TWENTY-TWO: BLOODLINES (This chapter features Zell's family, beginning long before Serafine, Ash, Daphne, Anise, and Zordon came along. It includes his aunts, uncles, cousins, and other descendants of his grandfather, Windzor. It will also include appearances by Tinny, Kenna, the Three, and others. There's a little bit of unexpected information on Tinny's background as well as Annabrooke's and Leopold's. Also, yes, the vizu in this chapter is a very young Sunny.)
The Yizak family was blessed. Those who descended from the eldest brother, Windzor, were held in the highest regard on Eltar. After all, he had been the very first Prime Minister of the planet. Windzor was married to Maira Farmell. Together, they had three children, L'Telgo, Jenzelle, and Treygott. L'Telgo was as beloved as his father. The two shared many traits, and people assumed L'Telgo would one day take over for Windzor in leading the planet. L'Telgo was humble, however, and although he served his community above all else, he did not actively seek leadership or power. He was content to ensure whoever needed assistance received it without seeking the glory of an official title.
Jenzelle was a sweet, gentle girl who cared for others more than she cared for herself. She was a powerful Sorceress and used her magic to heal others or help protect them from harm. She was beloved by many on Eltar. She was incredibly close to both of her brothers, especially L'Telgo. They shared a bond like few others.
Treygott was a bit mischievous. While still a dutiful Eltarian, as the youngest of his siblings, he tended to get into trouble more often. He was extremely creative and was passionate about everything he did. He enjoyed exploring places he shouldn't and he frustrated his father to no end, but Windzor still adored the boy.
The children grew up incredibly close to one another. They were happy, and they knew very little of tragedy. It was not until Windzor began to suffer from madness that things began to change. It started with Windzor just trying to help protect Eltar from an incredible tragedy. Unfortunately, the powers he took into himself were not meant for any one person to wield and they slowly drove all reason from his mind. It was only after he killed Drago, the first Shapeshifter born on Eltar, that he realized something was wrong with him. He broke down. His grief prevented Kenna, Eltar's first Sorceress, from killing him. Instead, she fried him so he could never use magic again and left him to find a way to live with the horror of what he had done.
Windzor stepped down as the Prime Minister after that, naming a successor from one of the other Founding Families of Eltar. He went into seclusion, and only his children and wife saw him after that.
Jenzelle became pregnant some time later. She was excited, although she was also nervous. After encountering a strange creature in the woods, Jenzelle began having bizarre visions. Frightened and uncertain if she was going mad like her father or if she had developed a genuine prophetic gift, Jenzelle went to L'Telgo for advice.
"Brother... I am seeing things," she confided in him. "Terrible things..."
"Tell me what you have seen, Jenzelle," L'Telgo said soothingly. "We shall figure it out together."
"I was walking in the woods one day when I encountered a strange creature... It looked like this." She pulled out a sketch she had made. The creature was fuzzy and had pointed ears and curious eyes.
"My goodness... What is it?" L'Telgo wondered aloud.
"That creature you speak of is called a vizu," a voice said from behind them. "And they're nasty little things. How curious that the Prime Minister's daughter should fool around with such dark magic."
Jenzelle stiffened. L'Telgo stepped in front of her protectively. "What do you want from us?" L'Telgo demanded.
The man put up his hands in surrender. "Calm yourself. I am not here to harm you or your sister. If I were, you'd both have perished already."
"Who are you?" Jenzelle asked.
"My name is Tinny. I'm a Sorcerer from several villages over. So, tell me, Prime Minister's Daughter... Why are you working with a vizu?"
"I am not," Jenzelle replied. "I simply encountered her in the woods. You say it is dark, however, it didn't seem to be any sort of danger to me. In fact, it was almost... Shy. It came toward me quite hesitantly and sniffed my hand before finally squeaking and looking into my eyes. I think... I think it wanted to tell me something... That sounds odd, but-"
"It's not odd at all, Girl," Tinny replied. "The vizu can induce visions in those who summon them. They also cause madness. Even if they seem to be trying to help, they nearly always drive you mad in the end, unless you have a talent for working with them. I only know of one person who does, and that's by rumor only... They say the First Sorceress is gifted with these creatures."
"Kenna works with them?" L'Telgo asked.
"That is the popular rumor, yes. Now... What did you see, Sweetheart?" Tinny asked flirtatiously.
"Excuse me, Sir, but my sister is happily married and carrying her husband's twins. Perhaps you should stop looking at her like that," L'Telgo said sharply.
Tinny laughed heartily. "Very well, very well. Your husband's a lucky man, Jenzelle of Eltar. If it doesn't work out, give me a call. I'll show you a good time."
L'Telgo might have hit him, but Jenzelle actually laughed, charmed by Tinny's jovial nature. "I'll keep that in mind, Good Sir. As for the rest... Why should I tell a complete stranger about a vision I had?" She asked.
"Because, Sweetheart, I might be able to help you."
"How?"
"That's simple. I've analyzed vizu-induced visions before."
"For whom?" L'Telgo asked.
"A very gentle, very lovely lass who, unfortunately, is no longer with us. You see, she summoned one of those nasty pests to try to find a way to save her beloved younger brother's life. He was rapidly dying from a horrible illness and growing weaker by the second. The vizu showed her how to save him. It also showed her a lot of other things before ultimately driving her completely insane. Her sanity slipped away subtly at first, but eventually, she was crazier than anyone I've ever seen. She hurt herself. She hurt her neighbor. She killed her boyfriend, but thankfully, her brother had powerful Sorcery and was able to revive him before it was too late. Her brother tried desperately to help her, as any loyal little brother would. He did everything in his power to keep her from going over the edge. He loved her no matter what happened, and he even covered up how bad things were getting because she didn't want anyone to know what had happened. Not only did he adore her, but it was his responsibility. After all, she'd done all of that to save his life to begin with. For a while, it worked, and he was able to help her regain some of her sanity. Then, one night out of nowhere, she tried to murder her brother."
"My goodness... What did he do?" Jenzelle asked in horror.
"He let her stab him... Repeatedly. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her. He survived because he's a pretty tough son of a bitch, but seeing how much harm she'd caused him in a moment of lucidity, his sister begged him to end her life. He wanted to refuse, but she insisted it was his responsibility... His duty, because he'd survived and now he had to do the right thing. He'd always done the right things in life. He was studious and kind, and he cared deeply for those around him. His sister was the only family he had in the world because an illness had killed their parents when he was twelve. He was seventeen by this point. Anyway, his parents had ensured he knew doing the right thing had to come before everything else. His sister kept pushing that, and telling him she couldn't be cured so she had to be stopped. And then, she asked again... With tears in her eyes, she begged him to end her suffering, for the good of all of Eltar, and because she didn't want to continue living like that."
