"Kris, Kris! Where are you?" the calls of the eight-year-old boy reverberated throughout the mansion, bouncing off the bookshelves and into Kristoph Gavin's ears. The fourteen-year- old gave an annoyed sigh as he snapped the book he had out in front of him shut. Peering out from behind the immense mahogany bookshelves, Kristoph spotted the source of all the commotion. When the little boy saw Kristoph looking at him, his face erupted into a grin as he scampered towards his elder brother. Kristoph gave a mental cry of anguish as he realized what was coming. Couldn't the little pest just leave him alone for five seconds?

"Hiya, Kris! I've been looking all over for you! I asked Adelle where you went, but even she didn't know! It's almost like you were trying to hide from me or something!"

"Now, why on earth would I ever do something like that?" Kristoph sighed while rolling his eyes. "And just because Adelle is our maid doesn't mean that she has to monitor my every movement. What is it that you want, Klavier?

"Oh, well, umm," Klavier suddenly got quiet as he shuffled his feet. You ask for the same thing every night, Kristoph thought in exasperation. Just spit it out already. "I, well, I need you're help again. For my math homework. I really don't get any of that multiplication stuff."

"Why is it that you need my help? Why can't you just ask Adelle. She's intelligent. She can probably help you." And once again, Kristoph thought bitterly, I say the same thing I do every night. Why do I even bother?

"I know, I know. I just really want you're help, that's all. Besides, you're the one who always gets angry if I do bad on a quiz. Mama and Adelle don't mind at all. It only makes sense that you should be the one to help me" Klavier beamed, proud of his "flawless" logic.

Of course Mother doesn't care what grades you get in school. You're perfect in her eyes.

"It's do poorly' on a quiz, Klavier, not do bad'. And fine, I suppose I could help you tonight." Kristoph tried to conceal a smile as Klavier jumped up and down in victory. As much as he disliked the little nuisance, Kristoph did feel a certain satisfaction seeing him pleased like this.

"Okay, let's go up to my room, then! Hurry up!" Klavier bounded through the halls of the mansion, past the oriental carpets, Italian paintings, Ming Dynasty vases and various ornate decorations that adorned that halls of Gavin Manor. Kristoph, much less enthusiastic, trudged behind him, still wondering where Klavier got such boundless energy. Passing the shut doors to the bedrooms, Kristoph stopped momentarily as he heard muffled voices behind his parent's elaborately crafted bedroom door. Two voices could be heard from behind the door: a woman's, and a man's. The woman's voice had a soft, musical quality to it, sounding sweet and pleasant, yet possessing bitter and somewhat spiteful undertones which seeped through the sugary pretext like acid. The man's voice was deep and loud, commanding authority and obedience. They were arguing about something, but Kristoph couldn't tell what it is. All he knew was that the man was winning, like always. He clenched his fists and wanted to open the door to interrupt, but thought better of it and followed his brother up the stairs.

When Kristoph opened his brother's room, Klavier was laying sprawled out on the bed, textbook open in front of him. Moving his legs over the various toys scattered carelessly about the room, Kristoph finally sat next to Klavier on the crimson bedspread.

"Klavier, this room is a complete mess. Does Adelle know about this?"

"But I like it messy! She always wants to clean it, but I always say no."

Kristoph sighed irritably. He was just wasting time with these pointless questions. "So, what is it you need assistance with this time?"

Klavier moved the textbook closer to Kristoph so he could get a better view. "This stuff. It's called multiplication, only I don't really understand how to do it. It's really confusing."

"It may seem challenging at first, but it's really not as difficult as you think. Here, let me see that book." Klavier passed the book to Kristoph, and huddled closer to him. Within minutes, the two boys were solving problems, scribbling down equations on scrap sheets of paper. Klavier was a surprisingly fast learner, and managed to grasp the concept quicker than Kristoph thought he would. After an hour, the two finished all the problems assigned.

"And because two goes into four two times, two times two equals four. Do you see now?" Kristoph asked, peering down at his little brother. From beneath Klavier's messy blonde bangs, the small boys eyes lit up and he nodded.

"Yea, I think I get it now. Thanks!"

Kristoph nodded as he stood up, making his way to the door. "Well, if that's all, I'm going to go back to my reading now. Good night."

"Wait!"

Kristoph turned around to look at his younger brother. "Yes?"

"I, well…"Klavier bit his lip, eyes downcast. "What book is so important anyway?"

"It's called Paradise Lost. It's in English, so you can't read it. Even if you could, you wouldn't like it anyway." Kristoph turned to leave the room once more, but yet again Klavier's call stopped him.

"Why didn't you get a copy in German? And, um, what's it about?"

Kristoph rolled his eyes. These questions were pointless; he just wanted to get back to reading the book already.

"I didn't get a German copy because I wanted to practice my English. And it's about God and the angels, to put it simply."

Klavier grinned as he looked up at Kristoph. "That sounds like a nice book. If it's about God, then maybe Father would like it."

"He won't."

"Why not?"

"…Because, the book portrays Satan in a different light than the Bible does. Father won't like it."

"Maybe he will!"

"He won't. Now, if you don't mind, I'm leaving."

"Wait!"

Kristoph twitched. Didn't he spend enough time here already? It was as if Klavier chained himself to him, like some kind of prison warden who would not let his prisoner leave his sight.

"Umm…Kristoph? Can you do something for me?"

"It depends what it is."

"Can you, uh, sing a song for me?"

Kristoph blinked. That was certainly unexpected.

