form. His silver hair disheveled madly and his left eye covered with a black eye-patch. He looks tired, more like the immortal being he is and less like the mortal kid he was trying to be. He faces Josiah, the oldest of the brothers then drops to one knee, submitting to a perfect bow.

The temper of his voice ringing melodically as he greets them.

"My Lords."

"Brothers, I have gathered you here today to mark the year we are to retrieve Xavier. Next year will be the year the Tick Tock emerges and Xavier must return before then. In the coming week the Army of Esdith shall rise and retrieve their Lord. That is all." Zachariah announces to them then turns his back and walks to his chambers. Tucker blinks a couple of times while Tristan scowls.

"That was-that was rather brief." Jonathan points out. Tucker nods.

"Where is our brother anyways?" Tristan asks.

"In the land of Identities I last heard." Colton answers.

"Say Tucker, aren't you Colton and him the last of us with your Identity marks?" Allen asks. Tucker's eyes widen at the realization. He turns around abruptly and hurries to his chambers. He picks up his thick black Esdithian cloak and drapes it on. He turns around to find a figure kneeling at his feet.

"O Robynn, dearest, this is not for you. I am to head out alone." He says softly. He bends forward a little, golden strands of his hair falling forward. He puts his hands at the girl's chin and gently lifts her head so that she looks at him. Acknowledging the hidden command to rise, she stands up respectfully.

"If I may ask, how long are you to be gone master?" She asks. Tucker pulls his long hair backwards and ties it hastily.

"Who knows?" He smiles then leaves his aeternus and his chambers. Once he's outside the castle gates, Colton materializes behind him. Black feathers fall off of him as he pulls on his gloves then pulls his hood over his face.

"I assume you insist on coming then?" Tucker asks without looking back.

"Not so sure why, but yes. Who knows how many ties Xavier will be betraying when we force him back. If we, his brothers, are not to give him a chance to end things well, who will?"

***

As soon as they reached Center Coast, Colton and Tucker split up to find Xavier. An hour later, Tucker sits atop a tree branch shaking his head at the sight of an outrageous Colton, clawing out the eyes of the well-known Major Blay, Anthony Parrish. Colton scrunches up his face in disgust as the Blay falls to the ground. He materializes next to Tucker with a shy look.

"No need to explain, I had a similar encounter with the Alpha here. What is it with them claiming to have the ability to kill our brother? Xavier may be the youngest but he is still a lord of Esdith." Scoffs Tucker.

"I take it he's no longer breathing." Tucker shrugs. They both turn silent as they find Xavier approaching Anthony with a shell-shocked look. He kneels by him and grits his teeth. Surprisingly, Anthony moves his hand and grabs Xavier's, interlocking them together.

"Give it to whom you see fit." He chokes out. Tucker turns to Colton and raises his eyebrows.

"Do you recall the battle of the sun and moon four centuries ago?" He asks. Colton scowls.

"Forgive me but it's not easy to claw out their eyeballs without crushing them first." He defends.

"Yes you happened to say that four centyries ago and that's why the servants of Esdith spent a whole month scraping out the remains of their eyeballs. Blays do not die unless you empty their eye sockets then crush their eyeballs." Colton waves him away and they resume watching Xavier. With no warning, he attacks the tree they sit on. Tucker and Colton formalizes near Xavier as the tree avalanches.

"Why it's a pleasure to see you too brother." Tucker mocks enthusiastically. They pull off their hoods, exposing their faces.

Xavier grabs at his head and is suddenly screaming with agony.

"Don't you think that's a little too melodramatic for a greeting?" Tucker asks doubtfully. Colton laughs, receiving a glare from his older brother.

"Xavier. In one week's time, the Army of Esdith will rise to eradicate this land and retrieve you." Xavier shakes his head, not understanding or talking.

"What's going on here?" They turn around to see a silver haired boy. His glasses in his hands and his irises a deep violet. One of his eyes covered with an eyepatch. "Xavier!" He exclaims then runs towards him. He helps his friend stand up.

"Is it just me or has he still not said a word to us?" Tucker points out. "Xavier, I just told you that this whole area will be nigh in seven days and you have no reply? Say Colton why did we even come here?" Xavier manages to looks straight at the boy's face then grabs his hand and interlock his with it. As soon as he does, he begins to scream. Black lines begin to spin in his irises. The eyepatch on his left eye falls off and the spinning black lines spread down the left side of his face, almost like a Gemind's. He tries to detach his hand from Xavier's but he can't. Seconds later, Xavier releases him and the boy falls to his knees, covering his eyes. Xavier sways a little but manages to stay standing.

