The spread of vanishing people and reports of unusual activity from out of the Deadlands had been slow. Then, almost overnight, it seemed as if it exploded outwards.
Sephiroth had gone to sleep one day, and woke up the next morning, head throbbing, reminded of the day where the initial wave that had started of it all. His arm itched, and absently scratching it, he pressed his face against Zack's back, not ready to face whatever was causing this issue. Seemed things had been going haywire more and more. Magic was starting to react oddly, flaring at odd times. It was almost as if there was more power, though that didn't make any sense at all.
The hiss and twitch away by Zack was a surprise, though, and he opened his eyes, starting at the man in surprise. And made his own hissing sound.
Across Zack's back, there was a series of dark marks, almost like bruises. Following their path, spanning from one shoulder to another, Sephiroth realized that they were phases of the moon. He didn't know what it meant, but he did know that Zack had not had them there last night.
Moving to push himself up, Sephiroth glanced down at his arm, which throbbed when he put weight in it. On his own skin was another series of bruise-like marks. Only on him, instead of the moons, it was marks of feathers. They spiraled down his arm, not exactly in a wing shape, but there was a hint of it. Staring at them, he tried to comprehend what had caused them. Most likely whatever did cause them caused the marks on Zack's back. Then he looked up at the other man, who was starting at Sephiroth's arm.
"We should check the others." It was a low voice, and he was already moving to get out of the bed as he spoke, trying to not put any pressure on his arm. Whatever caused it had caused damage, and he really thought that they were bruises. He'd have to look later. After making sure that the others were all right. That came first.
Most likely Cloud was still asleep. Sephiroth knocked on his door, and then pushed it open. The lump that was Cloud was apparently ignoring the door, because it required Sephiroth going and actually prodding the man to get him awake. The sharp sound from the blond told him what he wanted to know. "Where does it hurt?"
Though it didn't even take him asking. As Cloud pushed the blankets off, Sephiroth could see the dark marks on his arm. Snagging the man's hand, he studied the marks. Feathers on Cloud as well. "You have the same sort as me." He studied the marks closer. "They really do look like bruises." It was a murmur.
Cloud wasn't really quick when he first woke up, and Sephiroth was patient. Finally, the man nodded. "Get the others. We have to talk about this." He was staring at his arm, flexing his fingers some when Sephiroth slipped out of the room.
Searching through the rooms, he found Zack with the twins. Chaos was looking in the mirror, fingers brushing over the marks on his forehead, ones that were echoed over Vincent's as well. Sephiroth got closer, and realized that they were mimicking the horns that the twins could materialize. Behind Vincent, Zack was studying the man's back. "They've got wings, too." He looked up, eyes a bit wide. "It's under their tattoos."
Since the twins had wings tattooed on their back to mimic the very real wings they kept hidden most of the time, Sephiroth could understand Zack's surprise. To show up -under- the ink of the tattoos....
It didn't take long for Cloud to join them, a shirt pulled on, covering the marks on his arms. "How many are affected?"
"Looks as if it was the four of us so far." That was from Vincent, who was sitting still under Zack's examining. "Chaos and I, as expected, have the same marks." He looked at the two in front of him. "You?"
A nod from Cloud. "Zack as well? Then it would be all five of us. Zack, what do yours look like?"
The dark haired man shrugged. "Chaos said they look like moon phases. Are on my back, which makes it hard to see." He wrinkled his nose. "Though I can feel them. Just in the right spot to pull no matter what I do." He ran a fingertip along one of the marks on Vincent's back, and Sephiroth saw that the man grimaced a bit. "How did we get bruises like this?"
Cloud shook his head. "I don't know. But we should find out if there are others affected." He glanced outside. It was still dark out, and the blond scowled faintly. "Though it is far too early to find many people to talk to. Zack, send Yuffie a message and see if they have anything. -I'm- going back to sleep for a few more hours, until regular people are starting to get up. Then I'll go visit Rufus."
Sleeping more did sound good, but for some reason, Sephiroth was jittery. "I'm going to do some research," he told them. "If this means something, maybe I can find out what it is."
There was a snort from Zack, but the man just sighed. "Now I feel like I have to help and be useful. Let me take a shower first."
"No need to rush," Sephiroth said dryly, already moving towards the library. "It's not as if you are useful in most things."
That got an indignant howl and a pillow tossed at him. Chuckling faintly, Sephiroth dodged it, then went to start his research.
///
It turned out that they were definitely not the only ones affected. Especially when Yuffie showed up with a mark like a serpent up the side of her face, the opened mouth centered over her forehead. She didn't look too pleased with her new addition, but at least the pain faded. The marks went from being bruise like to just dark marks the same color as dark bruises.
