TWENTY-FIVE: HEARTSONG (The story of the Siren and the Wolf Prince, Anya and Marzos. Heavily featuring D'Dodi and the Brothers of Legend, Meegan, Jezzeff, and the Witch, with appearances by Serafine, Talon, Elgan, Zell, Tinny, Hezzo, Maegus, Ling, Amello, Hanry, and others.)
The day the siblings appeared in the village, D'Dodi had a vision of wolves surrounding something in the woods. Sensing something was urgently wrong, the nine-year-old ran to the woods to see if he could help. What he saw shocked him.
The circle of wolves stood at attention around two children. They did not act like predators, and D'Dodi realized they were guarding the severely wounded children. The elder of the two covered the younger with his body. He had a very serious head injury. There were three long slashes across the back of his shirt. Far too much blood soaked through.
"He shall surely perish unless a healer is summoned," D'Dodi realized in horror. He approached them cautiously, making sure the wolves would allow it. They did, but they tightened the circle slightly.
He looked at the younger child. She also had a head injury, and her right leg was covered in blood. "What happened to you?" D'Dodi wondered aloud.
The girl groaned in pain. Her eyes fluttered open. As soon as he saw them, D'Dodi couldn't look away. They called to him like the moon did.
She let out a slight whimper as she looked at D'Dodi in confusion. She was still mostly shielded by the boy. "All is well," D'Dodi said soothingly, although it clearly wasn't. She closed her eyes, blacking out again. He used a small bit of sorcery to signal for help.
The people who arrived were unexpected. Zell, Eltar's Great Wizard, and his brother Elgan hurried toward the children. After a moment of hesitation, the wolves allowed it. "What happened here?" Zell asked.
"I found them like this, Great Wizard," D'Dodi explained. "They were severely injured, but I do not know the cause. I knew they needed help, so I reached out for it."
Zell nodded. "Well done, my boy," he said. He gently moved the injured boy aside. "Brother," he said softly.
Elgan knelt beside the boy and began to heal him while Zell focused on the girl. Their heads began to heal fairly quickly, but when Elgan tried to heal the slashes on the boy's back, an invisible force flung him backward.
"Elgan!" Zell said in alarm. He checked him for any sign of injury before saying, "Those wounds are from very dark magic. You cannot heal the boy, Brother. Rest. I shall mend the rest of his injuries and then finish tending to the girl."
D'Dodi expected Zell to use magic to heal the angry wounds. Instead, he conjured medical supplies and began to stitch the slashes closed. It took a great deal of time, but he finally managed it. "These will most likely scar," he said after a moment. "However, he shall live. That is the important thing."
"The girl's leg is badly hurt," D'Dodi said.
"The girl has a name," she said, startling him. He hadn't realized she was conscious again.
He smiled at her charmingly. D'Dodi was a friendly boy who people naturally flocked to. He knew he could put her at ease. "By all means, tell us what your name is," he said.
"Anya," she replied. "My name is Anya. I have eight years. He is my brother, Marzos." She pointed at the boy. "He has twelve years... And I remember nothing more."
That was alarming, but D'Dodi didn't want to make it any harder for her. "I am D'Dodi of Eltar," he said cheerfully, hoping to calm her nerves a bit. "I have nine years, and I am pleased to meet you."
"Anya, my dear, can you tell us what happened here?" Zell asked as he began trying to heal her leg.
"As I said, I have no memory. I do not even know where here is," Anya replied.
"This is Eltar. You are safe now, my dear. No one shall harm you." He frowned as her leg resisted his magic. "I can mend most of the damage, however, some remains... Are you in pain?"
"No... The pain has faded. Thank you, um...?"
"This is Zell, Great Wizard of Eltar," D'Dodi explained.
"Zell. Okay," Anya said.
"Great Zell for short, or Great Wizard," D'Dodi automatically provided.
"That's foolish. Zell is shorter than the other two, so how are they for short? Yes, Zell. My friend, Zell. Titles are pretentious time wasters in conversation, but if I'm going to use one, I'll go with friend."
D'Dodi expected Zell to be offended, but he seemed mildly amused instead. "Very well, my dear. You may call me simply Zell for now," he said.
As Marzos began to stir, he groaned out, "Anya..."
The wolves moved in even closer. The most dominant one nudged Marzos with its nose gently. Marzos automatically pet the wolf.
"I'm here, Brother," Anya said. "Do you recall what happened to us?"
"No... I only recall our names, our ages, and the fact that you are my sister..." He sat up slowly.
"Easy, Marzos," Elgan said gently, helping him. "You suffered quite a trauma. My brother, Zell, and I have healed you as best we could..."
"Are you hurt, Anya?" Marzos asked.
"Not as much as I was. My friend Zell healed me," Anya replied.
Marzos looked at Zell. "Thank you," he said.
"Of course, dear boy," Zell replied. "Come. We shall bring you into the city and see if anyone knows where you came from or what has happened to you."
No one claimed the siblings or even recognized them, but they became instant celebrities as their story spread. Zell ultimately found a local family to take them in. D'Dodi decided they were his responsibility and visited them daily.
Anya walked with a limp from that day on, but she never let that slow her down. Once they were adopted and settled into their new lives, Anya began playing, exploring, and getting into places she probably shouldn't have.
Marzos was slow to trust others. Although they had adopted parents, he decided it was his job alone to protect Anya. He loved his younger sister fiercely.
Both siblings possessed Sorcery. Anya was able to read energy and tended to know what people's true intentions were. Just like D'Dodi, she wasn't easy to fool, and she took things a step further and called people on their lies. She was cheerful, sarcastic, and naturally funny, which helped put others at ease. Anya was well-liked on Eltar and had many friends.
Marzos could summon wolves, which explained why they'd behaved so strangely that day in the woods. He communicated with them telepathically and connected to them on a spiritual level. Like his wolf companions, Marzos kept to himself. He found it difficult to make friends at times because he was so stoic and responsible. D'Dodi tried to help him come out of his shell, but it wasn't always easy.
When Serafine and Ash came into the lives of D'Dodi and his brothers, D'Dodi split his time between helping them and visiting Anya and Marzos.
One day, while they were working on deciphering clues in the Mad Sorceress's journal, Serafine got frustrated. "This bit makes no sense!" She shouted, flinging her hands up in defeat. "I know I can figure it out... I just need to... To focus!"
D'Dodi knew what she really needed was a break. He enchanted the family's pet dog, Riklee, to float upside down in front of her, his tongue popping out of his mouth comically as he barked excitedly. Riklee looked goofy and, as D'Dodi had hoped, Serafine couldn't keep a straight face.
"Put that poor dog down!" She said with a laugh.
"He enjoys it, Sera," D'Dodi insisted. Riklee barked in agreement before trying to roll over in midair. He continued rolling, ending up back on his back. He looked at them, clearly confused at his predicament. Serafine and D'Dodi both cracked up.
D'Dodi released Riklee from the enchantment, pulling him into his arms. Riklee licked his face. "See? All is forgiven!" D'Dodi said.
Serafine and D'Dodi played with Riklee for another minute before letting him run away. They were still laughing as D'Dodi realized how close their faces were. He briefly lost his senses and kissed her.
Serafine gasped slightly before kissing him back. D'Dodi relaxed as he held her in his arms, enjoying the moment. When she broke the kiss, she looked at him in confusion. "That was unexpected," she said to break the tension.