"Did he do it?" L'Telgo asked, equally horrified by Tinny's story.
"Yes," Tinny replied. "It was the right thing to do, after all... But first, his sister made him swear he would find a way to be happy and live life to the fullest." He paused dramatically before adding, "He gave her a sleeping potion and held her as she drifted off to sleep, telling her how much he loved her... And then, while she slept, he cast a spell which stopped her heart instantly. It was painless for her, but it was the most painful thing he'd ever had to endure."
"What happened to him after that?" Jenzelle asked, completely hooked on the story now.
"He went on to spend an incredible amount of his free time drinking, throwing parties, and helping people have a damn good time. He refused to take life too seriously. He used his incredibly powerful magic for stupid party tricks just to amuse people and perhaps to impress pretty girls. He walked away from any and all responsibilities and refused to conform to what Eltarian society believed he should do with his life because he didn't care about doing the right thing anymore. He'd given enough. He accepted that he'd probably spend his entire life doing nothing of any real importance because he'd rather drink and party constantly than be responsible. And then one day, he saw the Prime Minister's daughter holding a drawing of the very sort of creature who had taken everything from him and felt a rather out-of-character need to intervene before she met the same fate his sister had." He paused.
"You mean...?" L'Telgo asked.
"That day is today. And that brother is me. So tell me, Prime Minister's Daughter... Do you still think I can't help you?" He smirked at her.
Jenzelle could hardly believe that Tinny had endured all of that and survived. She was speechless. "You killed your own sister?" L'Telgo asked. "How could you have found the strength?"
"Arcadia was sick. She would have either done it herself or taken Eltar down with her before she perished. At least this way, she didn't feel any pain." Tinny shrugged. "It was the right thing to do... And I swore I'd never do the right thing again, yet here I am. Go figure. I guess some habits don't die no matter how much we want them to."
"Will you really help me?" Jenzelle asked.
"I'm still standing here, aren't I?"
"Thank you."
"First thing's first. Take me to where you found it. If you aren't the one who summoned it and it's still running around, we need to put a stop to that. We can talk about what you saw as we walk."
They headed toward the woods. Jenzelle began to describe her visions. "I have been seeing destruction... Eltar, falling to ruin... I cannot see the man who causes it, but he wields an enormous amount of power. He must be stopped."
Tinny nodded. "That sounds pretty straight-forward. Some power-hungry bloke is going to take over Eltar and destroy everything. Well, I guess we have that to look forward to, then. Fancy coming to a party? I was going to throw one tomorrow, but I just decided to move it to tonight in case tomorrow doesn't come along."
"Tinny... That's not helpful," L'Telgo pointed out. "Do you really believe Jenzelle's vision is literal?"
"I do. I also believe that- Shhhh! Did you hear that?" He asked.
"Hear what?" Jenzelle asked. Then, she heard the squeaking. "There! It came from the bushes!"
"Okay, Children of the Prime Minister... Avert your eyes before I get charged with High Treason for exposing you to a vizu." He paused before adding, "I'm serious. Eye contact is what makes these things so dangerous. Only their reflection can banish them."
"But-" Jenzelle tried to protest.
"Jen... Please," L'Telgo said softly. She nodded and the two turned away.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are..." Tinny called. Slowly, the tiny creature came toward him. It stared at the ground, not making eye contact, which he found strange. It sniffed his shoes as it got closer before cautiously looking up at him. It paused, taking in Tinny's massive size and round shape and squeaked in fear. "Aw, damn... I can't just attack you when you act all cute like that..." Tinny mumbled. He knew what this thing was, but it seemed different from the one who'd continued to visit his sister. He had a mirror in his hand, but he turned it away from the creature.
It hesitated before sniffing his outstretched hand. "You're not here to hurt anyone, are you, Girl?" He asked. He couldn't be sure, but it seemed like a female.
To his surprise, the vizu shook her head. It still didn't make eye contact with him. "Okay, then why did you lock eyes with Jenzelle?" Tinny asked.
Cautiously, she motioned toward Jenzelle. Then, she tried to communicate aloud. "I'm sorry, but I don't speak Squeak," Tinny replied with his usual hearty laugh. "Damn, Girly, you're actually sort of cute..."
With even more caution, the vizu locked eyes with him very briefly. He caught a flash of Jenzelle. She was bleeding to death. When the eye contact was broken, Tinny gasped. "Well crap... You were trying to protect her?" He asked. The vizu nodded.
"Jenzelle... This thing's not evil... She's just trying to warn you," Tinny said. "I've never heard of something like this happening before, but I guess there is a first time for everything."
"Warn her? What's going to happen to my sister?" L'Telgo asked.
"Hopefully, nothing, but... She's in danger, L'Telgo. Whoever this man in her visions is, he's a threat to her."
"How do we find him?" Jenzelle asked nervously.
"We can't. Not without more information."
"If I look into her eyes again-"
The vizu shook her head, squeaking and looking firmly down at her fuzzy feet. "That's not happening," Tinny said. "It's too dangerous. You can't handle it, Jenzelle. You'll start to lose your mind."
"Then how do I stop whatever this danger is?"
"I'll protect you, Jenzelle. With everything that I have," L'Telgo promised.
"You do that," Tinny said firmly. "Brothers should always protect their sisters. I'm afraid I've done all that I can for you, Jenzelle. The party invitation still stands. I know you can't drink liquor while hosting twins in your body, but you can still have a good time."
She nodded nervously. "Thank you, Tinny. I'll be fine... And... I'm sorry about what happened to your sister," she said.
He shrugged. "I made my choice. I have to live with the consequences. It's fine. It was the right thing to do, right?"
L'Telgo patted Tinny's back sympathetically. "Will we see you again?" He asked.
"Sure. I get around." Tinny flashed him a charming grin. "If I find anything else, I'll come back and help you. If not, I'll see you the next time I throw a party in this area." With that, he left.
Jenzelle's visions stopped, but something else began to happen. She felt a threat looming. Something was watching her. One day, while her husband Lahk was in the city gathering supplies, Jenzelle went into labor. She was alone, or so she thought. Suddenly, a man appeared in the room.
