It was almost winter.
Daniel was not in town, he had traveled out of town. He informed his wife and his best friend, Marcus. During those days in which he wasn't around, something happened to Sardius who was almost eight months old.
Beryl was home alone washing the toilet, she suddenly stopped as she had an instinct to check on her son who had grown naughty.
He was growing older and naughtier by the day, Beryl was glad about this but at the same time, she was worried.
She had never left him alone whenever no one was around to watch over him. This time, she had to, she was cleaning which needed immediate attention. To keep naughty Sardius busy, she kept many of his toys with him, such as power rangers and the likes. She left him in their sitting room which was quite vast in space. Then, she closed all open doors for him not to crawl out.
"Let me check on him," sh told herself as she removed her hand gloves.
When she came into the sitting room, she couldn't find no Sardius and also, she didn't hear a sound. She became perplexed. She only saw his toys. She called out his name softly to coax him out of his hiding place.
Although he was barely one year old, he could play hide and seek games. She began to panic as she checked every room.
She was sweating?
Where was her child?
Where was Sardius?
It felt like a prank but it was getting way too serious. She thought of her husband, should she call him?
What would he think of her?
A careless mother, he would presumed.
No, no, no, she didn't want him to be distracted. That might even drive him insane. He might even transfer aggression on her.
How could she be so careless?
But she left him right there in the living room, the doors too were locked to prevent him from going anywhere else. Should she call in her neighbor who lived two blocks away? How would she start?
Where would she start from?
What would she look like to them?
Sardius was still in the house, perhaps not far away but where would he be? 
She dialed Marcus's number but there was no reception.
"Oh my God." She tried to breathe as she scratched her brown, scattered hair.
"Sardius, please where are you?" She called on.
After a thought on calling her best friend, she dialed Onyx's number. Onyx didn't pick at first but on the second ring, she finally picked.
"Hell, Onyx." Beryl said.
"Well, hello." Onyx wasn't excited about the call.
"Onyx, I would need your help right now." Beryl pleaded.
After a pause, Onyx asked. "What for?"
"I can't find my baby, Onyx. I just can't find Sardius." Beryl almost broke down.
"What? What happened?" Onyx felt concerned.
"I mean it, Onyx. I need you, please. I left him in the parlor while I was washing the toilet. When I returned, I couldn't find him." Beryl broke down into a sob.
"Listen to me Beryl, don't panick. I'll be right there. I'm sure he's still in the house. I hope you don't tell Daniel?" Onyx asked.
"No, I didn't." Beryl said.
"Good, breathe in, breathe out. Keep on looking for him. I'll be there?" Onyx assured her friend.
Immediately Onyx arrived, the two friends began a thorough search for Sardius. Beryl was crying already, suggesting they call the police.
Onyx kept on assuring her that Sardius was somewhere close by. Chrysolite was around, and of course, she sat in the same place where Sardius had sat. She was laughing and was smashing Sardius's toys where they were left on the floor.
"Hold on a second, Beryl." Onyx stopped.
"Yes, what is it?" Beryl asked.
"Have we checked the kitchen's store?" Onyx questioned.
"No, I left him in the living room, so why should he be in the kitchen's store?"
"You never know." Onyx shrugged.
They both went to the store and opened its door. In the darkness, they heard a soft ramble. 
Was it Sardius?
Not him, Beryl doubted. If the door of the store is closed from the inside, it would be locked from the outside. They switched on the light, and a disheveled Sadius was staring at them both. He was playing with onions in the darkness!
Both friends stared at him in disbelief.
What were they to do?
They laughed as they went over to Sardius. "I don't see Sardius as a crybaby. Imagine him being here all by himself in utter darkness." Onyx voiced.
Beryl smiled as she nuzzled her baby closer to her bosom.
"I thought Sardius might be afraid of the darkness but this shows that he isn't." Onyx pointed out.
"I never knew." Beryl looked at her friend. She was so grateful that she had Onyx here with her.
Thus became their reunion, that Marcus and Daniel had to ask how they settled their dispute.
They were glad that they didn't have to deal with women's problems.
The following March, Chrysolite and Sardius celebrated their birthday. Their bond only grew stronger and stronger. This only pushed Corral Marble to remain in the family longer than expected. Little did Corral Marble know that her ancestral powers were already fading away cause she had forsaken her kingdom for far too long.
"Mum, is it likely to rain?" Onyx asked her mother when they noticed the heavy clouds in the sky.
"I guess so." Corral Marble answered.
"You guess so?" Onyx was surprised by her mother's response.
Corral Marble shrugged.
"Mum, what's wrong?" Onyx continued to push.
"Nothing is wrong." her mother answered her.
"But you can't foretell." Onyx was alarmed at that.
"I doubt that." Coral Marble said.
"But it's true!" Onyx said.
Corral Marble ignored her daughter as she went about her business. She tried to help Chrysolite who was trying to reach for her toy on top of the table. Although she could pronounce some little words, other times, she was speaking the gibberish language. At times, she would look at her mother and Granny like she understood perfectly what they were saying.
At one time, Onyx caught Chrysolite looking at her in such a way that it appalled her. She called the attention of her mother for fear of what might become of Chrysolite when she grew up.
"It's the spirits in her." Corral Marble had said.
"What spirits? She's far too young to be staring at one too intently that way." Onyx said.
"She's still a child, Onyx. What are you scared of?" Coral Marble replied.
"But look at the way she stares at one, what do you call that?" Onyx was alarmed.
"I have no idea, Onyx. I believe she will grow out of it."
Now, Onyx was faced with another problem, her mother's powers were fading gradually. She was a Queen and a Queen must remain with her people unless she has officially passed the scepter to another. Or her daughter who was the royal daughter was given the scepter to become the Queen. Onyx had refused the throne and Amethyst was occupying the throne temporarily.
"Mum, please talk to me," Onyx begged.
"What do you want me to say Onyx?" Corral Marble faced her daughter.
"You only have to go back, that's all." Onyx begged.
"And if I don't?"
"You can't, mother. You'll lose all of your powers." Onyx warned.
"Why should I return when I'm not ready to go back?" Coral Marble said.
"Mom, please," Onyx begged.
"You just need to regain them and you can return here occasionally." Onyx suggested.
Corral Marble smiled at Onyx. "No, that's not what you mean. You mean to say the sea is my home, and my people needs me. You've also forgotten that that sea is your home too."
"Mother! You know I didn't mean it that way." Onyx shrieked.
"It's a good thing though that I can still read your thoughts. So, stop with the questions, will you? Amethyst will lead my people." Coral Marble told her.
"But mum....," she countered.
"I will remain here and that is final!" Corral Marble threw a stern look at her daughter.
Then she focused her attention on Chrysolite who had suddenly stopped to look at Mother and Granny.