Working his way through the book shelves in the library, Taznin started organizing every book to make it easier to find. The process was slow since he had to read each one of them so he could categorize it and place it in a better order. The library was a mess when he first found it, books scattered about, some where still on shelves, some were not as though they had been knocked about. All he could figure it was the result of the war, some of the palace was damaged from energy attacks. A special djinn ability to use their power to create harmful explosions on impact. Amongst other abilities they had, like manipulating and moving objects with the mind. Balancing a tall stack of books in his hands, another stack of books floated behind him as he carried them over to shelving he had cleared away. With his mind he sent each book flying through the air. At first they would float in front of his face, his lavender eyes glowing brightly as he looked over the book, his long pale finger touching it before it would fly up to the shelf and place itself there. One of the books came floating over to him, but with this one he stopped and reached out to grasp it. The other books set down on a table as Taznin started to flip through the book.

It was such an odd book. It had the seal of the dark king on the cover. Denoting it belonged to King Tzivi. Though inside it had an image of a crow. Its long black wings extended across the page. Did Tzivi have the same symbol as Crozier? The content inside was blank, just a blank book from the look of it. Taznin brushed his fingers over the image of the crow, "Crozier" he spoke softly and suddenly the book shook with vibrations. Taznin gasped, almost dropping it before his fingers clasped to it tightly and steadying the book that started to stir with life. He gulped softly, his lavender eyes looking around the large library to make sure he was completely alone before he opened the pages. Discovering now the book was filled with writing in the old djinn language. This wasn't just any book, this was King Tzivi's war journal. Taznin's heart pumped a bit harder as he realized he was reading the very words written in ink by his dead father. 

Some of the parts of the book made sense to him, while others confused him a bit more. King Tzivi kept talking about the corruption of light. This only made Taznin read deeper and deeper in the story until slowly it was all revealed to him how the war started. Taznin's fingers trembled as he came across a passage at the end of the book. It was message to Crozier.

"Dear Crozier,

I do hope this book finds you safely, and in good hands. The contents of this book is sensitive, take care who you show it to. If you are here reading this now, then everything I foresaw has come to pass. You found a way back home. I wish I was here to greet you my son, but sadly if you are reading this then all you'll find here is the empty remains of a palace that was once our home. I know your memory is gapped, and I am to blame for that. I made sure you had no memory of this place so your reasonings for returning would be true of heart, and not because of your memories. You will remember all once you finish reading this book.

I have so much to tell you, so much to fill you in on. My time is limited and soon Finidh will be here with his forces to put all to an end. It was I who gave birth to you Crozier, only a dark djinn can give birth to a dark djinn. You and your sister Zakha are precious to me, a piece of my very dark fabric and soul. You are very important for keeping the balance in Zulfiquar.

Also it was I who separated the twins Taznin and Aarzam. Finidh didn't know I was pregnant with them, I gave birth to them all alone, unlike all their siblings who I kept Finidh close during their births. I sensed a bond between them unlike any twins born before them. Separating them was necessary, Aarzam will suffer greatly for my decision, I see that in my actions but it is necessary. I know they will find each other again, and if you are here now then my vision was proven correct, they have found one another and are the keys to opening the door.

Taznin is very important as I told you, the balance you two create will sustain Zulfiquar for many generations. Aarzam and Kazira are also very important, they hold the spark to fuel the reproduction of our species. Which is why I sent Aarzam away, and had you trap Kazira in the bottle. The war needs to come to an end before any more djinn can be born. 

As for Taznin, he is the youngest which means the corruption of light will take longer to take hold of him. Unlike Finidh who I've lost complete control over. His powers are much stronger than my own now. All male light djinn have that destiny, the same path before them. It will be some time before you notice the change in Taznin, it might seem impossible now but Taznin will grow dominate and hungry to protect everything, possessive he will fight at any means to keep any and all parts of this realm for himself. He'll grow tall, vicious, and fangs will grow sharp and deadly. A hunger to consume djinn energy and light will take him over, he will start to desire to taste the flesh of other djinn. Its only a matter of time after his powers will grow beyond yours, it will be up to you to take matters into your own hands.

