Dear EVERYBODY,

If you could please stop SWAYING in such an exaggerated fashion and interrupting my line of sight, that would be great. I sort of need that right now.

Sincerely (but not really),

Felix

Seriously. This is a difficult enough task without everyone interfering by doing exactly what they should be doing at a ball. It's egregious, it really is.

I'm attempting to use my ability inconspicuously, but I'm pretty sure craning my neck and standing on my tiptoes is rather conspicuous. Although, it is ME, so who knows. I've gotten to just about everyone I needed to get to, now, but I'm not entirely sure I've done it without drawing War's attention. He's been sitting up there on his throne, watching everyone like a vulture who hasn't stolen a meal in days.

War is just so icky. He makes my skin prickle, and not in that fun way Ahava does.

Ahav- oh shit. Nonononono. Not Cachexys. Why is Cachexys dancing with Kaija? That man is a thorn in my side. Gum stuck to my boot. The sticky feeling left on your hands after you devour cotton candy that makes you SWEAR you will never eat cotton candy again, but OF COURSE you eat cotton candy again, because it's too fun not to.

I move as quickly as possible without drawing too much attention, and siddle up to Cachexys.

I drop my chin onto his shoulder, and wrap my hands around his waist. This is going to be SO MUCH fun. He's already released Kaija, so this isn't, I suppose, necessary, but really, how can I resist? Cachexys is just too easy to play with.

"Is standing creepy close a thing now, or is it just because she's cute? Because I am totally down if it's a thing now." I grin from ear to ear, looking at him out of the corner of my eye.

"What do you want, Luck?" Hehe! He's already sassy. Fabulous. "Can't you see we're having a private conversation?"Cachexys sneers haughtily at me.

Oh, this will be good. I know exactly what to do. I am going to tango away with Kaija. I am going to flourish about and make a show of it, and I am going to tango away with her. And then Cachexys will be left all huffy while I am busy having a grand time. I really am a genius. It is my sincerely held belief that no one gives me enough credit for that fact.

"Oh, yes, looks very private," I say, making a pouty face and then winking at Kaija. "Song ended a while ago, though, and the lady, here, looks like she could use a drink. I know she needs a new dance partner."

I move swiftly and push myself, perhaps a little more forcefully than necessary, between Kaija and Cachexys. In quite the grandiose fashion, if I do say so myself, I pull a rose from my pocket (one should always keep a rose in one's pocket, for instances where one has offended a lady), and, with an exaggerated motion, move myself into the beginning stance of the tango. Pressing myself against Kaija so that we are cheek to cheek, I lead her away from that skinny little rodent War calls his General.

"Thank you, Felix," Kaija says breathlessly as we march. I don't answer her. Thanks aren't needed. I'd do anything for Elias, and besides, I had fun. Now to get Kaija seated, and make sure she's not been harmed by creep of the century and manservant extraordinaire, Lord Famine.

Once we get to the table, I detach myself from Kaija and look her over. She's a bit clammy, and she looks tired, but she's definitely alive, so that's a plus. Not really where I thought she'd be at this point, so we'll go ahead and say that's a victory. Seriously, though, I need to ask her how she feels. As much as I joke, I'm furious that Cachexys would try to harm her. It's evident, now that I've gotten a good look at her, that Cachexys has absolutely used his secondary ability on her, just as I feared he would. That is DEFINITELY not cool. He can't not know about the baby now, and that complicates things.

"Are you okay?" I ask her, without a trace of humor or amusement in my voice. "Did he hurt you?"

"I - I don't think so." Oh, good. I'll just tell Elias you are maybe-probably-sort-of-a-little-bit-okay. He'll be thrilled.

"I just got dizzy," she adds after a moment. Hmmm. Guess I'll let her finish next time before I go full diva. Mostly people have worse side effects than dizziness if they have been seriously affected by Cachexys's ability.

"He was screwing with your life force," I say, obviously pissed off. I, then, use my abilities to continue the conversation in our minds. I need to attempt to reassure her, but I can't, obviously, just go rambling on about the baby in front of everyone.