"I see I've arrived just in time," he said in an odd tone. It was both incredibly soothing and absolutely terrifying. Jenzelle felt threatened for reasons she could not explain.
"Who are you?" She asked before crying out in pain.
"Shhh... All is well, my dear Aunt," he said soothingly.
"Aunt? I have no nephews," she said between gasps for air.
"Yet," he replied. "My name is Zell, my beloved Aunt Jenzelle... I will be named for you when I am born in about one year's time."
"You... You are from the future?"
"I am. My father is L'Telgo. He loves you terribly... Enough that he will listen to your warning in a few years. I am terribly sorry, Aunt... I am left with no choice."
"I... I do not understand."
"I do not expect you to." He sighed. "This is a tragedy... You see, you will realize long before anyone else that my path is not what people believe... And although my father loves me dearly, he will listen to your concerns and believe you over me... I cannot allow this to happen. However, I also cannot allow my cousins to perish. They have done nothing wrong. So, you may rest easy, Aunt Jenzelle. Your children shall grow up strong and happy."
Jenzelle wanted to fight back, but she was too weak from blood loss as something went wrong with her labor. She lay on the floor, helpless and unable to do more than scream as the babies tried to make their way into the world. Zell disappeared long enough to gather supplies before coming back into the room. Using warm water, towels, and small blankets, he delivered the twins. The boy was not breathing when he came into the world, and Zell frowned.
"Breathe, Hanry..." he said softly.
Jenzelle had indeed intended to name her son Hanry and her daughter Helene. Hearing Zell say her son's name terrified her. If he knew that, he was most likely telling the truth about everything else.
"Is he... Is he alive?" Jenzelle managed to ask weakly.
"No," Zell said. "I fear inducing your labor early may have been too much for him..."
Jenzelle let out a sob of grief, but she was still in labor with the other baby. She couldn't give up yet.
Zell carefully laid the baby on the ground. "You are meant to survive this, Little One," he said softly. It was horrifying how soft-spoken he was in the face of this terrible act. He was going to kill her. She was certain of that. Yet the cadence of his voice remained soothing and gentle. "Breathe, Hanry... You shall not perish. You are stronger than you know, my dear cousin. Resume your destiny..."
Suddenly, Jenzelle heard the sound of her son crying. She sobbed in relief before screaming as her daughter began to come out. With a final push, Helene made it into the world. She began screaming much louder than her brother, whose cries were soft and steadily calming down.
"Thank goodness," Zell said. "I rather like Hanry. I respect him. I would hate to lose him over this... And sweet Helene lives as well. This is a beautiful day." He looked into Jenzelle's eyes. "Rejoice, dear Aunt. Your children are well." With that, he began to cast a spell. Jenzelle had already been losing too much blood, but she bled out faster now. As she perished, Zell whispered, "I apologize for having to end your life, dear Aunt... But in exchange, I shall do my best to ensure your children remain safe, so long as they do not get in my way. Take solace in that fact, and sleep now... Goodbye..."
Tinny was three villages away when he saw the vizu from the woods appear at his feet. She squeaked frantically, so Tinny did the only logical thing and followed her. He arrived at Jenzelle's house to hear babies crying. He opened the door and discovered Jenzelle on the floor in a pool of blood. The twins were each wrapped in a blanket and lay beside her on the floor. Tinny knelt beside her as the vizu stunned him by shedding tears. As far as he knew, no vizu had ever cried before. She vanished as Tinny checked Jenzelle's pulse, desperate for signs of life.
She was already gone. He knew that, but he tried to revive her anyway, casting any spell he could think of. None worked. He moved the children into the matching cribs that had been awaiting their arrival. Jenzelle's husband arrived home to find the large, unknown man kneeling over his dead wife and tried to attack him.
"What have you done?" He demanded, slamming Tinny against the wall. This was impressive, given Tinny was a great deal larger than Lahk.
Tinny offered up the only lie he could think of. He wasn't sure why he bothered lying, but something inside of him was screaming to cover up how the twins had been born. Even if he couldn't understand why, he listened to the instinct. "I was passing by when I heard screaming. I broke in... I delivered the children, but your wife had already lost too much blood. I'm so sorry, Lad... Truly... The Prime Minister's Daughter was beloved by many... But you have two beautiful infants who need you to be strong for them."
Lahk released Tinny then. His daughter was crying because he'd attacked Tinny, but his son simply watched him with concerned eyes. Lahk scooped the sobbing girl into his arms first. "Helene... My sweet Helene..." He whispered. "Shhhh... Your father is here now, Little One..." When Helene was calm, he kissed her forehead and put her down before picking up Hanry. "My son... My beautiful boy... Hanry..." He said softly. He looked at Tinny with tears in his eyes. "Thank you... For saving them..."
"I tried to help her, Lahk. I'm truly sorry I couldn't save her," Tinny said sadly. The haunted look in his eyes was enough to convince Lahk he genuinely meant no harm.
Lahk nodded before focusing again on the children. Tinny slipped away into the night. He went straight to L'Telgo's home. He hesitated before knocking on the door. "L'Telgo... I have news," he said softly.
"Tinny, you're covered in blood! What has happened?" L'Telgo asked.
"I'm so sorry... I tried to help her, but I arrived too late..." He sighed.
L'Telgo's face fell then. Tinny knew he understood. "I knew something was wrong... I could feel it, but I was too afraid to check... In my heart, I knew she was gone before I ever had a chance to go to her." He paused as he began to cry. "The children...?"
"They survived, and they're beautiful. Her husband has them now."
L'Telgo nodded. "I must inform my brother and my parents..."
"L'Telgo... Someone was in that house with her. I lied to her husband. She perished before I arrived, but the twins were wrapped in blankets beside her. Someone delivered those children and kept them warm."
"Are you saying someone left my sister to perish?" L'Telgo asked in horror.
"Yes... It was a strange sort of magic I sensed in the house. It felt a bit like Sorcery, but unlike any I have sensed before... It was very dark..."
"Did someone kill her?"
"I think it is possible, although I cannot say who or why they would... Whatever threat the vizu sensed, it got to your sister anyway. I'm truly sorry. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, Tinny. You have done all you can. Thank you for trying to help her... And for telling me what happened. Excuse me... I must tend to my family."