It was Finidh that started this war between us, and it will be us that finish it. I am prepared to take him on in a fight, I'm prepared to die to save this world for our children. My death will mean his death, it is the only way to end this war. Finidh's devastation over Zulfiquar has been piling up, so many deaths of our kind at his hands or at his influences and there is one myself left of the dark djinn. Light will win this war, but for you my son it doesn't have to be that way. I hope the fabric our children will make Zulfiquar a better place, and nothing is written in stone.. find your own path. Don't use this as a blueprint for your future, but a warning to not do what I have done.

your father, 

King Tzivi."

After reading the passage to Crow, Taznin barely felt the book slip from his hands. He didn't even hear as it fluttered to the floor and hit with a dead thunk. His hands open that were holding the book came up to his face and he covered with shaking fingers. "It can't be true." Taznin felt his knees bend and he fell to the floor as tears streamed out of his eyes and over his cheeks. He stuttered with his heart breaking. He looked up to Kind Finidh, and now.. he shuddered with light sobs, "He killed them all." 

After having a good cry, his voice raked and cracking when he tried to make a word of sound. He looked at the book laying there. His first thought was to destroy it, guard the secret to himself. But instead he reached out and picked it up, closing the book as his body vanished in a lavender mist. Materializing in Crow's room, he rested the book by Crow's bed. Crow was sleeping and Taznin leaned and kissed his cheek, he felt tears still clinging to his cheeks and his lips moist from them. He pulled away, "It belongs to you, my king.." His light disappearing into shadow.


Crozier's Response..

Something stirred the king, keeping him from his slumber as he wrinkled his nose at the kiss on his forehead like a pesky fly was using him for means of humor. He reached out to the empty spot of his bed forgetting Renshu wasn’t there. As if waking up unexpected wasn’t bad enough, finding out he was all alone in his room made it even worse. A heavy labored sigh escaped from his parted lips while Crow kept his eyes shut inhaling a familiar scent of stardust. Breathing in deeper, his black pools shot open in hopes of seeing his little brother. But to his dismay, he was still alone. The roses across the room seemed to dance and even smile back at him as Taz’s lavender one made its way to the front of the bouquet. “Hmmm…” he thought to himself as he threw back the covers to get out of bed and take a closer look until he felt something under the sheet. “What the…” The King’s long fingers felt around until they discovered the object, pulling out a very old book… the kind with the leather binding and the suede backing. A ribbon wrapped around the contents and coiled tightly into a button, and it wasn’t until Crozier flipped it over that he noticed the insignia on the front cover. Worn, like it went through a war, but there was no mistaking their family’s crest. It matched perfectly to the one on the ring of the dark one’s right hand, and as he waved his fingers over the journal… both the emblem and ring began to glow. “Holy shit!” He reacted and dropped the book in his lap watching as the ribbon naturally untie itself for him before he looked around the room. “Okay, I guess you want me to read you huh?” His eyes shifted to double check the fact he was all by himself. Sure, no one really ever bothered him, let alone barged into his room… but at the moment Crow didn’t know what he was dealing with and he didn’t want any of the family knowing just yet.



Sitting more upright, he pulled the book closer and opened up the front cover. Like in the damn movies, a gust of wind came out of nowhere and low rumble like thunder was heard off in the distance. “Ahhhh fuck me. All I have to say is there better be a treasure map at the end of this shit!” The lights in his room flashed and hummed for more power before finally going totally black. “Well ain’t this just peachy? Good thing I can read in the dark.” A glowing illumination came from the book and his father’s ring he hadn’t ever taken off making it somewhat quaint in his room. The pages in the book all written on old scrolled papyrus slowly started to change, turning coal black like that of night. A journal once filled with writings of his father turned into nothing more than kindling. Crow furrowed his brows in frustration hoping that this would finally be the key they were all hoping and dreaming about. But no, it was blank… or was it?