"Sera... I'm sorry if I crossed a line," D'Dodi said.
"Rest assured, D'Dodi of Eltar, that you did not defile my lips," she teased him. "That was Laby, when we were nine... We were curious."
"Ah... And are you still curious about Laby?" He asked cautiously.
"Sometimes we kiss... When we're feeling especially close, or if one of us is sad, or when we are very bored..." She laughed. "Laby is my dearest friend. Our bond is strong, but those moments are about comfort and nothing more. I'm not in love with him. What we have goes deeper than even that... But we aren't dating or anything."
"So... Your lips are available then?"
"And the rest of me as well." She smirked at him. "Do you want to kiss again? I enjoyed it, D'Dodi... I'd like to explore this."
It was as simple as that. Serafine became his girlfriend, and their lips found each other several more times. One day, he noticed Bartello looking at him sadly.
"Barty... What troubles you?" D'Dodi asked.
"Nothing, Brother," Bartello replied.
"You seem sad. Tell me, Barty."
"I... I was wondering what your intentions are... With Sera," Bartello said nervously.
D'Dodi laughed. "My little brother is questioning my intentions with a girl?" He paused as he saw the look in Bartello's eyes. Guilt overwhelmed him as he realized what was truly bothering his brother. "Oh, Barty... I didn't realize..."
"There is nothing to realize," Bartello said quickly.
"You love her, too."
"I love you both. If you make each other happy, I can accept that."
"Bartello... We're still trying to figure out what we feel. I can end it. I do not wish to hurt you, ever. Not even for Sera."
"Don't you dare," Bartello said in horror. "I am not a factor in this. Be happy, Dodi. Be with her. Just take care of her, or we'll have a problem."
D'Dodi lauged. "You are a great friend to her," he said. "The threat, while unnecessary, is noted, Barty."
"I love you, Dodi. I am okay with this."
The subject was never brought up again.
Not long after, Serafine and D'Dodi realized they were more like siblings than lovers. They mutually agreed to return to how they had been. It didn't hurt their friendship. If anything, it had brought them closer to one another. D'Dodi expected Bartello to make a move on Serafine, but he never did. As far as he was concerned, Sera was D'Dodi's ex and therefore off-limits.
One day, Anya saw Serafine in town. She was playing with twin dragons when Anya approached her.
"They're beautiful," Anya said to the girl she'd come to consider a good friend.
"Yes, they are... Like you," Serafine said. "Anya... What are your feelings for D'Dodi?"
"Are you two back together?" Anya asked.
"No. I am with Talon now, and quite happy with him. D'Dodi is dear to me, but we don't make much sense as a couple. You, however..."
Anya stared at her. "Sera, are you trying to set me up with your ex?" She asked.
"He fancies you, Anya. I see the way he looks into your eyes. You'd be good for each other." She grinned. "I want D'Dodi to be happy, and I want that for you as well. Consider it."
"This is an odd conversation," Anya said with a laugh. "D'Dodi is beautiful, though... On the inside and on the outside." She couldn't deny that she'd had a crush on him for years, ever since his face was the first one she saw when she awoke in the woods.
Sera grinned. "I knew you were interested! Talon and I are going to a party tonight. Come with us and bring D'Dodi."
"Is that an order?" Anya joked.
"Yes! It shall be fun. Tinny hosts the best parties. Please come?"
"He won't mind?"
"Tinny trusts my judgment on who is worthy of his events. Besides, he likes D'Dodi, and I think he'll like you, too."
That night, D'Dodi happily accepted Anya's invitation to escort her, assuming they were going as friends. He met her at home and faced a very anxious Marzos at the door. "I have heard these parties get wild," he said with disapproval.
"Anya will be safe, Marzos. You have my word that I shall protect her," D'Dodi promised.
"Tinny is known to be inappropriate with women, and he keeps the very questionable company of that Warlock, Hezzo."
"Tinny flirts, but he's harmless, Marzos. As for Hezzo... Well, as I said, I'll watch over Anya. No harm shall come to your sister."
"I am still concerned-"
"Don't be! I'll be fine," Anya said as she appeared on the stairs. She rushed toward D'Dodi. He looked at the stunning emerald green dress she wore and took in how gorgeous she was. "You clean up nice, Dodi," she said cheerfully as she eyed his ensemble.
"Not nearly as nice as you do," he replied with a grin. He cheerfully offered her his arm. She took it. "I'll have her home at a decent hour, Marzos. I promise," he said before guiding her away into the night.
Talon and Serafine stood waiting for them. Talon had wrapped Serafine in his arms, and they wore nearly identical peaceful expressions on their faces. It made D'Dodi smile to see how perfectly those two fit together, like two halves of a whole. He was incredibly happy they'd found each other.
"Good evening, Anya," Talon said. "You look lovely tonight."
"You mean I do not look lovely always?" Anya joked lightly.
"Of course you do... You're simply more radiant than usual tonight," Talon replied smoothly.
"Nice recovery," Serafine teased him.
"Are your brothers joining us?" Talon asked D'Dodi after indulgently kissing the top of Serafine's head.
"Bartello and the twins will be there. Zee's obviously far too young, and you know how Tante feels about parties," D'Dodi replied.
"We need to give Tante the Ash treatment and just drag him out with us," Serafine said with a laugh. "He might learn to enjoy himself."
"I've tried that with Stone. He hates it," Talon said with an evil grin.
"Marzos would never attend a party, either. The four of them should be stuck in a party inside of one of Laby's labyrinths so they can't escape," Anya joked.
"Don't give Sera ideas, Anya," D'Dodi said. "She and Laby don't need any encouragement."
"We come up with enough foolish ideas on our own," Sera agreed with a grin.
"Let's get going before we miss all the fun," Talon suggested. He led the way to the party.
When they arrived, the party was in full swing... Literally. Tinny had enchanted the building to swing back and forth through the air, moving along to the music. The only way to enter the swinging building was to know the magical phrase of the night.
"Mystical party magic, awaken! We come to lend energy to the night! We obnoxiously demand that you allow us entry into these festivities immediately!" Talon proclaimed dramatically. Then, after a pause, he added, "Raspberry toffee!"
"Seriously?" Anya asked.
A portal opened up. "Tinny enjoys a little dramatic flair at his events," D'Dodi explained with a laugh.
As they walked through the portal, they were transported to the party. The music was blasting and lights flashed around the packed dance floor.
"Talon! Serafine! Welcome! Now it's a party!" Tinny greeted them loudly. "D'Dodi, good to see you! Who's this lovely lass at your side?"
"Anya, meet Tinny," D'Dodi said. "Tinny, this is Anya."
"The Siren?" Tinny asked with interest.
"Siren?" Anya repeated.
Hezzo suddenly slapped Tinny on the back a little harder than was friendly. "Nice to meet you, Beautiful," he said, looking at Anya suggestively. "The name's Hezzo. May I have this dance?"
"Sorry. I came to dance with Dodi," Anya replied. She walked away with D'Dodi.
Tinny laughed heartily. "The lass shut you down fast!" He said to Hezzo.
"And you said too much," Hezzo pointed out. "They don't know, Tinny. Let's not traumatize the kids."
"We don't even know for sure that the prophecy was about her," Maegus pointed out as he and Ling joined them.