"Of course," Tinny said. Feeling like a complete failure, he left and headed for the nearest bar. He began drinking and muttered, "Never again... I'm staying out of everything from now on. I'll party and drink and forget all of this ever happened until one day, I fade away into oblivion." It sounded like a good plan. He'd go back to the life he'd been living. He'd have fun and seduce pretty girls and party until his dying breath, and nothing else would ever matter to him again.
That would remain Tinny's stance on life until the day he joined the Circle. Destiny might have planned for him to either die young or leave no lasting impact on the world whatsoever, but Hezzo, Maegus, and Ling would introduce him to a third option. With their help, Tinny ultimately found a new destiny he'd never been meant for, and in doing that, he also found a purpose to his continued existence.
One year later, L'Telgo and his wife, Matriece, welcomed their first son, Zell, into the world. The world was bathed in a brilliant light the day he was born and everyone celebrated his birth as a good omen for all of Eltar. Although L'Telgo was still devastated by the loss of his beloved sister, his heart began to heal as he held his newborn son in his arms.
Three days later, Treygott's wife, Mahree, gave birth to their eldest child. The boy was called Lee, and he radiated with powerful magic from a young age just as Zell had. Hanry, Helene, Zell, and Lee began to grow together. The four were incredibly close as small children. When Zell and Lee were three and Hanry and Helene were four, Mahree had her second child.
The circumstances were less than ideal. Mahree was only five and a half months pregnant when an invisible force seemed to shove her down a flight of stairs. She had no idea that this force was her own nephew, Zell, from several years in the future. Mahree was in bad shape, and the baby was in extreme distress. His organs were severely underdeveloped, and they were certain he would perish before he could even take his first breath. Desperate, Treygott and L'Telgo called upon the Three.
To the surprise of the brothers, Kenna came with the Three. "I hold no ill will toward your family," she explained as she noticed the look on both of their faces as she delivered the baby. "You are good men, and Mahree is a lovely woman... Besides, this little one has done absolutely nothing wrong. He deserves a chance to live. Tell me, what is his name?"
"Tazzan," Treygott replied. "The boy is to be called Tazzan. Thank you, Kenna. Truly."
"Of course. Tylan... You and the others must attend to Mahree. She will surely bleed to death without your intervention. Now... Tazzan... A strong name," Kenna said with approval as she looked at the little boy who was struggling to try and draw a breath. He made small choking sounds as he stared at her with the most intense eyes any infant had ever possessed.
As the Three focused on Mahree, Kenna worked on Tazzan. She held him close to her body. "Stay with me, Little One. I see how strong you are, Tazzan... You can survive this. I know it." She used every healing spell she could think of to try and strengthen the boy, wrapping him in her own energy as she tried to make his organs develop even a little bit more than they had in the womb. Finally, after several minutes, Tazzan let out a very loud cry, almost like he was protesting the entire ordeal.
"I know, I know... But all is well now, Tazzan," Kenna said soothingly.
The boy studied her curiously before seeming to decide he liked her. He curled into a bit of a ball in her arms, so Kenna held him and sang an Eltarian lullaby softly until he fell asleep in her embrace.
"Will he survive?" Mahree asked. She was fully healed.
"He will," Kenna promised. "You have a strong boy here. He's beautiful." She smiled before handing the infant to his mother.
Although Tazzan survived and was indeed strong in many ways, he remained a bit sickly for his entire life. He never let his health issues stop him from doing anything he desired. He was very small in stature but his powerful attitude and exceptionally clever mind made up for that tenfold. As he matured, Tazzan spent much of his time in his own world, studying, reading, and writing. He enjoyed exploring things on his own, easily getting into places he shouldn't because he was so small that people often failed to notice his presence. He was a bit sarcastic and quick to anger at times. He tended to keep people at a distance, not trusting easily, almost like on some level he knew that his own cousin had tried to murder him before he could be born.
The year after Tazzan was born, Windzor committed suicide... At least, that was the official story. The truth was far more sinister.
Windzor sensed something he had never wanted to feel again. Although Kenna had fried his magical abilities, Windzor still had strong instincts, and he knew this magic well. After all, Kenna had removed it from his own body.
The man standing before him looked too much like him to be a coincidence. "You are my kin," Windzor said.
"Indeed," the man replied. "Although you know me in a much smaller form currently."
Windzor studied him before his eyes went wide with shock. "Zell?" He asked.
"Hello, Grandfather," Zell replied with a smile.
"My boy... What have you done? This magic within you... It is not natural."
"Unfortunately, Grandfather, I have seen many futures... And in one of them, you are the one who stands in my way more than any other. Not only do you understand my powers better than anyone, but you are the head of my bloodline. You are a threat to my quest for more power, and tragically, I cannot allow you to stop me."
"Zell, my dear boy, please listen to me. This power... It is not what you believe it to be. You are meant to share it. You cannot wield it on your own. It will destroy you and all those around you."
"Fear is for the weak, Grandfather... Like you." He grabbed Windzor's journal. "You continue to feel guilt for your crime when all you did was seek power... Drago was simply an obstacle standing in your way, and you had to remove him. There are always casualties in war, Grandfather..." He pulled out a sword. "And now... I am going to put you out of your misery. This is hardly living anyway, Grandfather."
Drago will return one day and he shall face him, Windzor realized. He knew in his heart that Drago's soul would never be safe from Zell. He possessed too much power, and that unique power posed a serious threat to Zell. He silently vowed that if he ever sensed Drago's soul in the universe, he would find him and protect him with everything he had to make up for what he'd done to him in his first life. As he realized he was going to die no matter what he tried to do, he also vowed that he would find a way to stop his grandson, no matter the cost.
L'Telgo and Treygott were devastated by the loss of their father, but they carried on, as was expected. They had children, after all. One year later, Mahree and Treygott had a daughter, Joree. She was a tough little thing from the moment she was born, and she eagerly chased after Hanry, Helene, Zell, and Lee as soon as she could crawl. Tazzan looked at her like she was an odd creature he couldn't quite figure out and kept his distance until she was a bit older.
The following year, Matriece gave birth to a second son. She and L'Telgo named the boy Elgan. He was born during a complete lunar eclipse. His birth served as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, life continued. Zell was absolutely thrilled to have a baby brother. He carried him around much of the time, and when Elgan was finally old enough, he followed Zell everywhere. They were extremely close.