King Tzivi never really did things normally which is probably the reason his children are alive today. If it would have been left up to Finidh, he would have consumed them all. Still, Crow had a hard time processing all that information. Not to mention that fact that one day Taznin would follow in those same footsteps. Did that mean Crozier would follow in those of Tzivi? He sighed once more and raked his tatted hand through his hair not really caring what it looked like for once. And then suddenly his wishes were granted, as if his father’s heard his silent plea for help. Words began to appear on the pages written out of the light that created their world spelling out the story on the charred remnants of their streets that now served as paper in a book. Page after page, growing faster and faster, from one to the next… Crow tried to keep up and failed miserably as the book was rewritten before his eyes in a matter of moments.



My son…

I know that if you’re reading this, everything has changed… some things for the better, some things not so much the case. You have to believe me… trust me, the best interest of all our children is all that mattered. There’s no way I… we, could live with ourselves knowing that we not only caused this war, but it was us who brought an end to the beautiful children we made out of love. It’s up to you Crozier, and it will be hard. My visions are all I had then, just as yours are all you have now… or so you think. Listen Crow, deep inside yourself… find that place, that really, really dark place I always told you not to go. There you will find your answers…



As Crow continued to read it was like the words were moving faster than he could comprehend. King Tzivi explained the abilities he and Finidh possessed in regards to taking in the powers of the others and how most likely he and Taznin would do the same. The problem was with Taz, like Fin… there’s nowhere for the light to hide and eventually it becomes too much. Too much for anyone to handle, leaving only one way out… an explosion that would supersede that of space and time devouring everything in its wake unbeknownst to even himself. Tzivi wasn’t going to let that happen, but he didn’t know how to stop the devastation. It was inevitable.



Year after year, child after child… both kings took a little piece of each one inside, holding on to them, cherishing their essence and making it part of them. The problem was, it wasn’t realized until too much time had passed just how destructive all that power could be. Tzivi was different with how he handled it. Instead of keeping it in the forefront like is mate, he buried it deep down inside… far, far away were on one would ever be able to get at it. Almost in his proverbial black hole, the place everything would go and be lost of all eternity. When the peak of the war escalated it became known to the king what he had to do in order to save what he could of their land. But could he? Could he really risk the death of the only true love he’d ever known? Yes… because in death, they could finally be together as they once were before the power took over and made Finidh the monster Tzivi had to protect the world from. Crow felt a tear run down his cheek as he kept reading. He didn’t want his brother to follow in his father’s footsteps… nor did he! It was unimaginable to think such a tragedy was possible with how adorable and fun loving Taz was. Wiping his cheek, Crow turned the page and read on to the part where Fin made is final transformation becoming pure light, no more flesh, nothing of the human kind. His roar shook the kingdom as lightning rained down like a meteor shower all around them. King Tzivi did his best to embrace his husband, calm him and distract him for that split second he needed to pull him inside his core. Kicking and screaming all the way, the king of dark pushed Finidh further away from the world and closer and closer to the black hole within his soul allowing him to have his release and explode like he never had before until he was able to return to the sweet djinn he once was… the loving man Tzivi fell in love with many, many moons ago.



The book fell from his hand onto the floor and the lights once again resumed to their normal state, just as the pages in the book returned to the weathered appearance they previously had on the papyrus. He tried and tried to process everything he had read and didn’t even know where to start, until he fact that he had never heard his father talk to him from beyond the grave dawned on him. One of the ways Crow would see the future is through images that the dead would provide him with, despite how creepy it may be… they often helped. Yet none had ever been seen from either of his fathers.



The King gasped and clutched at his heart. “HOLY FUCK!!!! They’re not dead!!”