"According to Sezzon, everything fits... The way they were found, their powers so far, and even the way they look. Elgan's drawing matches their appearance," Hezzo said.
"Elgan still has no idea he has the Sight... Zell's prophecies are much more direct, while Elgan's come out in his art. He does not understand he is drawing future events and believes the images simply come from his imagination," Maegus said.
"It's better that way. As long as Zell keeps Elgan from understanding his gift, the boy is no threat to him no matter what he sees," Tinny pointed out.
"Zell doesn't want to hurt his brother," Ling said. "I'm glad, personally. I like Elgan... Now, who wants to try this new snack with me?" He offered them sweets, and that was the end of the discussion.
Mydo and Zydo were living it up on the dance floor, having fun fooling around. Even Bartello seemed fairly relaxed as he leaned against a wall watching everyone. He wore no shirt and Anya noticed his abs radiating with energy. She conjured a shirt and tossed it at his head.
Bartello stared at her. "Cover those up, would you? Half the people here are openly drooling at you," Anya teased him.
Bartello actually laughed softly. "For you, Anya, certainly," he said before putting on the button-down black shirt. He left it mostly unbuttoned, but did partially cover up his abs.
D'Dodi laughed. "Are you somehow immune to him?" He asked.
"I see the appeal," Anya said casually. "I simply have my eyes set on someone even more beautiful."
"Oh?" D'Dodi looked a bit sad. "Who could possibly be more appealing than my brother?"
Anya rolled her eyes. "A clueless boy who has yet to realize he's on a date."
"A... Date?" D'Dodi repeated. They'd always spent a lot of time together, and he'd just assumed that was what they were doing now. He loved hanging out with Anya. He was happiest when they were together, but... Could there be more between them?
Anya wrapped her arms around his neck before kissing him. His eyes went wide before he relaxed, holding her close as he returned the kiss. He'd never felt so at peace and so alive simultaneously before.
"A date," Anya confirmed with a smirk after breaking the kiss.
"Well, your date is a lucky man," D'Dodi said with a grin.
"Funny how the great Seer can see all but what's right in front of him," Anya teased him. She moved in for another kiss, which D'Dodi happily indulged her in. Their lips remained touching until two voices interrupted them.
"Anya of Eltar, huh?" Zydo teased his oldest brother.
"Very nice, D'Dodi," Mydo added.
"It's about time."
"When is the wedding?"
"They shall make a fine couple."
"I see absolutely beautiful nieces and nephews in our future!"
D'Dodi looked like he was tempted to swing at the twins. Bartello intervened. "Come along, you two fools. Leave them be," he said, putting a hand on each of the twin's shoulders and guiding them away.
Anya laughed at their antics. "It must be nice having all those brothers," she said. "Marzos is my only kin, and I adore him and would do anything for him, but a bit of humor is refreshing at times."
"The twins are full of humor," D'Dodi replied. "Often inappropriate humor, but still... Their antics are good when stress is high. Zee lightens moods, too... Bartello and Tante are a bit more intense."
"I don't see Tante around the village. I know he does not go to parties, but I hardly even see him at the marketplace."
"He rarely leaves the house... His gift for necromancy is quite powerful. He sees spirits everywhere he goes, and it leaves him quite anxious."
"Then I suppose I'll just need to come over to your home more often to get to know him. After all, we are more than friends now."
"Are we?"
"Well, do you kiss all of your friends like that?"
"Only the especially cute ones," he teased her. He pulled her closer, kissing her again. "Anya of Eltar... I have adored you since the day we met. I'd be honored to become your boyfriend officially."
She smiled peacefully. D'Dodi gazed into her eyes that still reminded him of the moon. Anya looked happier than she ever had before. Somehow, D'Dodi felt complete with her in his arms.
Some time passed. Serafine and Talon broke up, and soon enough, she began dating the Great Wizard himself. Quite a while after that, Anya and Marzos ran into Zell while hiking in the woods. He looked a bit dazed and they exchanged concerned looks before approaching him.
"My friend Zell... Is all well with you?" Anya asked softly. He did not respond. His eyes were haunted and he seemed to be in a state of shock.
It was Marzos who noticed that Zell was bleeding. "Great Zell, you are injured," he said in alarm. He took Zell's hand in his, examining the deep gash across his lifeline. He quickly guided Zell toward the nearby creek and began cleaning the wound before putting pressure on it.
"What happened to him?" Anya wondered aloud.
"I sense powerful, dark magic around his wound," Marzos replied. "Someone used his own blood against him."
"Who would be mad enough to attack Zell? Or powerful enough, for that matter?"
"Those are important questions, Sister," Marzos replied as he finally got the bleeding to stop.
Zell seemed to come back into awareness then. "Oh my... How did I come to be here?" He wondered aloud.
"You were attacked, Great Zell," Marzos explained. "You had a serious wound on your hand. I mended it the best I could."
"Thank you, Dear Boy... I appreciate your assistance." He paused. "Anya, my dear... Lovely to see you."
"Zell, my friend... Do you recall anything prior to seeing us here?" Anya asked.
"No... I am afraid I must have hit my head somehow. The last thing I recall was meeting-" He paused. "I met with a friend. We parted ways, and then everything goes blank."
"Who was this friend?"
"Not anyone so dear to me as you are, dear girl," he said with an indulgent smile. No matter how old Anya got, he still seemed to view her as the little girl who'd been found in the woods. "Now, pardon me... I should be going on my way. Thank you for your concern."
"Great Zell, perhaps you should allow us to escort you... I am quite concerned by the state you were in," Marzos said.
"Marzos, dear boy, I promise all is well," Zell insisted. "It will be dark soon... You and your sister should head home." He still looked off, his eyes haunted.
They were left with no choice but to let him go. That night, Elgan was killed. Afterward, when the power rush finally wore off, Zell stared at the scar along his lifeline. He didn't know where it had come from, but it seemed to mock him as he faced the knowledge of what he had done.
"Brother... My baby brother..." He whispered in horror. Zell hadn't cried in over two centuries, but he desperately wanted to now. Elgan was dead, at his hands. No tears fell, but his chest was tight and the pain was overwhelming.
"You had to Zell," the Witch said. "It was the only way to gain the full powers."
"I told you no... I said I could never harm him, that I'd find another way, yet I woke from a fugue state and suddenly, I could think of nothing else..." Zell said softly.
"You had no choice. You realized that," the Witch said very deliberately. "Love is weakness, but you are strong, Zell. You did what you needed to. You are finally on your destined path."
"My destined path..." He repeated, his mind suddenly calmer. The scar on his hand burned, but he didn't fully register the pain as Elgan's powers rushed over him again.
"That's it," the Witch said with a cackle. "Be strong, Zell. Never forget how powerful you are, and how important that is." She took his hand in hers, licking the scar and making it radiate with more power.
When he left, the Witch skipped around, knowing she'd succeeded. "I took Oralee from him... I made him kill his parents, and his aunt, and his grandfather, and that bitch Kenna, and even the Three... Everyone who could have steered him off of this path is dead, and now, finally, Elgan has joined them! I win! I win, I win, I win!" She cackled manically.
When Anya and Marzos heard of Elgan's passing, they were devastated. After all, Elgan and Zell had done so much for them when they were children. A few days after his funeral, they noticed a distinct change in Zell.
"Something is wrong with him," Anya said.