Zell had one other person he was close to through all of his earliest years, and that was Lee. The two were inseparable at times. When they were thirteen and L'Telgo and Matriece perished in their sleep, Lee was by Zell's side to comfort him. Although Treygott and Mahree wanted to take Zell and Elgan in, Zell insisted he did not want to burden them and vowed to raise his brother himself. No one knew that he had, in fact, been the one to murder his parents in cold blood because they'd dared to stand in his way.
Lee was a happy, kind soul who was beloved by all of Eltar. He always had a smile on his face and he worked hard to help others when they were in need. While Zell had to work at being charming and pretending to be a good person when he was slowly rotting away into the evil man he would one day become, being good came naturally to Lee like it did to Elgan. Hanry was the same way. This gentle, noble quality seemed to have skipped Zell, but he watched Hanry and Lee closely to learn how to fake it. Zell was excellent at playing such games.
They were sixteen when they met N'Vah. She was a lovely girl with a gift for Sorcery from a neighboring village. She was quite beautiful, but at first, Zell and Lee only looked at her as a friend they enjoyed spending time with. Slowly, things began to change. By the time he was eighteen, Zell was starting to feel left out when N'Vah and Lee looked at each other, but he didn't understand why.
Confused, Zell went to the only person he trusted for this sort of advice. "Hanry... Something is troubling me," Zell said to his cousin. Hanry was one year older and somehow always seemed infinitely wiser to him. Zell never let his vulnerability show to anyone else, but he was still just a teenage boy, and occasionally, the world still left him feeling terribly young and confused.
"What is it, Zell?" Hanry asked sympathetically. He was endlessly patient with everyone on Eltar, especially his cousins. He offered up a warm smile and eyes that always seemed to make the world seem less intimidating. Hanry always made people feel like they could do anything they set their minds to. This even applied to Zell, who usually didn't need the confidence boost. There was just something inspiring about Hanry's presence.
"It seems like Lee and N'Vah have some sort of... Secret. They share a bond I do not understand."
Hanry smiled indulgently. "Oh, my poor cousin... Do you not understand what love is?" He asked lightly.
"Love?" Zell repeated. Lee couldn't possibly be falling in love with N'Vah... Could he? When it came to things boys their age got into that their siblings couldn't participate in, it had always been just the two of them against the world. They were everything to each other. Lee was his cousin. Where did N'Vah get off trying to steal his attention? And how could Lee indulge her whims like that? Surely she wasn't more important to him than his own kin?
"Lee has feelings for her, Zell. It's quite obvious when he looks at her." Hanry paused. "Do you have feelings for her as well?"
Zell hesitated. He wasn't in love with N'Vah. He was certain of that. He never felt anything so pointless... However, he was attracted to her, and he couldn't understand why she would choose Lee over him as a possible suitor. After all, he was barely eighteen, but he was already considered to be Eltar's great leader and had been for quite some time. Sure, Lee had merit and was a fine choice of suitor for most girls, but N'Vah had Zell right in front of her. Why wouldn't she choose the far more impressive of the two?
"I... I am not certain," Zell replied.
Hanry looked incredibly sympathetic as he said, "Family should always come first. You and Lee are quite close. Do not let N'Vah come between you. However, if one of you is truly meant to be with her, I'm certain it will happen naturally. Follow your heart, Little Cousin." He patted him on his back and added cheerfully, "Let me buy you lunch. You'll feel better after we relax for a bit."
Zell accepted the meal and decided he would simply have to win N'Vah's heart. Perhaps she didn't understand that he was willing to entertain the idea of taking her for himself. Surely she would choose him if she knew.
For the next year, Zell tried his best to earn N'Vah's affection. She seemed to enjoy spending time with him, but it was clear she was still paying more attention to Lee. Zell wasn't quite sure what to do to change that. After all, he shouldn't have to try. He was Eltar's Great Wizard! Lee was nothing compared to him.
Perhaps it was wrong to feel that way. Lee was the closest thing Zell had to a best friend... He was his kin. They had been together since Zell was three days old... But he was furious that N'Vah continued to focus on Lee. When his cousin announced that he had proposed to N'Vah and she had accepted, Zell became enraged. He knew what he had to do.
He waited until nightfall before luring Lee out for a night of bonding. "We'll camp in the woods, as we did when we were children," Zell said.
Lee was thrilled for the opportunity. He met Zell in the woods and they set up a camp site on top of a steep hill that overlooked the lower part of the woods. "It's still so peaceful here," Lee said with a content smile on his face as he sat on the edge of the cliff.
"Indeed," Zell said. "I remember this was always one of your favorite spots."
"Can you believe I'll be a married man soon? We're barely twenty, but I know she's the one. My heart beats for that girl." He was still smiling, but it was more excited than peaceful now. "Where does the time go, right? How did we become adults?" He laughed.
"Technically, by Eltarian standards, we are still teenagers," Zell pointed out.
"Yes, but we are teenagers who are allowed to make major life decisions such as who to marry. It's so strange... Yesterday, we were children, I swear it..."
"Things truly have changed..." Zell said softly. "Lee... You know you are my dearest companion, correct? Only Elgan is closer to me."
"Of course, as you are mine."
"N'Vah is more dear to you."
Lee looked surprised. "Zell... N'Vah is my love, yes... However, you are my cousin... My kin... My dearest friend since the day I was born. She shall never be closer to my heart than you are... I simply love her in a different way. Besides, love does not have a limit. I have space for you both in my heart."
Zell nodded, looking at the stars. "That is a nice sentiment..." He said softly.
"It's the truth, Zell. You both mean much to me. I promise she cannot take your place... I did not realize you were feeling a bit replaced. I apologize."
Zell looked at Lee, searching for a lie. There was genuine remorse in his eyes. He clearly hated the idea of his cousin being upset by his romance. "I accept your apology," Zell said with a smile. He waved his hand and started a fire.
Lee smiled. "It was a bit cold," he said with a laugh.
"Yes..." Zell paused. "I accept your apology, Lee," he said again. "And I hope you will accept mine." With that, he shoved Lee toward the fire.
Lee managed to regain his balance, stopping inches from the edge of the fire and narrowly escaping burning to death. "Zell! What's come over you?" He asked in shock.
Zell sighed. "It is not what has come over me, Cousin. It is what came over you. Not only did N'Vah dare to choose you over me, but you chose her as well. That simply shall not do."
"Zell, I told you, I did not choose her over you. I love you both."
"You have left me no choice, Lee." With that, Zell used magic to attack Lee, shoving him hard toward the edge of the cliff. Lee tried to regain his balance, but this time he could not. He slipped over the edge. He managed to cling to the ledge with one hand.
