Merrkan swam down a hallway lit only by the creature upon the chest of Annandra, on his right, and the faint glow emanating from Viidela's wings on his left.

They reached a door and pushed forward into a group seated around a table with 8 sides.  The octagon was deep brown, and painted upon the surface each side held a rune of power in various shades of red.

Viidela took one of the empty seats near the head of the table.  The seat next to hers was larger and the crown of the chair had a golden trident painted on it.

As she took her seat the rune before her pulsed with light and faded.  As Annandra took her seat at the other side of the table her rune pulsed as well.  Merrkan stood to her left and surveyed the rest of the group.

"Welcome back Vii, Merrkan.  Thank you Annandra."  The woman on Viidela's left spoke, and she turned her attention to her.

Their hands met between their chairs in greeting before Viidela spoke to the group.

"Thank you Tuesday."  She smiled, "It is good to be among friends.  I wish that it were under better circumstances, but for now we have matters to discuss."

"Indeed we do."  Viidela turned to the voice and looked through a pair of glasses into the green eyes of the speaker.

Pain and pride welled up within Viidela's chest and she smiled at the youngest of The Seven.

"Venus..."  A tear slipped from her eye glittering a moment before dissipating into the ocean.  Venus caught her own tear with a wipe of a finger.

"Hello Mother."  They stared at each other for mere moments before a cough interrupted the silence.

"I know it's been a while, and you two are entitled to your reunion, just as Anna and Merrkan are, but we do have business."  Veridean's voice eased the tension the sentiment would have caused if spoken by any other.

"Yes - Gwene is back, and she knows I have been brought back to power as well.  I suppose she won't waste time with her plans now."

"Father was able to keep her from taking over the kingdom last time, but what can we do without him?"  Venus spoke again, her fears as always controlling her actions and words.

Veridean stared at the girl before speaking. "Neptune is still alive within us.  He gave us each powers beyond our imagination, but powers that he controlled to keep the kingdom free.   We must do the same."