"He grieves," Marzos replied.
"No... He doesn't... Not the way he should."
"This is difficult for him, Anya. Everyone grieves in their own way."
"Marz... You saw the state he was in the day Elgan perished."
"Perhaps he knew somehow... He knows many things."
"Then why didn't he stop it?"
"It does not always work that way. Perhaps it was impossible."
"Marzos, every single tree landed on Elgan. No ordinary tornado does that."
He sighed. "I admit I suspect it was not natural..."
"Zell has his brother's powers now."
"They would naturally go to him once Elgan perished."
"Marz... I think Zell did this. I think he killed Elgan."
"Anya! Not only is such a suggestion Treason, it is impossible. Zell adored Elgan. He could never harm him."
"You are correct, Marz. In his right mind, Zell could never harm his brother... However, he was not in his right mind that night. We saw that with our own eyes."
Marzos sighed. "I sense the truth in your words, Little Sister. The night Elgan perished, the wolves called to me. I heard their cries on the wind. They grieved. They seemed to be telling me things were not as they appeared. Something deeply unnatural happened."
"We must help him, Marzos. He's lost somehow. Something made him do this... The dark magic we felt in his wound was used to force him to commit this unspeakable act."
"Zell helped save us... We cannot revive dear Elgan, but perhaps we can return Zell to the man he is meant to be."
"We must. I believe we can reach him, Marz. We just need to believe in him and figure out who could possibly have done this to him."
Suddenly, a heavy branch snapped off its tree. "Anya!" Marzos shouted in warning as it came down. He knocked her out of the way, getting hit in the process.
"Marz! Marzos, Brother!" Anya shouted in a panic. His back had taken the bulk of the impact. To Anya's horror, the old scars on his back began to bleed, mysteriously reopened. The branch couldn't have done that.
They were under a magical attack. Anya knew they were in grave peril. "Stop it..." She whispered. The bleeding got worse, and dark magic began flying around them. Several wolves tried to run toward them, but they were knocked back by an invisible force. "Stop it!" Anya shouted. "Leave us alone!" Then, she opened her mouth and a powerful scream burst from inside of her.
The dark magic seemed to shatter as her scream touched it. Anya collapsed onto her knees beside her brother. "You're safe now," she whispered. "You're safe, Marz... All is well..." She sobbed as she looked at his wounds. "Don't leave me, Brother..."
Desperate for help and knowing she'd never find it in time, Anya stopped crying and began to sing. At first, she sang softly, then slowly, her voice began to rise onto the winds. The more she wanted to cry, the louder she sang, channeling her desperation to save her brother into the song.
The man who appeared in the woods was familiar, but Anya didn't know him well. Still, she knew of his remarkable reputation. He seemed to be in a bit of a trance as he came toward her.
"Amello of Eltar! Please, help my brother! He is gravely injured!" She said desperately. As she stopped singing, he appeared to snap out of his trance.
"Oh my..." Amello said softly. He knelt beside Marzos and immediately began to heal him. After several minutes, Marzos groaned in pain.
"Marzos!" Anya cried. She wrapped him in her arms, sobbing in relief.
Amello gently rubbed her back soothingly. "All is well," he promised her. "Your brother shall survive."
"Thank you... Thank you so much!" Anya said. "How did you find us?"
"I followed your song," Amello explained. "It was genuinely enchanting... I couldn't resist and knew I had to reach you. Your voice summoned the help you required."
"What do you mean?"
"I believe you are part Siren, Anya."
"Aren't Sirens evil?" Anya asked in confusion.
"Most are, however, you are full of light. Your heart cannot be corrupted." He paused. "My friends and I believe that you and Marzos are the children from a prophecy. If you come with me, I promise, all shall be explained."
Anya hesitated before nodding. "I suppose we need to know," she admitted. "Marzos... Are you well enough to walk?"
"I... I believe so," Marzos said weakly.
"It won't be a far walk. Give me a moment..." Amello cast a quick spell, shooting it toward the sky. A perfect circle with a spiral inside appeared. Moments later, a portal opened.
"Impressive," Anya said with a laugh. "Can you use that trick to summon food as well?"
"If I address it to Ling," Amello replied with a laugh of his own. "Come. We're not safe out here." He helped Marzos to his feet and the three of them walked through the portal.
On the other side was a pub. A fully stocked bar sat before their eyes. Hezzo and Tinny stood behind it. They exchanged a glance before Hezzo looked at Amello and said, "You didn't mention you were bringing guests, Mel... I would have made the place a bit more presentable."
Anya sensed Hezzo's words were a code for something else. "It was an emergency, Hezz. They were attacked," he explained. "And the Siren has unlocked."
Tinny and Hezzo both looked interested now. "So we were right... They are the ones," Hezzo said.
"I knew it," Tinny said with a grin. "Fancy a drink, Lass? Or one for your brother?"
"Maybe later... What is the meaning of all of this?" Anya asked as Marzos automatically moved protectively in front of her.
"The meaning of all this is that you are the subject of a prophecy," Hezzo said. "One we're quite interested in."
"What prophecy? Give us a straight answer," Marzos said, finally losing his patience.
Ling suddenly popped up from behind the bar. "The Prophecy of the Wolf Prince and the Siren," he said. "Snacks?" He offered them each a bit of cake.
"Were you there the whole time?" Anya asked.
"Not precisely," Ling replied, not elaborating. Instead, he said, "Eat, my friends. You have been through an ordeal. Maegus is coming. He'll explain everything, I promise."
Anya shrugged. "Might as well," she said.
"Anya, it could be a trick... What if they poisoned it?" Marzos asked.
"It's Ling, Marz. Now, if Hezzo had offered us cake, your concern might be warranted, but Ling would never poison perfectly good food."
"She's right, you know," Hezzo said with a laugh.
Anya began to eat, needing the sugar after what they'd survived. Marzos reluctantly ate, too. Anya noticed a slight smile on his face at the first delicious bite, but his stoic demeanor promptly returned.
Maegus arrived as they finished their cake. "Apologies, my friends. I was a tad indisposed when you called," he said. "What seems to be the issue?"
"Were you compromised?" Hezzo asked with concern.
"No," Maegus said quickly. "But I had to sneak away with a hasty excuse. That's why I was delayed."
"Compromised?" Marzos repeated.
"I'm just making sure the lad wasn't in bed with a lovely lass when we called him," Hezzo said smoothly.
"Liar," Anya said sharply. The others stared at her. "Start telling us the truth or stop wasting our time."
"I don't know what you're getting at," Hezzo said. "Maegus is an eligible man. Like most of us, he gets around. I would hate to get in the way of his adventures with the women of Eltar."
"Hezz..." Ling said softly. "She asked us not to lie."
"Ling-" Hezzo said sharply.
"We can't tell you what is going on with us," Ling said to Anya and Marzos. "That's for our safety and yours. But we won't lie to you." He looked at Maegus. "They want to know the prophecy."
Maegus nodded. "Fair enough... I've read it enough times... After a battle they cannot recall, two children shall arrive in the woods. The Wolf Prince, stoic and strong, shall listen to the Wind and see through the great lie. He shall protect Eltar and all who need it, without bias. The Siren, fiery and brave, shall see through all illusions and help others do the same by using her voice. This Siren's Song shall not be the end, but the beginning, leading the ones who need it to clarity. Together, they shall alert others to a great evil none shall see." He paused. "Yes, that was it."