"What, what have you done?" The boy croaks.

"Anthony's powers are now yours." Xavier says hoarsely. The boy opens his eyes and looks up. Immediately, Tucker grabs him by the throat and lifts him into the air, looking at his eyes with disbelief.

"Care to explain?" Colton grits out at Xavier. The boy's left eye is a mixture of a blay's and a Gemind's.

"Tucker? Colton?" He asks, as if only now seeing them.

"If you want this boy to live, speak now."

"I removed one of his eyes several weeks ago in an incident, and Anthony tried to heal it, but it didn't work out. And now, I'm gathering that Anthony just gave me his powers and when I gave them to Julian I must've done something." He says quickly, obeying his older brothers. Once Tucker resumes his gaze on the boy, he finds him looking straight at him with awe.

"I see them. I see your strings. I see all the strings. You really do feel. Geminds have emotions."

"I remember you. You're the blay who can not only see our strings of emotion, but can manipulate them too." Allen comments, wearing a sadistic smile. "A fine warrior you were. Can I kill him?" He asks, leaning forward to address Zachariah. Jonathan pushes him back into his throne, silencing him as they turn back to Julian, still kneeling.

"You may rise." He says. Julian stands respectfully.

"Thank you."

"What has brought you here today?" Jonathan asks.

"I have two wishes my lord." He says. His silver hair glistening, his right eye a raging purple, the only sign of his hatred. His left one remains hidden under an eyepatch that wraps around his head. His back is straight and his legs are perfect width apart. His hand set neatly and respectfully behind his back and his head in a semi-bow. High enough to speak to them and low enough to show respect.

"And what may they be?" Zachariah asks, speaking for the first time.

"I request a trial before the twelve thrones of Esdith, that is my first." He begins.

"A trial for what exactly?" Tucker asks.

"Compensation for the destruction of my home and family from Center Coast over a year ago. Which brings me to my second request. I wish to remain in Esdith until my trail is served." He says with an edge to his tone. Tristan eyes Julian ruthlessly, letting him know that he picked up on that edge.

"Very well. Your trial will be two fortnights from now. As for remaining in Esdith, Angel will show you to your chambers." Zachariah says. Immediately, Angel appears from the grand door. His white hair matching with his white uniform. He remains outside the circle of thrones where he kneels. Julian smiles and falls to one knee where he rests an arm and bows his head.

"Thank you, milords." He says then stands up and emerges from between Xavier's throne where he sits looking bored. Yet he's not Xavier anymore. He's-

"Lord Twelfth." Julian greets as he passes by him. He sees Nicholas standing behind Xavier's throne, but doesn't acknowledge him. Angel guides him through the halls of Esdith and into a large neat bedroom. Almost instantly, a minor Gemind enters the room with a large parchment in her hands.

"A message from Lord Second." She says, handing it to Angel. He takes it and begins to read the contents out loud.

"In your stay at Esdith you will follow a set of rules that cannot and shall not be defied in any manner. Any defiance will be met with harsh punishment by the lords themselves. Your eyes are to be bared at all times-." Angel pauses and stalks up to Julian. He reaches his hand out to his left eye to take off his eyepatch. Angel gives him a surprised look, stunned with his lack of resistance.

"-if you are caught with any cover on them, harsh punishments will be met. You are to be escorted by Angel at all times and never to be found alone. Any disregard to this command will be met by punishments to both individual parties of the rule." Julian gives Angel a questioning look as he wonders how this boy serves such beasts. "Manipulation of strings in Esdith, the castle and the city by any Blay other than the council guards is strongly forbidden." Angel folds the parchment and meets eyes with Julian.

"Finally, one fortnight from now, you are to kneel before the thrones of Esdith." Angel completes his set of rules then turns his back begins to leave.

"Wait!" Julian calls. Angel stops but does not turn back. "What's the last thing you said? I didn't quite catch that? Kneel before the thrones of Esdith? A fortnight? My trial is in two." Angel turns around and takes a deep breath.

"Are you even allowed to speak to me?" Julian scoffs as he plops down on the large Victorian style bed.

