Isa let out a shout as an X was carved into his face. He didn't cry, but he sure did shout profanities at the people who killed his sister, his brother-in-law, and possibly even his nephew. He was then shoved to the ground and felt a foot pressed against the back of his head.

"Let that be a reminder to you, you bastard." A man said. "You aren't royalty, so you aren't a threat to us, but you're still related to the queen." He laughed. "Speaking of… I'm sure you'd like to see her. I have to say, she let herself go and lost a lot of weight." He removed his foot and two other men yanked Isa up and dragged him over to the front of the castle.

Isa bit his lip, looking to see the heads of his beloved sister and his brother-in-law on stakes in the ground. The third one was empty, which meant that his nephew had not been captured. He lowered his head before being dragged again.

"Throw him to the streets." The man said and the others complied. When Isa hit the ground, he blacked out.

Isa opened his eyes to feel something cool put on his face and then something be wrapped. He let his vision focus and looked upon a feminine looking man with long blonde hair treating him. The man said nothing, even when he noticed Isa had regained consciousness.

"Vexen, how is he?" a deep voice said. Isa looked over to see a man with mocha coloured skin and contrasting white hair. He looked shocked for he knew this man as the leader of the Organization, Xemnas.

"It'll scar, but he'll live. Physically." Vexen reported. "Hard to say how his heart will hold up."

"His heart?" Xemnas inquired.

Vexen tied off the bandages and nodded. "His family is gone; it can take a toll on a man." He said.

"My nephew…" Isa whispered. "Prince Ienzo is still out there…"

"The prince? If the king and queen are dead, then he is also dead." Xemnas said.

Isa shook his head. "He isn't…" he protested. "I know he isn't…"

Xemnas sighed. "Rest. When you feel better, we'll get you on your feet and on your way." He said before turning away.

"The man is so emotionally constipated… that's why people call him the Heartless Rebel or even Nobody: a being without a heart." Vexen said. He brushed Isa's hair out of his face. "You think the prince is still alive?"

"His head wasn't… with my sister and brother-in-law's." Isa said. "He has to still be alive."

"That is good news, actually." Vexen said. "If the prince is alive, he can grow up and take back the throne and kingdom… bring peace back to the kingdom."

Isa pushed himself up into a sitting position. "You think he's alive, too? Will you help me find him?"

"You need to rest." Vexen shoved Isa back down into a lying position. "You're feverish and you won't do anyone any good like that." He sighed. "Besides, unless the Superior says so, I don't leave this place in case I'm needed for injured people." Isa groaned and rolled over. "Fret not… maybe hope will kick him in the ass and he'll do something to help."

"I hope… My nephew…" Isa sighed and closed his eyes. His eyes shot open at some talking.

"They saw the prince running into the forests with two men after him." One said.

"He could still be out there." Another said.

"Trail the group that goes to see if they can find him… find him before they do." Xemnas said. He walked into the room where Vexen was caring for Isa after dismissing the two men he was talking to. He looked to Isa. "This doesn't mean I'm being nice… I want that prince to live as much as you do." He said. Isa nodded. "What do you plan on doing now? The fake ruler has branded you with that scar… no one will dare sympathize with you in fear of being executed."

"I… I don't know." Isa stated, looking downcast.

"You are strong… I've heard." Xemnas said. "There are rumors that there is a demon in you." He knelt by the bed and took a tuft of Isa's hair. "I can give you a name, bring you into the group."

"A… name?" Isa asked.

"We cast aside our old names when we become rebels of the Organization, have no ties so as to not hurt people we know and love, and work against the corruption using our newfound names." Xemnas said. "What do you think?" Isa seemed to have thought it over before nodding, agreeing to this. "Then from this day forward, you will be called Saïx." He let the hair slip between his fingers before rising and walking away.

"Was… joining a bad idea?" Saïx asked Vexen.

"Yes and no." Vexen said. "You cast aside your old life, pretty much symbolically died… but in the long run in the Organization, you'll be able to rightfully avenge the king and queen… if vengeance is in your schedule."

"It is." Saïx said. "They were wrongfully killed because of greed…"

"Then this is the life for you." Vexen said.