"A great evil? What great evil is that?" Marzos asked.
"Well, it's Zell, of course," Tinny said.
Before Anya or Marzos could react, Maegus snapped his fingers and the information vanished from their minds. "Not yet, Tinny. They need to discover that on their own," he said. To the confused siblings, he added, "Part of your path involves you seeing through the illusions and revealing that yourselves."
"You really need to learn to shut that big mouth of yours, Tinny," Hezzo said. "Or at least keep it stuffed with food so you can't just slip and say things you shouldn't."
"Cake?" Ling offered Tinny a slice.
"Sorry, Lads," Tinny said with a hearty laugh before he began to eat.
"Are you feeling better now, Marzos?" Amello asked.
"Yes, thank you," Marzos replied.
"I should bring you both back now."
"Don't tell anyone what you learned today," Maegus advised. "It could prove quite dangerous."
"Of course," Marzos said seriously.
"Right," Anya agreed.
They returned home. Once they were there, they fell into a deep sleep. They shared the same dream.
There was powerful dark magic in the air. A sword cut through it, dripping blood. Corpses littered the ground. Cackling could be heard in the distance. An unbelievably powerful being stood over a fire, commanding the magic and easily slaughtering all those who came near him. The Witch stood beside him, cackling loudly as she hung off his arm, enjoying the carnage.
They weren't on Eltar. Instead, they seemed to be in a strange town unlike any they had ever seen. Most of the victim looked like they were from Earth, and several were no more than teenagers.
They couldn't clearly see the man through the haze of power around him. What they did see was who one of the dead men was.
"Bartello!" Anya screamed, trying to get to him.
"You did what Zell could not," the Witch said to the man by the fire. "And now... For the youngest..."
A man knelt over Bartello,, weeping in a way that made Anya's chest ache. "Barty... Barty, no... You can't leave me, too," the man sobbed. Catching a glimpse of his eyes, Anya realized who he was.
"Zee..." She whispered. He was a bit older, but still seemed like a boy as he wept for his brother.
"Finish him," the Witch commanded. "End the last Brother of Legend."
"Last?" Anya whispered. That meant Tante, the twins, and her beloved D'Dodi were already dead as well.
Marzos put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They don't react to us, Little Sister," he said. "We are only observing. This is not reality yet. Remain strong so we can see what we are meant to see."
The man lifted his sword. Too broken to register he was in danger, or too devastated to care, Zee never saw the sword coming for him.
"Zee!" Anya screamed. She buried her face in her brother's chest, unable to watch Zee perish.
"The legend has ended!" The Witch cackled. "Long live the new legend... We've won, my friend."
Anya awoke with the manic laughter still echoing in her mind. She ran to her brother's room. He was wide awake. He pulled her immediately into his arms.
"They perished, Marzos... All six of them..." Anya sobbed.
"We'll stop it, Anya. I promise. We shall find a way," Marzos said soothingly.
From that day on, Anya stayed closer to the Brothers of Legend than ever. She played pranks with Zydo and held Mydo when the empath broke down in hysterical tears. She helped Zee with his studies by making them more fun for him. She went out of her way to find ways to make the often sad and anxious Tante smile. She spent the most time with D'Dodi and Bartello. She was deeply in love with D'Dodi, and having seen Bartello's corpse in a vision, she was protective over him as well.
Her immunity to Bartello grew even stronger as she spent more time around him. When he wasn't taking care of himself and radiated incubus energy, she'd shout, "Put on a damned shirt!" That usually made him laugh and he'd oblige. They bonded as friends and she genuinely grew to like him a lot. One day, she bought him a dozen shirts as a gag gift, which left all of the brothers laughing.
Talon died not long after Elgan. It devastated the brothers, who he'd mentored for years, but Anya did her best to help them through it. She put her own grief for her fallen friend aside to help the others.
D'Dodi was standing in the woods with Anya one night beneath the moonlight when a vision slammed into him. He saw Zell, carrying Serafine's corpse in his arms. Somehow, he knew he was already too late to stop it. Realizing Serafine was dead, D'Dodi sank to his knees, completely hysterical.
"Dodi? Dodi, what's wrong?" Anya asked in alarm.
He shook his head, unable to say the words aloud. He couldn't breathe. He felt like part of him had shattered.
Anya wrapped her arms around him. "Shhhh, Dodi... I'm here," she said soothingly.
"Sera..." He said softly, his voice cracking.
Somehow, Anya understood. "How?" She asked.
He shook his head again. He couldn't say anymore. Anya remained with him, holding him beneath the moonlight all night.
Bartello had felt the sudden absence of Serafine's life force on Eltar. He'd immediately run out of the house and refused to return, continuing to run all night until his legs gave out and he collapsed.
Inside of his room, Tante saw Serafine hovering beside his bed. "Hello, Sera," he said in surprise as he woke up. "What brings you here?"
She seemed to be in distress. It was clear she was trying to speak, but no words came out. Finally, she simply looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"No..." Tante whispered as he realized what was happening. "No, Sera... Not you... Please not you..."
Serafine nodded her head at him sadly. Tante began to scream, unable to accept what he knew to be true. Serafine vanished as he continued screaming and sobbing.
Zee and the twins rushed into the room, but Tante wouldn't let them touch him. He sat in the corner, refusing to look at them, rocking back and forth silently as he slowly went into shock.
The following day, after it was revealed that Serafine had been brutally murdered, supposedly by Ash, the Brothers of Legend grieved together. Mydo and Zee wept in each other's arms. Tante refused to leave his room or even eat, simply staring off into space for hours at a time, still in a state of shock. D'Dodi left them only to search for Bartello, who'd remained where he had collapsed in the woods and who still wasn't speaking when D'Dodi finally brought him home. D'Dodi forced himself to be strong for his brothers despite his heart breaking.
"It's nonsense!" Zydo shouted.
"Zy, calm down," Mydo said.
"No! I will not calm down! Ash would never hurt Sera! This vizu story is a load of garbage! Ash didn't kill her, Zell did!"
"Zydo! Hush with that talk," D'Dodi said. "If anyone hears that, you'll be executed."
"But D'Dodi-"
"I know you're right. I'm not arguing that... But without proof, we cannot declare such things."
"They're going to kill him, Dodi... This is Ash. We have to help him," Zydo argued.
"I know... But unless we find evidence, or he speaks on his own behalf..." D'Dodi had tears in his eyes. That was when Zydo stopped arguing, realizing there was no hope of saving Ash. He cried softly in his twin brother's arms.
Anya did her best to help the brothers cope. This took up most of her time. Marzos started spending more time in the woods alone. One day, he discovered a badly wounded girl there. She had clearly been attacked. A group of strange creatures circled around her.
Marzos quickly called wolves to protect her. They surrounded her, growling at the creatures. Marzos pulled out his sword, swiftly destroying several of them.
The girl looked at him with startled eyes. "Are you well? You need a healer," he said.
"You saved me..." She said weakly.
"What happened?"
"I heard laughter... Horrible, frightening laughter... And then, these creatures attacked me."
"Who are you?"
"I am Meegan, of Eltar. Daughter of Hanry."
"I am Marzos... Brother of Anya." He couldn't list parents, as his birth family remained a mystery. "You are quite injured, Meegan. Allow me to bring you to someone who can be of assistance."