"There are more people gone," she said bluntly. There wasn't any play in her voice this time, and she hadn't even tried to harass any of them yet. Vincent knew that face when he saw it. She was acting both her age and her status. Even if her family was a criminal element, they were nobility in their own right, and had their own vassals. Nobility had their own obligations to the ones who looked up to them, and Yuffie did not want her people being stolen.
With a sigh, Cloud clung to his cup of tea. It was his safe haven at the moment. Vincent was starting to wonder if Cloud even put the cup down anymore. It seemed as if it was always there, steaming lightly. Which was a good indicator that either Sephiroth was paying close attention, or Zack was. Sephiroth would warm it with a spell, and Zack would just go get hot tea. He and Chaos had both learned that Cloud would try casting spells on them if they messed with his tea. Like Sephiroth, they could do warming spells, but only Zack was allowed to actually make more tea for Cloud. Seemed he was the only one who made it right.
Realizing that his thoughts were meandering to thoughts of tea instead of missing people, Vincent yanked it back. "Do you have any more ideas of where they might be going?"
Yuffie gave a rough shake of her head. "No!" she snarled, letting her emotions show. Reigning herself in visibly, the girl let out a harsh breath. "I don't. That's the problem. All we can tell is that they seem to be going to the same place."
She looked at the map, and pointed.
The Deadlands.
"We're going to have to go there soon enough." A murmur from Sephiroth, and Vincent felt the prickle of something creep up his spine. He took more after the human than the demon side of their heritage, but he had as much demon blood as Chaos did.
"I don't know if that is a good idea," he said finally. "Not us. Not mages. Not demons, or half bloods, or anyone with a mark." He brushed light fingers over the marks on his forehead. "Something is causing them. And I don't know how closely we're connected to that something. And mages have never liked that area." He looked to Cloud and to Yuffie. "We need human scouts. Pure humans." Which was something of a rarity anymore. Humans and demons mixed freely, and most so called "demons" were at least part human. Not that most weren't actually nature spirits or that type. Not like their mother had been. True demon, from another place all together.
More distracting thoughts. "In any case, if you tell Rufus we need human scouts, he can get them into place. He has the airships and such to call on. We don't." He looked at everyone. "We're all marked by this power. All affected by it. I wouldn't risk anyone who is being affect by putting them closer to the possible source."
And it was a very real danger. Even if someone was safe here, in Midgar, that didn't mean they couldn't be overwhelmed by whatever power this was if they got too close to it.
"I'll make the suggestion to Rufus," Cloud said. "You might as well find out if anyone in one of your clans is interested. We can send them out on the same flight." That was to Yuffie, who nodded. Her people were trained to spy. To note details that others missed. It was part of why they were such a successful organization.
"There will be at least once. I'll send them your way once it's decided who will come."
Sending people into the Deadlands. Intentionally.
Vincent wondered what they would find there.
///
Sitting on a throne she had created, settled in the same spot where she had once been sealed, Jenova smiled.
They were coming to her. Already her army was swelling. With them came more force, more magic. More mages had come with this group. They trickled in one at a time, but as they came, Jenova could feel her power base grow. With each new person who accepted the ancient bond, she could strengthen the song and draw more to her. It was a spiral that would spell death for those who followed the Cetra on this pathetic world. Soon, it would fall to her.
It had been a shock to realize that the Cetra had all but abandoned this place. And the world that had festered after their retreat was a delight. Such power here, in so much suffering.
She could do such glorious things with that sort of power. All without having to fear the interference of those who could stop her.
Once she found her family, they truly would be unstoppable.
Drawing her primary of the mage talented to her, she pressed a hand to his face. His look of adoration didn't fade as she drew the power out of him. That went into the spell of the song, strengthening it to new levels. If only she had more like this one.
"I might be able to bring you one."
Realizing she had spoken out loud, she looked to her human pet, and just quirked a brow. "Oh?"
"There is one out there who has your power. It's the basis of his." The human bowed. "If I brought him, he is a strong mage. You might have to...damage him, but he would provide much magic."
Jenova realized that he was speaking of his son. Which did make even one such as her sneer slightly in disgust. It did him no good to offer up his child to her, but he had anyway. Even a demon would not do such a thing unless it brought them great benefit. Bloodties were too easy to use. If someone had one of her children she would not be so lax, and she could not understand the point of his putting himself even more into her power.
Finally, she just waved her hand. "Do as you wish," she said, turning back to look as more dark shapes began to form on the horizon. More warriors for her. Who cared if they were weak and out of shape? She could repair that. She simply needed the bodies to fix.
Behind her, the human left, and Jenova smiled.
Soon, she would finish what she had started so many years ago.