Zell stood over Lee as he dangled from the edge of the cliff. "Zell... Zell, please!" Lee begged.
"You brought this on yourself, Lee," Zell said.
"Zell, you're my cousin! I love you! Don't do this!" Lee cried, still determined to try to get through to him and make him reconsider his extreme actions.
Zell sighed. He leaned over the ledge and put one hand on the hand Lee clung to the ledge with. He looked his cousin in the eye. "Forgive me, Cousin," he said. "I should have said goodbye." With that, he forced Lee's hand off of the ledge and watched as he crashed down onto the rocks below. He smiled down at his cousin's corpse, knowing he had won the competition.
Lee's tragic accident devastated the family. Elgan wept for hours in Zell's arms as he tried to comfort him. "Don't cry, Little Brother," Zell said soothingly. He genuinely disliked seeing Elgan cry. He might not feel things like love, but Zell cared for his baby brother deeply. "Lee is out of pain now. We must be strong. He would want us to continue living."
Tazzan spent the entire funeral glaring at everyone. His rage masked the fact that his pain ran deep and his grief was overwhelming. He did not speak. Even Zell didn't realize that the younger boy suspected his brother's death had not been an accident. Tazzan had always been clever, and he knew that something about Zell's explanation didn't add up. After all, Lee had loved those woods and that hill had been his favorite spot. He'd have known to avoid the edge of the cliff.
After the funeral, Zell insisted on taking N'Vah home himself, leaving Elgan with Hanry and the rest of the family. As she wept in his arms and grieved their mutual loss, Zell spoke to her soothingly. He proceeded to comfort her with a kiss which quickly turned into more. Before N'Vah even realized what was happening, Zell had gotten her into bed. He spent one night with her and never touched her again. He'd won the competition. She no longer provided any interest for him. She died of a genuine broken heart three months later. Zell barely noticed her demise.
The years carried on. The family line continued to grow, as did the suspicion of Treygott and his descendants. Tazzan finally told the family he suspected Lee's death had been no accident. His father believed him immediately, as did his sister, Joree. They didn't tell anyone else, mostly because everyone knew what they couldn't say aloud... Only Zell had been with Lee the night he died. If it wasn't an accident, his own cousin had murdered him. It was too horrible to say aloud, but slowly, they began to distance themselves from Zell. They didn't fully cut him out, mostly so they could keep an eye on him and see if they had been correct. Treygott also suspected Zell might have murdered L'Telgo and Matriece, but he dared not voice this concern either.
As the next generation was born, things seemed to be getting better. Eltar was thriving under Zell's leadership. The family was doing well as a whole despite so many tragedies in their past. Hanry's children were especially dear to Zell. Meegan, his eldest child, was a lovely girl with a gift for Sorcery. She was very involved in the community from an early age and loved helping others. His son Ryce was exactly like Hanry, and that endeared him to everyone including Zell. He was nurturing and looked after everyone. However, it was Koal, the youngest, who was the most dear to Zell. He was a sweet, gentle boy who literally wouldn't hurt a fly. He had great power but only used it to make people around him happy. He followed Zell around like a pet dog, idolizing his father's cousin who was so famous and revered on Eltar. Zell was rather fond of the child and kept him close when it didn't risk him finding out things he couldn't allow him to know.
Tazzan's daughter Amilee was born shortly after Meegan. She was a brilliant Sorceress who was always reading just like her father. One day, she would grow up to become the mother of the infamous Senator Leopold. Her younger sister L'Nah was born next. She was a skilled warrior even as a child and declared at a very young age that she would one day become a member of the Eltarian Peacekeepers. She showed an affinity for combat magic by the time she was five.
Ryce was born after Tazzan's girls. He was followed four years later by Koal. The next child born was Joree's daughter, Tyanna. She was rather superstitious and was frightened of dark magic. Her younger brother, Toby, was born six years later and was far more relaxed. He enjoyed life and didn't take things too seriously. He was well-liked by the people of Eltar because of his playful and kind nature.
Helene's daughter Zeeza was born next. Like Helene, she proved to be a powerful Seer early in life. She was a sweet but quiet girl who stayed close to her mother most of the time. Her younger brother Chayzee was born a year later. He was gentle like his mother and sister, but he was a bit more adventurous and enjoyed interacting with the world. He shared their gift for visions, but no one knew that about him. He was careful to hide the truth.
One day, when Koal was sixteen, he followed Zell without Zell's knowledge. What he saw left him too horrified to move. Zell stood over a man who was trembling in fear. In front of Koal's terrified eyes, Zell used magic to fling the man into a tree, impaling him on a sharp branch. Koal gasped in shock as he realized the man was dead.
Zell turned to face him, looking homicidal. He hesitated when he saw Koal's terrified face and realized who had witnessed his crime. "I- I'm sorry..." Koal said softly.
Zell sighed. "Oh, Koal... Not you..." He said softly. "This is a tragedy."
"I... I don't understand," Koal said.
"Yes, you do, my boy. You're innocent and naive in many ways, but I know you understand what you just saw."
"But... But you wouldn't just hurt someone... You must have had a good reason."
"I did, yes... However, I cannot allow you to tell anyone about this, and you are really quite awful with secrets..." He shook his head. "I never wanted to have to harm you, my dear boy. You're Hanry's boy, and he is very dear to me... You are my favorite of his children, you know."
"Harm me?" Koal repeated. "Zell, you'd never harm me... We're family. I love you."
"I'm terribly sorry, Koal. Truly. I had hoped I could avoid this. You shouldn't have followed me." He sighed, pulling the boy closer to him.
"Zell?" Koal questioned him.
Zell hugged him against his chest. "Painless," he decided. "There is no need to draw this out. That would be unnecessarily cruel."
"What?"
"You are Hanry's boy," he said again. "I can do you this kindness... Sleep, Koal. Sleep peacefully."
"I don't want to sleep... I just want to go home. Please, Zell, you're scaring me."
"Hush now, Koal. All is well." With that, he touched his head and the boy collapsed. Zell carried him to an unstable building that was rumored to be haunted. He knew people would believe the curious boy had gone inside to explore and had tragically perished in an accident. He laid the boy on the floor before bringing the building down on top of him and crushing him in an instant. "Such a waste..." He mumbled. Koal might have proved useful when he was older with how loyal he had been. With a sigh, he left the scene and waited for news of the collapse to reach him officially.