Two of Xemnas' men, Xaldin and Luxord, had followed a group of guards into the forest, being stealthy as can be. They stayed close but hidden until they reached the lake where Zexion, Ienzo to them, was tormented before meeting Sora.

"Holy shit." Xaldin cursed under his breath, watching the guards pull out the two bodies to see them partly devoured.

"What animal would do this?" a guard asked.

"No ordinary one, that's for sure." Another said.

"It wasn't an animal… it was a creature of the waters." A third, this one seeming to be wiser, informed. "They're more so known as mermaids, but we often called them Sirens. Though they mainly eat fish, they won't hesitate to attack and devour humans so as to avoid being hunted."

"Holy shit…" a guard said. "Vincent… do you think the kid…"

"Was eaten?" Vincent, the wiser guard, finished. "Who could say… let's report back to Lord… King Sephiroth." He turned away. "Leave the bodies here… we don't want the siren to follow the scent on them back and attack the castle… only the gods know how vengeful those creatures can be with how much they've been hunted." With that said, the guards had left.

After everything was clear and quiet, Luxord and Xaldin came out from hiding and inspected the bodies. They could tell that the man that was further out in the water was pretty badly eaten at and even missing some internal organs, especially his liver and heart.

"Bloody hell." Luxord said. "I've heard of sirens, mate, and they stay true to the tales my mum told me as a lad."

"Oh gods… they eat humans… holy crap." Xaldin looked around. "A kid like the prince would easily have been consumed, bones and all…"

"Not likely, mate." Luxord said. "Sirens usually have it out for the adults who mean harm or try to lure them. Children are often safe and fine. Odds are, the siren spared the prince."

"So… what do we tell the boss?" Xaldin asked.

"That we'll have to keep looking to find him before Sephiroth's men do." Luxord said. "Let's return and report."

"Got it." Xaldin said.

"So… a siren may have saved my nephew?" Saïx asked.

"Perhaps. It at least killed the guys who pursued him." Xaldin informed.

"Without any sign of where he is, this is both good and bad." Xemnas said. "Good because Sephiroth won't be able to find him all too easily, I'm sure, but bad because we won't be able to, either." He sighed. "We'll keep an eye out for things in hopes to find him. In the meantime, we also try to bring Sephiroth down from this undesired reign."

"Yes sir."

Saïx returned to his room where he was staying and let Vexen change the bandages. He clearly had bled a lot since the bandages had bled through. Vexen cleaned away the blood and put more ointment on the wound before wrapping his face some again.

"Ienzo is out there, I'm sure of it." Saïx said. "I feel it in my heart that's he's safe."

"That's good." Vexen said, actually smiling some. "Don't lose that faith; the moment you do, the moment you risk losing him."

"Have you… ever lost someone?" Saïx asked, wanting to know a bit about Vexen and how he seemed to be understanding of his situation.

"I come from the north." Vexen said. "Far past the mountains in the cold lands. My parents were murdered and I almost felt my little sister and baby brother suffered the same fate, but I dared not let it become reality and believed them to be well since I did not see them dead. I ended up finding them hiding in the cellar where some snow fell in and kept them wet, albeit rather cold, but they survived the fires."

"You have siblings?" Saïx asked. "Do they…"

"Work in the Organization?" Vexen finished. "They're training so they could work here, too, not wishing to separate from me." He pushed Saïx down into the bed and pulled the covers up over him. "Now, sleep. Sleep is the body's natural medicine and you need to fight this fever."

"How can I sleep knowing my nephew could be cold and hungry out there?" Saïx inquired.

"I'm sure he'll get creative and figure things out." Vexen informed before taking the lantern and blowing out the little flame. "Now sleep." He whispered. "And dream good futures for your nephew and let your hopes guide him."

From the Author!
Heyo, lovelies!
Another chapter up! I'll probably be quicker with the first ones so we can get a move on, then pace myself with the following ones. Maybe. We'll see how it all goes.
Anyway, I hope you dearies enjoyed this chapter, and I hope you continue to enjoy the future chapters.
Ciao!
~ Chibi