"Elias will be able to check on the baby later. I was hoping to get to you before Cachexys noticed, but I'm afraid I may have been too late." Oops. Not sure that was as reassuring as I had hoped. I'm not good at that. Elias, Ahava, they do the reassuring thing. I do the thing where I lighten the mood.

"I'm okay," she says.

"Okay," I answer back. "Sit here. I'm going to get you something to drink."

I saunter off to find Kaija some water, but, not long after I begin braving the crowd, I look up and see a bubble of water floating over everyone's heads. I laugh and shake my head. Morgynn. Robbing me of my chance to be a perfect gentleman. I'll have to have a word with that woman. Later, of course. Can't go ruining such a splendid evening with a squabble.

Turning around, I see that Kaija is busily chatting away with Morgynn and Ahava. I take the opportunity to move through the crowd and hit my final few targets.

As I'm making my way back to where Kaija and Ahava are seated, I can't help but notice how god-awfully boring this ball is. These people and their swaying. Seriously. Be a bit lively, would you? Your feet can leave the ground, people. They don't need to shuffle about like you're on a death march. And for goodness sake, maybe try enjoying your dance partner a little. Spin around! Dip each other low! Grab someone's butt! Live a little.

Just before I get to Kaija, I see Klahzia approach her. Oooooooh hell no. Hell. No. I'm moving fast again, but trying to look normal at the same time. This is so one of those times where I'm glad my normal seems odd to everyone around me. I have no idea what a touch from Chaos herself would do to a baby, but I'd bet money on the fact that Kaija and Elias aren't up for finding out. And I'd do that even if I wasn't the god of Luck.

I make it just in time to snatch up Kaija's hand, avoiding a brush with...well honestly I don't know what. The heebie-jeebies at least.

"Klahzia, dear! It's wonderful to see you. I was just about to steal a dance with Miss Kaija. Please, excuse us."

I really wasn't. I was about to sit down for maybe two seconds. Three if I fancied a long rest. Being Chaos, she would butt in just as I was about to try to achieve some zen. I'm rather fond of Klahzia, so I suppose I won't hold it against her for too terribly long. A decade, perhaps.

"Of course! Have fun!" Klahzia exclaims.

"Chaos," Kaija whispers to me as I lead her to the dance floor.

"Yup," I say. "Sweet girl, but Elias would kill me if I let her touch you. There are some jujus in this world that even my power can't fix."

And with that, we're off. I'll show these people what dancing is. Just as I'm starting to spin her, though, I see Kaija staring worriedly at Elias's throne. Ugh. I know she's worried, but can no one have fun anymore? She knows she could still die today, yes? You'd think she'd rather spend her last hours dancing than looking around nervously. But who am I to judge? I'm sure a lot people would see my dancing as a waste of my last hours, too. Because, let's face it, if Kaija and Elias go down, you bet your sweet ass I'm going down with them. Anyway, I suppose I should tell Kaija he's fine, it's normal, whatever whatever.

"He's fine," I whisper, trying not to sound exasperated. "This is all normal. He'll be down here shortly."

"Okay," she replies. 'Okay'. 'Okay'. This girl is so odd. I mean really, she has spent all this time defying War, acting like a little imp (don't get me wrong, I love that she was acting an imp), and basically running amok of things in the palace (also, please don't think that I am not terribly proud of all the "trouble" she's caused, as I absolutely and unequivocally am terribly proud), and yet by her behavior right now, you'd almost think her meek. And I'd go ahead and assume it's because of the baby, but, you know, she climbed back into a lion pit to save someone else. And she was definitely pregnant then, too. So, I'm at a loss on that one.

"Felix," Kaija says, pulling out of my ramblings.

"Yes, love?" I answer cheerily.

"You have children. How does that work?" She asks.

Hahahahahahahahaha. I know what she means, but, still, I can't resist...

"Well," I say mischievously, "when a daddy loves a mommy very much…"

"That's not what I mean," Duh! You've made one. I know you get it, sweetheart. "I mean, how do they age? Do they have power?"