"My father's cousin can help. He is the Great Wizard, and is a powerful healer."
"Of course. I shall bring you to Great Zell." Realizing she was shaking as she tried to stand, he swept her up into his arms. Meegan looked surprised, but pleased. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to Zell.
Zell was alarmed when he saw the shape Meegan was in. "What happened? Bring her here, my boy," he said urgently.
"She was attacked by strange creatures," Marzos replied. "The wolves and I banished them."
"Excellent work, dear boy..." Zell was already healing Meegan. "Sweet Meegan, eldest daughter of my dearest cousin... Who dared to harm you?"
"I do not know. I only heard laughter, and then, I was attacked," Meegan explained. "Thank you for healing me, Zell."
"Of course, my dear. You are my kin. Rest assured that when I find the culprit behind this crime, they shall be punished."
Marzos sensed that Zell already knew who was behind the attack. Zell did not confirm this as he finished healing Meegan.
"Will you remain with her for a bit, my boy?" Zell asked. "Keep her safe."
"On my honor," Marzos replied.
He and Meegan spent the next three hours talking. It was awkward at first, but Meegan put him at ease and drew him out of his shell. The more they talked, the more he relaxed. Marzos had never quite connected with anyone like that before. He stopped worrying about anything else and just enjoyed their conversation.
Meanwhile, Zell confronted the Witch. He found her in the woods. "Just what were you trying to do, Witch?" He demanded.
"Could you be more specific, Zell?" The Witch asked innocently.
"How dare you attack Hanry's daughter? Those vile creatures of yours left her in horrible condition. I have healed her, but I demand to know why she was attacked in the first place."
"And if I said it was because she posed a threat to you?"
"She doesn't. Meegan is as gentle as her father and she trusts me completely."
"I was just playing with her... I wanted to see what would happen."
"Play with someone else, Witch. Hanry's children are not your toys."
"Everyone is my toy, Zell," she said. Even you, she added to herself.
"Do not cross me, Witch. Leave Hanry's kin alone."
"Of course, Zell," she replied. "My apologies." One day, I'll make it so you have no choice but to kill whichever of his children you value the most, she vowed silently. That shall teach you to threaten me!
When Zell returned, Marzos and Meegan had fallen asleep together. Marzos had Meegan wrapped safely in his arms. The two of them looked so peaceful, Zell dared not wake them. He contacted Hanry to let him know his daughter was safe before covering the children with a blanket.
"Apologies, Sweet Meegan," he said softly, feeling a bit guilty that the Witch had harmed her. "She should not have attacked... You shall be safe from her now." He left her sleeping, heading upstairs to rest.
True romance blossomed not only for D'Dodi and Anya, who had genuinely become inseparable, but for Meegan and Marzos. A month after they met, Meegan kissed Marzos. He was filled with light as Meegan's kiss healed something he hadn't known was broken. Meegan made Marzos feel like someone other than his sister finally understood him. He vowed to protect her and decided he would be by her side as long as she'd allow it.
As time wore on, the Brothers of Legend became determined to stop Zell. They never spoke of it to Anya, but she knew they all blamed him for the horrible crimes happening around Eltar. D'Dodi saw through Zell's illusions as easily as Anya did, but unlike D'Dodi, Anya suspected there was more going on. The monster in front of them was not the real Zell.
Marzos agreed with his sister. They began paying attention to everyone around Zell, trying to figure out who the hidden threat was. The suspect list was an interesting one.
"Stone," Marzos said. "He has the power levels, and the dark magic."
"Stone is Talon's brother... I cannot imagine him doing such a thing," Anya argued.
"Zell is Elgan's brother, but look at what he has become. The Witch corrupts people."
"I'll admit he has the potential... But who else could it be? Zutan is definitely turning evil. I see it more every day."
"Zutan is a child playing monster. He's following orders, but he could never surpass Zell, and I don't believe he would even attempt it."
"You're right... Maegus? No... He seems like a good man, and he told us the prophecy."
"Grayzee or Branz?"
"Branz?" Anya laughed. "Not a chance. Grayzee, perhaps... He has darkness in him, but also such kindness. It is hard to picture him causing the carnage we saw."
Marzos hesitated as he thought about things. Then, rather suddenly, a face flashed into his mind as though the wind itself had floated it toward him. "Wait... Jezzeff."
"Jezz? You think Jezz is going to become the monster we saw?" She paused, considering this. "It honestly makes sense... He's always there, right by Zell's side... He studies everything he does. Perhaps he improves upon it... Makes it all his own... He is deadly with a sword. But Sera and Ash adored him... The Brothers of Legend trust him, even D'Dodi. He sees through illusions. Wouldn't he suspect him?"
"Jezzeff is always peddling lies for Zell, yet no one detects his deceptions. He is the most skilled liar I have ever seen... And the prophecy said we'd see an evil no one else does... Jezzeff is the last person the people of Eltar would suspect."
"We must be cautious... Maegus and his friends believe we are meant to help stop Zell. I'm certain of that, even if they won't say it... But it's clear from our shared vision that the Witch has another threat lurking, and that is who we're meant to reveal." Anya had a horrible feeling. "Marz, we cannot tell anyone... Not until we find proof... I believe our lives are in terrible danger."
"I will protect you, Anya," he vowed.
"Just as I shall protect you," Anya replied.
Things grew more intense. One day, D'Dodi stood in the woods. Zell was lurking. He began to cast a horrible spell.
"Zell! My friend! Stop," Anya said as she arrived.
He looked at her but didn't seem to register she was there. As he launched his attack, Anya let out a powerful scream. It knocked D'Dodi out of the path of the spell and put Zell on his knees, clutching his head in agony.
Anya knelt in front of him. Trusting her instinct, she began to sing softly, her voice weaving a spell around Zell. It wrapped him in a cocoon of energy.
"Listen to my voice, Zell... Only my voice," she said before she resumed singing.
D'Dodi seemed to be enchanted as well, staring at Anya with a peaceful but distant look in his eyes. "Go home, Dodi. Be safe," she said, kissing him.
D'Dodi nodded and left, still tranced. Anya turned back to Zell. "Don't do this, my friend... You can still change. It is not too late. I believe in you, Zell. Help us now... Help us stop the Witch and her deadly accomplice."
Zell looked into her eyes. He seemed confused. She hugged him tightly. "You have to make choices for yourself, Zell. It's the only way."
"I choose power," he said in a tone that was void of emotion.
"Don't hurt the Brothers, Zell. They aren't the enemy."
"They must be destroyed. They cannot be allowed to survive."
"Why?"
"Why?" He repeated. He looked even more confused then. "Because... Because they must perish," he insisted.
Anya knew she couldn't free him from that obsessive thought without help. She decided to find Marzos the next day and try to make Zell see reason. Until then, she would go check on D'Dodi and his brothers.
Marzos was a nervous wreck. He looked into the eyes of the man he was meeting and nearly ran. Surely, Hanry would strike him down for daring to ask what he wanted to ask. Still, he pictured Meegan's face in his mind and knew he had to continue.
"Hello, Marzos," Hanry said pleasantly. "What can I do for you?"
"Hanry of Eltar... Sir..." Marzos said, stumbling over his words. "I have come to ask permission to..." He hesitated.