"Lord Second had not mentioned anything against it, so I shall take the liberty of doing so. What is meant by that is that you are to check in with them in fourteen days in the throne room." Angel says stiffly, awed by the blay who so casually lays on the bed, not afraid or even remotely uncomfortable. Hours later, the sun sets and Julian goes to sleep, resting his eyes. Angel leaves his post at his door and makes his way through the castle until he reaches grand double doors. He knocks on them lightly, pauses, then opens them. After shutting the doors behind him, he falls to one knee. Zachariah looks down at him from a chair in the large chamber. His eyes hard and unforgiving, but his facial expression blank as always. After a few moments, Angel raises his head to look at Zechariah, confused by his lack of response or commands. Zachariah simply looks down at him.

"Sire?" He calls quietly. Zachariah nods his head slowly, shaking Angel's entire existence every time.

Lord Second inspects Angel for a minute then points to his feet. Angel goes to where he points and sits on his legs. Zachariah pulls up the sleeve of his robe and bares his pale arm. Angel waits for him to act, but he doesn't.

"Take as much as you need." Angel gulps, dreading what's to come.

"Sire, I couldn't possibly take any this way-." Angel stops talking and looks at Zachariah's bare arm, knowing there's no way he could cut him.

"You disobey me?" Zachariah demands almost in disbelief. Angel opens his palms and move it in the air, letting a white feather appear in his hand. The tip of the feather shaped like a blade, he grabs hold onto it. He positions it atop Zachariah's hand then makes a large gash. He watches the thick black blood begins to flow out of his skin. Zachariah takes his other hand and grasps onto Angel's head tightly then shoves his bleeding arm into his mouth. Angel shuts his eyes and tries not to pass out.

"You may want to consider swallowing this, for it's all you will receive until I see you can obey me more easily." Angel's eyes burst open and he clutches onto Zachariah's arm for dear life. After years and years of depending on his blood, he couldn't survive one day without it. A few minutes later, he's had enough so he tries to pull away. But Zachariah doesn't let him. He realizes this is punishment only when his vision blurs.

He makes him feel so tiny, so nonexistent, yet when he's with him it's like it's just them in the world, scaring him even more. Zachariah never gives anything to anyone, yet when having a direct encounter with someone, all his attention is focused on them, making him intimidating more than he already is. Zachariah easies his hold on Angel, letting him pull away to breathe.

"Why have you come here at this hour?" He inquires.

"I've come to report on the Major Blay Julian." Angel begins quietly.

"I gather you've had a look at the set of rules I put out." Zachariah says.

"Yes, my lord."

"Recite them to me Angel." Zachariah says. Angel stands up and begins to recite the rules, but stops as Zachariah softly lays his hand onto his head. His heart hammers against his chest when suddenly the weight of his hand is far too heavy as Zachariah pushes him down until he can't stand and cripples to his knees.

"When have I given you permission to rise?" He asks. Angel gathers himself and fixes his bow.

"Forgive me my lord."

"I clearly stated that you are never to leave the blay alone. I clearly stated that severe punishments will be inflicted on the both of you if my command is defied." Angel looks up at him with shock.

"But my lord, he's inclined for the night, I had to assume that meant-"

"The privilege of assumption was never in your possession." Zachariah says, watching as Angel tips sideways then hurries back into a proper kneel, knowing that it's too much of his blood that's doing this. "You have disobeyed me yet again and for that you will be punished." He releases Angel's head but keeps his bleeding hand out.

"Drink." Angel, knowing better than to disagree, lowers his mouth onto Zachariah's skin and swallows all the dripping blood. His mind begins to feel heavy until it begins to rip itself apart. Everything turns shadowed and- full of lines. Zachariah seems so much larger and if it's possible, much more fearsome. His body feels like it's being pulled apart in pieces and-

***

His eyes flutter open. "Beauty?" He calls groggily. The elite in a white uniform rolls her eyes at him. He stands up slowly to find himself on the floor, leaning on a set of doors.

"Is this the major blay's bedroom?" He whispers. Beauty nods. "And you healed me?" he asks timidly, clutching his head.

"Lord Second told me to heal you here and only here." She says with a questioning tone. Angel stands up, staggering but firm. Knowing that the waking up here was a warning, he does the only thing he can to redeem himself. He stands in front of the door and obeys his master.