Hanry had always been peaceful and happy. Now, he was devastated. He wept openly for his youngest child, clinging to the two who survived desperately. Helene tried to comfort him, but there was little she could do to ease his pain. All of Eltar mourned the boy's loss. Ryce, to Zell's surprise, seemed to blame himself.
"I should have watched over him better," he said, sobbing. "He was my baby brother... It was my job to protect him..."
"Ryce, dear boy, this is not your fault," Zell said firmly. He hated to see any of Hanry's children so distressed. They were better than that. "He was a curious boy. It was a tragic accident."
"I'll do better... If the universe just returns him to me, I swear I'll do better..." Ryce cried softly.
Hanry tried to comfort his son, but nothing could ease the boy's sense of guilt. "We both failed him," Meegan said softly. "I'm the eldest, after all." She hugged Ryce and led him away, saving Zell from having to deal with the grieving boy any further. Instead, he was left face-to-face with Hanry.
"Hanry..." Zell said softly. He hesitated. "I'm terribly, terribly sorry for your loss. That boy was quite dear to me, and to all of Eltar."
"He was a baby, Zell... Barely sixteen..." Hanry whispered.
"I know. It's truly horrible... However, he touched many lives in his short time here, so he shall live on in all of us."
"He was the heart of this family..." Hanry was beside himself, so Zell led him away from everyone else and allowed him to grieve in private. He figured he owed him that much dignity, especially since he'd stolen his son from him.
You had to, Zell reminded himself. Koal had been an unfortunate but truly necessary casualty.
It wasn't the first time Zell had killed a member of his family. It also wouldn't be the last. Before his initial demise, Zell killed several others. Helene proved to be an issue with her constant visions. He was forced to arrange a freak accident for her. He hated to kill Hanry's twin sister, but she'd really left him no choice. A few years later, he also had to kill her daughter Zeeza, for the same reason. He used a fire to take her life. Unknown to Zell, two of Zeeza's children witnessed him killing their mother. Tann and Lu reacted by shutting down, knowing even though they were young that they couldn't tell a soul if they wanted to survive. Tann carried Lu and their infant brother Mee from the house as the fire burned it down. The two eldest siblings were traumatized by the events of that night. Mee was too young to remember the truth, and he'd never been quite like the others anyway.
In truth, Tinny had spent one glorious night with Zeeza at one of his parties. The charming Sorcerer had managed to seduce the not-so happily married woman and she'd ended up pregnant shortly after. Tinny never knew about Mee, but Zeeza was fairly certain the boy was his and not her husband's. Unfortunately, she perished before she could tell him. By the time he was a pre-teen, Mee loved parties as much as his father. He was a beloved member of Eltar's high society and even looked a bit like Tinny, enjoying having a large build and a jolly smile on his face at all times. Of the three siblings, he was the only one who was truly happy, but he was also the least responsible of the bunch.
Chayzee had triplet daughters. Lace, the eldest, was a Seer who had the ability to travel through the time line just like Zell. Lilac, the second triplet, was pyrokinetic. Her fire magic rivaled even Zell's. Finally, there was Lavender, the youngest. She was hydrokinetic. All three were extremely gifted Sorceresses from a very young age. Together, they were nearly unstoppable. There were prophecies about the triplets, but Zell hid them away from the world.
Tyanna got pregnant shortly after Chayzee's triplets were born and gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She named the child Annabrooke. At first, she seemed to dote on the child, but it quickly became clear that Annabrooke was different. The little girl had powerful fire magic she could not control. Tyanna was terrified of this power and decided to abandon her daughter to an orphanage. She told no one but her husband, who agreed with her.
When Toby learned what his older sister had done, he was horrified. He demanded she bring Annabrooke back home. He adored the little girl despite her gifts and insisted they could teach her to learn to control the fire magic as she got older. Tyanna refused to even consider it, stating she had no daughter and had disowned her.
"Then I have no sister!" Toby declared. He was furious. He began searching local orphanages in the hopes of locating his niece. It took him several years. When he finally found her, he applied to adopt the child, but the orphanage refused to allow it.
"Am I too young? I promise, I am a fit guardian," he argued. "Is it because I have no children of my own yet? I adore that little girl and am her kin. I know I can raise her to be a strong young woman."
"I'm sorry, Sir, but your niece's case is unique. She has needs we simply do not believe anyone outside of this institution can tend to," the caseworker replied.
"Please... She is my niece. She doesn't belong in this place. I know her mother abandoned her, but I have not." He fought for her as hard as he could, but in the end, he was still denied and not offered much of an explanation. Tragically, little Annabrooke would remain in the orphanage until she ran away with the rest of the Sisterhood and met Serafine. One day, she would grow up to join the Rebellion of Eltar, but Toby would not learn what had become of her for a very long time. By then, his own children would be grown. Studious Kell, his eldest child and only daughter, was followed by Treyzee, who was a bit more relaxed while still being responsible. Finally, there was Reno, a powerful Sorcerer and gifted practical joker.
The years wore on and more people had to die. Killing Elgan was harder for Zell. After all, he'd raised the boy. Still, it had been necessary. He ensured Elgan's infant son, Rey, was well-cared for after that. Unfortunately, killing Elgan indirectly led to Zell needing to kill his own girlfriend, Serafine, as well as her brother, Ash. Although he would quickly move on to pursuing their sweet, gentle little sister Daphne, Zell was still annoyed he had been forced to kill them for their betrayal. Ultimately, shortly after she gave birth to their twins, Anise and Zordon, Zell married Daphne, who his extended family adored. All of them, including Treygott's line, attended the wedding. Treygott and his descendants were highly suspicious of Zell, but they didn't want to leave a defenseless child in his clutches, and despite what most of Eltar and her own parents seemed to think, Daphne was, in fact, still very much a child. Tazzan, in particular, worried about the girl. He was positive Zell had killed Serafine himself, never believing the ridiculous vizu theory, especially since he'd known Ash and Serafine and knew how much Ash worshiped his sister. Tazzan had been rather fond of Serafine for reasons he didn't understand that most likely had to do with the fact that Kenna had saved his life when he was born. He'd also been fond of Ash because they shared an incredible love of knowledge and reading. He'd often taught the boy about new subjects when Ash ran out of learning material. Their deaths had stuck with him and made him decide he should keep an eye on their baby sister.