"Go on, my boy," Hanry said patiently.
"I wish for permission to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
Hanry looked surprised. "I see," he said after a moment. "Well, Marzos, you are a fine young man. You saved my daughter's life once, and have lovingly watched over her since. Your intentions are clearly pure. Yes, Marzos. You may ask her... I simply ask that you respect her response, whatever it may be."
"Of course, Sir!" Marzos nearly sighed with relief. Then he remembered that he'd have to ask Meegan next, which was even scarier. "Thank you."
"Call me Hanry, Marzos... And thank you for being so good to my daughter since you met her."
Marzos nodded nervously. Hanry watched him with an amused smile for a moment before saying, "Marzos, dear boy... Relax. Meegan seems quite smitten with you. I'm sure you'll get the answer you hope for." He patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck, Son." Hanry left him.
Marzos found Meegan sitting by a lake, casting spells that made the water rise up in spirals and dance. He watched her for a moment, enchanted by her magic, before he knelt beside her.
"Marzos! I'm so pleased to see you," Meegan said with her usual warm smile.
"Meegan of Eltar... Daughter of Hanry and M'Lane... Great-Granddaughter of Windzor and Maira... Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Marzos asked humbly before he could give in to fear and stop himself. He presented her with a ring made of the purest metal on Etar. A silver rose sat on top. It glistened in the sunlight.
Meegan's eyes went wide. "Marzos..." She whispered. She presented her hand. "Yes, Marzos. Yes, I shall marry you!" She replied as he slid the ring onto her finger. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"Are you happy?" Marzos asked softly.
"I am happier than I have ever been in my lifetime," she replied.
That night, caught up in romance and happiness, Marzos and Meegan did not stop themselves from going further than either of them had gone before. When Meegan saw the scars on his back, she traced them gently with her index finger. Marzos felt self-conscious and couldn't look at her.
"You are still beautiful, my love," she told him. She kissed the scars lightly, sending chills up his spine.
"I love you," he whispered.
"I love you, too," Meegan replied. Things continued from there, and they lost themselves in each other. Afterward, they fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms. For the first time that he could recall, Marzos felt completely at peace.
Anya spent the night curled up in D'Dodi's arms. He had no memory of what had happened earlier, probably because her song had enchanted him. "I love you, my heartsong," Anya told him when they woke up the next morning.
"Heartsong?" He repeated.
"You are the song in my heart... All roads lead us back to each other, and you keep me from becoming lost in my dark heritage. You bring me light and keep my heart pure... I am part Siren, Dodi. I have known for a long time, but I was advised not to tell anyone. I just decided I do not care. You are in danger... Zell nearly killed you last night."
D'Dodi was stunned. "Killed me? I did not even see him yesterday," he said.
"I stopped him. He is not himself, Dodi. Someone is pushing him to do horrible things."
"He does that on his own, Anya. My brothers and I know what he is. He has killed so many innocents... He killed Sera, then executed poor, gentle Ash for it. He killed Talon, and Elgan, and countless others. He pushed the Twelve to destroy themselves. He is a monster."
"Yes, however, what if there is more to all of that?"
"If someone else is involved, they must pay for their part in the crimes, but Zell is no innocent victim. He is a cold, calculating killer."
"Please listen to me, Dodi. Marzos and I saw him the day Elgan perished. Someone had cut his hand... It was strange magic. He did not recall how he ended up in the woods. We were worried, but he insisted we leave him."
"Zell lies, Anya. He was probably trying to cover his tracks."
"I see through lies, Dodi. You know I do. I know what he's done, but I also see the real Zell. He's still in there, screaming, but he can't break through... And since he killed Elgan, he's fallen further away."
"Very well... I see you are convinced. I am willing to listen, my love. Do you have any theories as to who might be making him do these things?"
She nearly answered, but she suddenly heard absolutely terrifying screams. D'Dodi and Anya exchanged glances before rushing from the room. They hurried to Tante's room.
He was frantically swatting at things they could not see. "Tante! Tante, all is well!" D'Dodi said urgently.
The twins stood behind D'Dodi and Anya, watching the scene with identical terrified expressions on their faces. Zydo had manifested fire in his hands as a reflex. Zee joined them looking equally frightened as he noticed the slashes along Tante's arms. Zee cowered behind them nervously, clearly as unsure as the rest of them about what to do.
Bartello moved into the room and wrapped his arms around Tante. "Be calm, Little Brother," he said soothingly. He practically glowed with power as he wrapped calming energy around Tante, chasing away whatever was harming him, but Tante continued to swat at the invisible threat.
Sensing the actual threat was gone but Tante was in too much of a panic to realize it, Anya knelt beside Tante, not getting too close to him as she began to sing. Her songs normally drew others to her, giving her whatever she needed in the moment, such as a healer or a way to give someone clarity. Now, she aimed for clarity, thinking of her love for D'Dodi as she sang. Nothing brought her peace like D'Dodi did, and she hoped that peace would transfer to Tante.
Tante stopped attacking the air. He collapsed against Bartello, too weak to do much else. Anya finished her song before looking into his eyes. They were a bit distant, but the peace was clear.
"Tante... What was it that frightened you?" She asked gently.
"It was a spirit... She was mad... She kept attacking me, and she manifested a vizu beside her. I've never seen a spirit do that before, but years of being around Sera gave me the reflexes to grab a mirror and banish it, which only made the spirit angrier. She kept screaming at me that her killer would kill us, too... And that, one day, her pathetic abomination would finish us off... She said she knew that he was pure evil, not a boy, and she'd tried to destroy him before he could grow up..." He shook his head. "I think all of her vizu-induced madness came out on her son. When I attempted to reason with her so she would calm down, she attacked me worse... That was when these wounds happened."
"Let me help," Mydo said. He quickly began healing his older brother.
"Clearly, the vizu drove that lady mad," Zydo said. "But why did she go after you?"
"I know this sounds strange, but I really think she was trying to warn me... I think she wanted the vizu to show me whatever she'd seen that made her think her son was evil," Tante said.
"Jezzeff..." D'Dodi said suddenly.
"What about Jezz?" Zee asked.
"His mother... She used to beat him. He'd go to school covered in bruises, then lie to protect her. She gave him the scar over his eye. He doesn't like to talk about it, but Sera told me. His mother killed herself years ago, which is how Jezz ended up with Terridian. Sera said Jezz admitted to her it was a vizu that drove her mad."
"So you think that's who this lady is?" Zydo asked.
"But Jezz isn't evil. He's nearly as gentle as Ash was," Mydo added.
"She was mad," Zee pointed out. "What she said doesn't have to be logical or true."
"It is Jezz..." Anya whispered.
"What do you mean, Anya?" Bartello asked.
She explained everything she and Marzos had figured out. "So... It's not Zell you're supposed to stop?" Zee asked softly as they all took in what she'd said.
"No. I think we need to help Zell," Anya confirmed. "I need to find my brother. All of you, stay here. You're strongest together." She kissed D'Dodi. "I love you. Be safe."
"I love you, too," he replied. "Be careful, Anya."
"I'll be back before you know it," she promised before rushing out of the house.
Within minutes, a spell washed over the house. It erased the last two hours from the memories of everyone inside. All they heard was a faint, distant cackle they all thought they'd imagined.
