The Last Celestial

An Act

During lunch time, Keeper's usually eat side by side in a cafeteria like enclosure. A first come first serve basis for the line of food, and a person can sit anywhere while enjoying their meal. Half of the people will take their lunch earlier than the others, then the last half would eat later. This system was created so the rooms, halls, catacombs and the control room of the fortress would not be left empty and without someone guarding it.

The bell rang loudly, indicating that the first batch's allotted time to eat lunch was over. They left the cafeteria and cleaned as they go. Soon the room was filled with people, lining up to the food serving area.

Zebedee, Elly, Aiziah and Phing were lining up side by side. The four of them got their usual favorites, Shakshouka, couscous, a roasted lamb cooked to perfect called Mechoui. And for dessert, they never miss Morocco's best Chebakia--is a chewy, crunchy, and fragrant Moroccan pastry made by arranging strips of dough into a flower shape. It is then fried, coated in honey, and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

For days the meals are special and has wide array of ingredients unlike the meals they've had the past months. The month of October is near and the month of Scorpio will soon come. The Venom of Scorpio will start to overflow from its container. An event that happened frequently since Andrew inherited the power. A lot of people or creatures will come for the venom to satisfy their malicious intentions. Which means more inspections at the catacomb and their already extensive training is about to turn Spartan.

For days, Zebedee noticed that Phing was eating less and less. He became quiet as well. Odd, she thought as he was always so loud and was the type to initiate the conversation during meal time.

"Why aren't you eating, Phing?" Zebedee asked, they were eating lunch at the cafeteria inside the fortress.

The male looked at her with a smile, but Zebedee noticed something was wrong and unusual since Phing looks dead in the eyes.

"I am fine." He said. "I just don't like the food today."

Zebedee's eyebrow arched up after hearing her friend's answer, she and Aiziah exchanged looks. Usually, Phing would kill for a bowl full of Mechoui and Couscous. "You're being weird." She blurted out and shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Yesterday your appetite was poor as well. People tend to notice that, Phing. Specially since we're friends."

"It is true, you're being unusual. Are you tired?" Aiziah chorused alongside her friend.

Elly noticed this as well and said "You look like you're losing weight. That can't happen, we're about to go through Nathaniel's rigid training schedule. You have to eat. You need muscles for that kind of training."

The subject of their conversation groaned and stood up, seemingly filled to the brim with sheer annoyance for the three. "You should mind your own lives." Phing growled in a low voice before standing up then walking away from the table.

Zebedee and Aiziah flinched when the table wobbled, while Elly remained expressionless. The three of them looked at Phing who turned his back on them.

"Was there something I said?" Zebedee asked, feeling guilty afterwards since she was the one who initiated the conversation.

Elly shook his head. "No, Zebie. You were only being a good friend." He said with a smile. Ever since Phing went missing for days and came back a few days later, their friend simply came back as a different persona. He's no longer close to the Phing they once knew.

Elly finished his meal in a hurry and stood up from his seat. "I'll talk to him." He said before leaving the two girls on the table.

======================

Infuriated, Phing stormed out of the Cafeteria and went straight to his room. He screamed loudly and pulled against his thick black hair. He leaned forward, placed his head in his hands and let out a scream. Huge body-shaking sobs racked his body, each coming in a wave, and, with every scream, he digs his long nails against his face.

"Those imbeciles!" He roared.

He began to scratched his face and pull on his hair. As he pulls, layers and layers of skin fell down the floor. It was agonizing and painful, but nothing is more painful than acting human. He knows he's much more superior than them. A lower species, he thought.

When the last peel of brown and reddish skin was pulled from his face, the man sighed in relief. Finally, he got rid of that disgusting skin. He feels more himself.

His dark brown eyes turned into pitch black, and the brown caramel skin on his face, neck and body shriveled and turned to a darker shade of reddish brown. His fangs and overlapping teeth came back. Veins protrudes his dried arms, instead of blood a lava like substance flowed in him.

Finally, Golind was back to his old self. How truly revolting it is to be human.

He only have to wait for a few more weeks. Just a few more until the 20th day of October. Until the moon shines directly on the Fortress and the Venom of Scorpio overflows. Then he will kill everyone on this castle and take the vessel with him.

With a snap of his finger, a swarm of bug like creature appeared out of nowhere. One if his Master's creation.

"Red Klaida."

He called, the small creatures color went from green to black, a sign that it's ready to receive a message. The swarm flew high and maneuvered until the bugs were a feet away from Golind's face.

"I have a message for the Creator. Bring creatures of chaos before the 20th of October, hundreds of them. The keepers will be busy training for the Venom of Scorpio will overflow. Thick substances created by the power left of the Scorpion Celestial will try to escape its vessel. I've heard the venom is trying to seek for the remains of the Celestial and has a will of its own. It seeks a host. The Keeper's will be occupied tying to keep this power at bay. It's the perfect time to invade this fortress."

He snapped his finger again and the swarm went back to its original color. It vanished and disappeared in front of him.

Now it's time for him to go back to his task. Using the power given to him by his master, Golind said an incantation that turned his decaying skin into flesh. Slowly, his features was covered by brown-caramel like skin and his eyes changed color. He displayed a human like body he stole from a man named Phing. He has to pretend, again.

He grabbed the doorknob and turned to step out. Instead, his eyes met Elly.

====================

Elly have known Phing since they were young. They trained in the same court and met at the same fortress, was anointed side by side at the Forest of the Zodiacs. They became Keeper's together and they celebrated together.

He may not know what is going on with his friend but he will find out. He knows Phing long enough to get a grasp of things. Phing never keeps a secret from him, specially in their time of need. They were there for each other during the tough times. And they fought the creature of Tar, coal and Fire the first time it attacked the fortress.

The blast from the enchanted seeds were supposed to hit him, instead his best friend took the blow by pushing him out of the way. That was the last day he saw Phing until his personality changed.

His best friend simply appeared out of nowhere and looked aloof and seemed like he doesn't know anyone's name. Elly and the others thought Phing was just going through a rough patch, but it's been long since the incident and his attitude was getting farther from the man he knew.

But this was his long time friend, and he wants to give him a benefit of a doubt. So he decided to go to Phing's room and talk to him.

Elly stood there and was about to knock on the door. Instead he found himself listening... and making out of things he hears from the other side. He planted his ears against the and heard a low sinister voice that was different from his friend.

"It's the perfect time to invade the fortress."

He heard the man said. He stood there thinking of what to do next. He raised his hand to pound against the door. Maybe Phing was held captive by someone. Or worse...

The palmar side of his fist was about to hit the door, but he stopped midway when the door opened. By instinct, he puts down her arms and tried his best to relax.

"Phing." Elly was the first one to speak. He stayed silent for a bit, thinking of what to say and ask. "The girls and I are just worried." Finally, he managed to speak.

The man in front of him tilted his head to the side and smiled. "Worried about what?" He asked.

Elly's upper lip curled into a scowl. "Worried about you." He said in a straightforward manner. "You have been acting suspicious lately. Ever since you came back you were different. It's not like you."

The other man's back straightened, the smile on his face remained---showing rows of his teeth. He placed his hand on top of Elly's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. He took a step forward and leaned closer to the latter until his lip almost touched Elly's ear.

"Just think of the old Phing as dead." His voice was full of malice and his eyes turned pitch dark for a second. "Next time you worry about me, worry about yourself."