Tragically Zell, being Zell, murdered Daphne in front of Zordon when the boy was six and his mother was only twenty-two years old. It was one of the darkest moments in Eltar's history and nothing was ever quite the same after that. Somehow, to Tazzan's shock, Zell managed to convince all of Eltar that his beloved wife had been killed by the ghost of her dead brother.
"What a load of crap!" Tazzan cried in frustration when he heard that news. "That's as bad of a lie as the one about D'Dodi's death! What is wrong with people? How foolish is everyone on this damned planet?"
"Tazz, calm yourself," Joree said. "We have to keep up appearances. No one must know."
"Why? Why do we protect him? He's evil! He killed Lee! And Serafine, and Ash, and Daphne, and who the hell knows who else?"
"We aren't protecting him, my son," Treygott said sadly. "The truth is simply that Eltar is not ready to listen to what we know and he covers his crimes up well. It helps that Zutan and Jezzeff constantly back up his claims. People listen to them."
"Zutan's just a sad, pathetic follower when it comes down to it, and Jezzeff... Well, he's good at what he does, but I don't think that boy knows what the truth is anymore. I've never seen a smoother liar. It's as impressive as it is alarming."
"You think Jezzeff knows the truth and is lying about it?" Joree asked in surprise.
"Trust me, Little Sister... Jezzeff is the greatest liar in the history of Eltar. He's even better at lying than Zell."
"We'll set the record straight when the time is right," Treygott insisted.
"Really? And how much longer do we have to wait until we do that? How many more lives will we allow him to take?"
"What do you suggest we do, Brother? No one will listen to the truth. Father is correct," Joree pointed out.
Tazzan sighed. "I know... However, it is difficult to sit back and wait."
"Those in our family who showed even the slightest sign of knowing what he truly is have perished," Treygott said sadly. "We need evidence, and sadly, there is none to be found. Once we have even the slightest bit, we can prove to the world what a monster that bastard is."
"Father!" Joree said in surprise.
"I know!" Tazzan said in mock horror. "Bastard's not nearly strong enough." Joree whacked Tazzan's arm automatically. "Ouch! Mercy! Mercy, Sister!" He said with a laugh.
Tragedy would strike the family again about seven years later. Lace was discovered dead in her home from an apparent suicide. Despite the fact that Lace had never in her life displayed any signs of Depression and the fact that neither of her sisters believed the obvious lie, this was accepted as the truth. About a month later, after she'd been protesting the belief that her sister had taken her own life, Lilac suddenly fell ill with a mysterious illness. She died hours after showing the first symptoms. No one was ever able to diagnose what had killed her, but the death was ruled to have been from natural causes. Finally, less than a month after that, Lavender was killed in a freak accident. In under two months, Chayzee had lost all three of his beloved daughters.
Shortly after Lavender's death, Chayzee took his own life. This devastated the family. Even Mee, who was never overly bothered by anything, was hysterical for days. His cousins and now his uncle were gone, and the grief he'd tried to repress as the triplets died finally overwhelmed him when Chayzee joined them. Zordon, who had spent the last several years trying to pretend he was a happy, well-adjusted boy when in public, stopped speaking when the last of the triplets died. It took three full weeks for Zell to coax his son to resume speaking and living his life as though everything was perfectly normal.
A couple of years later, Zell met his demise at the hands of his own son. Treygott rejoiced because the world finally knew the truth. He also vowed that his line would never again acknowledge their connection to Zell. He had loved L'Telgo with all his heart, but his son was pure evil and Treygott refused to allow it to taint his family any longer. They'd already lost enough. Tazzan continued living mostly in seclusion, and he preferred it that way. His daughter Amilee was incredibly proud of her son Leopold as he grew up and became a Senator of Eltar. She remained close to her father, happy to remain in seclusion with him, especially after her son was arrested for a crime she knew in her heart he hadn't committed and escaped from prison only to vanish completely. L'Nah joined the Eltarian Guard, just like she'd always dreamed of doing. Her gift for combat magic came in handy many times in battle. Joree joined the Eltarian Guard to try to repair some of the damage her evil cousin had done to Eltar. She worked harder than anyone to make the world a better place after that. Like her son, she disowned Tyanna for daring to abandon Annabrooke. Tyanna lived among the highest class of Eltarian citizens thanks to her wealthy husband, becoming a superficial wench of a woman. Toby remained close to his mother and kept his children in her life. Kell and Treyzee joined the Eltarian Guard, while Reno chose another path in life. He remained a happy party animal and ultimately joined the Rebellion of Eltar. He had no idea that Annabrooke, who he grew very fond of, was his long-lost cousin.
Hanry became an Elder of Eltar. He was respected and revered, but most people forgot about the fact that he was also Zell's older cousin. Meegan and Ryce remained by his side, helping him ensure Eltar found peace once more after Zell's downfall. Joh, Meegan's son, became a member of the Eltarian Guard as well. Zazara, her daughter, got a job at the Counsel Building as a cleric. She was one of the few Eltarians to survive both the attack from the Rebellion on the Counsel Building and the attack from Mistress Cheetah. Ryce had only one child, a son named Gray who was stoic and respectful. He was very courageous and earned a very high rank in the Eltarian Guard.
Tann grew up to earn a reputation as a powerful Sorcerer. He rarely socialized unless he was helping someone magically. He was deeply traumatized by the events of his childhood and the loss of his mother, and he knew his life was in constant danger if anyone found out what he knew. His sister Lu tried a little harder to socialize. She opened up a magical supply shop. She was sweet and perky, but nervous. She kept her head down, knowing her life was also in danger. Zell might be dead, but he could move through time and hunt them down if he felt like it. Their baby brother, Mee, was much less reserved. Like the biological father he didn't know he had, Mee enjoyed living life to the fullest. He partied hard and rarely took anything seriously.
Zordon would grow up to become Eltar's Great Sage, a wise leader who was nothing like his father had been. Rey would become the Prime Minister, but would ultimately perish in the attack on the Counsel Building... Or so it was believed.
Those born after Zell's downfall would never fully understand everything their family had been through, but all of them shared a blood tie to the biggest monster Eltar had ever seen. Whether they knew it or not, Zell had a reason to target every last one of them if he so much as suspected they might one day stand in his way. He might be dead, but not a single one of them was truly safe. Tazzan had a feeling that, one day soon, the fragmented pieces of their twisted family tree would have to reunite to help destroy their bloodline's ultimate black sheep once and for all.