Anya and Marzos were in the woods where they'd been discovered years earlier. As Anya filled Marzos in on everything that had happened, the smile that had been on his face turned into a frown.
"Why were you so happy before I told you all of this?" Anya asked suddenly.
"It's not important right now," Marzos replied.
"Anything that can make you smile so happily is very important, Marzos. Tell me, Brother."
"I have asked Meegan to marry me... And she accepted." The smile briefly returned to his face.
"Marz! I am so happy for you!" Anya declared. She flung her arms around her brother.
"A joyous occasion indeed," a voice said.
Anya and Marzos both tensed as they recognized Jezzeff's voice. "Jezz... How odd to see you here," Anya said.
"The weather is lovely. I fancied a walk."
He sounded calm and quite convincing, but Anya knew the truth. Jezzeff knew they were onto him. "Ah, yes. It is gorgeous out," she agreed.
"Congratulations on your engagement, Marzos. Meegan is an excellent choice of bride," Jezzeff said.
"Thank you, Jezzeff," Marzos replied stiffly, the suspicion clear in his voice.
"And Anya... When shall you and D'Dodi be married?"
"When I inform him we are engaged. Dodi is slow to realize these things," Anya quipped lightly. She remained externally calm, knowing anything else would give Jezzeff a reason to attack.
Jezzeff laughed. "We Seers are infamous for failing to notice the present as we learn of the future," he said. Then, before she noticed he was moving, Jezzeff pulled out his sword and slashed her throat in one fluid motion.
Anya's eyes went wide with shock as she fell to the ground, desperately clutching at the wound as she tried to stop the bleeding.
"Anya!" Marzos cried, drawing his own sword. He faced off against Jezzeff. Each movement he made was blocked with Jezzeff's sword. They were fairly evenly matched. After a minute, Marzos managed to draw blood from Jezzeff's arm. Jezzeff recoiled, clutching his arm in pain.
Marzos knelt beside his sister. "Anya... Sister... I must slow the flow of blood," he said. "Hold on."
Anya couldn't sing to reach out for help. She couldn't even speak. Jezzeff had intentionally slashed her vocal chords.
Dodi, she thought desperately. My heartsong... Hear me... Find me... Save us!
Suddenly, Marzos felt someone grab his sword from his side as he tried to use his hands to stop Anya from bleeding out. He looked up in horror just as the sword was driven through his chest.
"You are fair with a sword, Marzos," he said. "I am simply better. The scratch you gave me was intentional so you would let your guard down. My apologies that you shall not live to see your lovely bride in white. Perhaps I shall comfort her as she wears black instead."
Marzos was dying, but he still tried to attack Jezzeff. That caught him by surprise, and Marzos was able to knock him down. Several wolves came running toward them, circling around Jezzeff, their prey.
"A noble attempt," Jezzeff said, clearly a bit shaken up. "Farewell." With that, he vanished.
Marzos perished immediately after. Anya could do nothing as she lost her brother. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn't even scream or sob his name.
D'Dodi had heard Anya calling to him in his very heart. He raced to the woods where he'd first met her and Marzos, knowing that was where they would be. He arrived just as Anya closed her eyes a final time.
"Anya!" He cried. The wolves parted to allow him to reach her. They howled in grief and D'Dodi knew Marzos was already dead. He pulled Anya into his arms. "Anya... My love... You cannot leave me..." He sobbed.
He knew he'd arrived too late. He still couldn't bring himself to release her. "Anya... I love you... I love you..." He kept repeating until his voice failed him and only sobs would come out.
Bartello found him there hours later, still clutching Anya in shock and grief. The wolves allowed him to join his brother. Using every ounce of strength he had, he coaxed D'Dodi into releasing Anya and helped him to his feet. Bartello notified the Peacekeepers of the crime before bringing his older brother home. D'Dodi was heartbroken and could not be soothed. Bartello finally left him in Annabrooke's care, leaving the youngest member of the Sisterhood snuggled in his arms as he wept into her hair.
Zell was called to the scene. He told everyone that Marzos had killed Anya before taking his own life. At first, even he believed that had been the case, until Meegan came to him.
"Zell, you must be mistaken... Marzos was happy mere hours before this... He had just asked me to... To..." She began to sob as he noticed the ring on her hand.
"Oh, Meegan..." He said sadly. "You were to be married?"
She nodded. He pulled her closer to him, trying to comfort her. "My dear girl... I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I was rather fond of the two of them myself."
"Then you know he could not have done this... Please, Zell, look deeper. Something else happened here."
He sighed. "I shall investigate thoroughly. Rest assured." He led the grieving girl back to her father.
"I do not understand this... He just asked my permission to marry my daughter," Hanry said. "Something is very wrong here, Zell. He was planning his future, not his end."
"As I promised Meegan, I shall look into this," Zell said again. "I promise you, Hanry, I shall see that justice is done."
That night, Zell went to Jezzeff. "I sensed your energy in the woods, my boy," he said. "What truly happened today?"
Jezzeff looked at him sadly. "The Witch informed me that they were a threat to you, Great Zell," he said. "She insisted I eliminate them to spare you the task."
Zell nodded, easily believing the boy because he had no reason to doubt him. "Very well... I shall speak with her about it." He sent Jezzeff on his way before calling, "Witch! Come here. We must talk."
The Witch appeared moments later. "You called?" She asked with a laugh.
"Marzos and Anya... Why did you order Jezzeff to kill them?" He demanded.
"They would have destroyed you, Zell. You know the prophecy. They would have revealed you to the world."
"No... They were loyal to me. I liked them, genuinely. I never gave them a reason to doubt me."
"Zell..." She took his hand, putting pressure on his scar. That made him hesitate. His mind became a bit cloudy. "They were a threat. They had to be eliminated. Don't question that again."
"They were a threat. They had to be eliminated," he repeated tonelessly.
The Witch released his hand. Zell ultimately told everyone his original assessment had been correct, but insisted Marzos must have been bewitched or driven mad because that boy clearly would never have harmed Anya in his right mind.
D'Dodi forced himself to function for the sake of his brothers, but his heart never recovered from losing Anya. He was murdered by Zell not long after. Tante, Mydo, and Zydo would follow. In the end, only Bartello and Zee escaped from Zell's attempts to end their lives. Neither had any idea that it was actually the Witch who wanted them dead and kept pushing Zell to eliminate the Brothers of Legend one by one.
Meegan discovered three months after Marzos and Anya perished that she was pregnant. She sobbed in her father's arms as she admitted this. Hanry soothed her. "The child was created by love, and shall be loved by us as its kin. Rest assured, my sweet daughter... This changes nothing. I love you," he said firmly.
Some time later, she gave birth to Joh, the son of the Wolf Prince. Meegan would cherish that boy, the only piece of Marzos she had left besides the ring she wore on a chain around her neck at all times, with all that she possessed.
One day, Anya and Marzos would find each other again in the most unlikely of places. Marzos remained connected to wolves and was reborn as a man named Merrick. Some time later, in a distant land, Anya would return as a girl named Kira. Neither understood why they shared a connection, but it became clear that they did when Kira saved Merrick's life after the battle to save Tommy Oliver. After that, both could sense when the other was in danger. That bond would only strengthen as time wore on, waiting for them to learn the truth of their destinies. Only then could Anya and Marzos finish what they'd started and try to save Zell from the Witch's influence before she and Jezzeff could destroy everything.