"Ah," I know she's thinking about the baby, so I move our conversation to our minds.

"Worried about the nugget, are we?"

She nods, so I decide to switch back to actual speech because I'm sometimes terrible at pretending I'm not using my abilities and I've already drawn plenty of attention to myself tonight. Especially if I'm speaking about something that brings me joy, and my children certainly bring me joy. Immense amounts of it. So, we'll play it safe and speak out loud. Especially since there's no reason not to? War doesn't give a shit about my kids, nor does he care how often I talk about them. And... goodness, shut up Felix. I need to stop overanalyzing. Anyway...

"I only have my own children to reference, but they age normally to somewhere between twenty and thirty-five years, and then they stop. Twelve of our children have taken on Ahava's power of Fertility. Eight of them are little mini wielders of Luck, and one odd little bugger inherited both talents. That's our latest one. He just turned ten."

"What's his name?" Kaija asks.

"Nezar." I respond, smiling.

"That's beautiful," Kaija says.

"Felix," I hear Elias call to me. Yes! As lovely as Kaija is, if I might die tonight, I'd like one more dance with my own wife.

"Thank you ever so much for keeping Miss Kaija company."

"You're more than welcome, my friend," I answer him easily.

I grasp Elias's forearm, and he mimics me by gripping my own forearm tightly.

"Felix, may we make Kaija privy to our conversation? I think it's important she knows all that I know."

I have already read Elias's thoughts, and know both that he'd like Kaija involved, and that War threatened either him, Kaija, or both. Wording was vague, ya know? I also know how Elias felt looking down on Kaija as she danced with me. I think that's something Kaija ought to see. Elias appears to feel the same. Very good.

"Fair enough, friend." As I answer Elias, I subtly wrap my arm around Kaija's waist. Not sure how normal this looks, but again, me, so maybe it's okay. Or maybe I keep telling myself that because I'd like to think this battle won't start on the dance floor. It would be a right shame to sully a dance with bloodshed.

I shoot Kaija a vision of Elias gazing at her dancing form, his heart full to the brim with a love so deep it threatens to swallow him whole. I've shared it with her this way, not only because it's more efficient than repeating it all, but also because she will actually feel what Elias feels for her, and I think, given the danger we all face tonight, that is a gift she will be grateful for. I also share War's exact threat, instead of glossing over it and letting Kaija swoon, because lovers tend to get all foggy-headed over feelings (I still do, even after four centuries with Ahava), and I think it's important for her to be able to focus a smidge. Nothing keeps one's focus razor sharp like vague death threats.

"What was that about?" I demand.

"I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it's not good," Elias answers.

"Do you think he knows?"

"I'm sure he knows. I just don't know how much he knows."

"I could try getting close to him."

"No!" Ugh. Elias. No shouting out loud. For goodness sake, he may as well have shouted, "War! Pay attention to us! We are sharing information telepathically and thought you'd like to know!" I mean, we are still clinging to each other. In the middle of the dance floor. And I had a grin on my face until you shouted. I'm sure I briefly appeared cross when that happened, and I know I saw Kaija look surprised. And right now I'm really glad that I'm the one in control of whether my thoughts are being shared. Not sure Elias would appreciate my rant.

"No. You must absolutely not do that. War knows where your loyalty lies. I don't want you or Ahava anywhere close to him."

"Fair enough," I nod. "What are you going to do?"

"We need to do this now. Use your connection to tell everyone where to meet," Elias glances around the large room. "Kaija, you need to run. You need to get Vivienne out of here and hide as quickly as possible. Diggory is waiting for you behind that curtain over there."

"No!" Kaija shouts. Not necessary, but she certainly got her point across. She's feisty, and I like it! "I want to stay with you and see this through!"

"Kaija, we've talked about this. If things go wrong, I want you to be able to run with our child. Keep the baby safe. For now, though, dance with me."

Elias releases my arm, and I release Kaija. They begin their dance, and I flounce off to find my wife. One last dance before we change the world, one way or another.