"Why would I sing? I've never showed any interest before in-"

"That's not true!" Kristoph turned to look at Klavier in surprise. The little boy was clutching at his bed sheets, staring at Kristoph with a determined look on his face. "I remember-when we were little, you used to sing for me. You sang really good too! It was kind like how Father says the angels are supposed to sing-at least, that's what I think. I never heard a real angel before. But anyway, when I was little you used to sing for me to help me go asleep."

"You actually remember that? I stopped when you were three; I didn't think you could remember that far back."

"I do. It's one of my first memories. So…could you, please?"

"No."

"W-what?"

"I said no. I'm not going to make a fool of myself by singing. When you were a baby it was one thing. Even Adelle couldn't get you to go to sleep! But now you're older and don't need me anymore. Good night."

"That's not true," Klavier mumbled. "I still need you…"

Kristoph's gaze softened as Klavier buried his face in his pillow.

"Don't be like that. If you want someone to sing for you, I can always get Adelle. She'll be more than happy to assist you."

"It's not the same," Klavier whispered softly, clutching his pillow to his chest. Kristoph glanced at the wooden clock handing above Klavier's bed. It was ten o'clock. If Klavier stayed up any later, he would have a hard time concentrating in school the next day.

"…Does it really mean that much to you?"

Klavier swiftly raised his head, eyes wide. He nodded as Kristoph gave a small sigh.

"Fine, then. But only this once; I don't want this to become a regular habit, understand?"

Klavier nodded again. Kristoph swallowed before opening his mouth, and began to sing. A calming, slightly melancholic tune filled the air. Klavier watched, mesmerized, as Kristoph sang the tranquil melody of long ago. When he was finished, Klavier stared at him, mouth agape.

"…You know, a bug is going to fly into your mouth if you don't close it."

Klavier snapped his mouth shut, though his wide eyes were still looking at his brother. "I knew you could sing, and I was right! Wow, you really do sound like an angel, Kris."

"Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that." Kristoph chuckled lightly. "Besides, it was Mother who first sang the song, not me."

"Maybe Mama should become a singer, then!" exclaimed Klavier, proudly.

"I'm not sure about that. I doubt Mother is interested in finding a job, or needs one, for that matter."

"Why not? My friends in school have mothers who work."

"Well," Kristoph began, trying to find how he should explain the faulty social rules of his family. "I don't think Father would like it that much if Mother worked. He's very…traditional, and doesn't think it would be proper if a woman of Mother's social status were to hold a job. Social standing is everything to our parents, after all."

"I don't see why not. If Mama wants to do something, then she should do it!" Kristoph looked down at Klavier, who was smiling widely. The innocence of children was truly an amazing thing.

"I agree, but don't let Father find out. I doubt he'd be pleased. You know, Klavier, before Mother married Father she was going to become a singer."

"Really?" Klavier's eyes widened. "I had no idea! Why didn't she, then? What made her stop?"

For one moment, it was as if the world had stopped moving. Kristoph stood, frozen, looking at the little boy in front of him. Klavier's honest smile seemed to transform into a mocking grin, waiting for 

Kristoph's response. He swallowed before looking down at the ground and clutching his arms with his hands. The whole room seemed be suffocating him, and Kristoph had the urge to bolt out of this hellhole as soon as possible.

"Kris? Kristoph?"

The smothering atmosphere was lifted from the room as abruptly as it came. Klavier was Klavier again, not an imposter who knew more than he should have. The little boy's eyes were looking up at his elder brother with worry instead of scorn. Everything was back to normal.

"Are you okay? You look really sick."

"I'm fine, Klavier. It's just…a headache, that's all. Nothing more. I think it's time you should go to bed." Kristoph moved his hands toward the lamp, and pulled the string. The whole room was now enveloped in a dark blanket. "Do you need me to keep the hall light on?"

"No, I think you're enough light for me. I'll be fine!"

Kristoph wanted to question what Klavier meant by him being "enough light," but Klavier's excited voice interrupted his train of thought. "You know, maybe one day when I'm old enough, I'll become a singer. If Mama and you are good at it, then I should be, too!"

Kristoph laughed quietly and raised his hand, shaking his head. "Wasn't it only last week when you went around proclaiming how you wanted to be a fireman?"

"Well…that was last week, and this is this week. I'm serious about this!"

"I'm sure you are." Kristoph smiled. "Now it's time for you to go to bed. Good night, Klavier."

"Good night, Kris!"

Kristoph nodded, and quietly exited the room. Making his way down the hall, the fourteen-year-old placed two fingers oh his aching forehead. It had to be just a byproduct of all the stress he was feeling. That had to be it.

The sound of soft footsteps jolted Kristoph out of his inner musings. Turning the corner, he came face-to-face with a young blonde woman of thirty. Her silky hair cascaded down her back, adorned with silver hairclips that kept every strand in order. The woman's light blue dress didn't possess a single wrinkle, and her skin was perfectly smooth and soft. Overall, the woman gave off the impression of a porcelain doll as opposed to the mother she was supposed to be.

"Kristoph," Katarina Gavin began, tilting her head to the side. "Did you come from Klavier's room? Do you happen to know if he is asleep?"

"Well, he's…" Kristoph bit his lip. Why was it that talking to his mother was so hard? "Um, the last time I checked he appeared to be sleeping."

"I see." Katarina looked intently at Kristoph, as if truly seeing him for the first time. Feeling her gaze, Kristoph tried to stand up straighter while simultaneously gaining awareness of every little thing that was wrong with him.

Pursing her lips, yet still maintaining that aura of beauty, Katarina gently touched some of Kristoph's golden hair strands and put them behind his hear with her perfectly manicured hands. "Your hair is out of place. Given that it's becoming so long already, I suggest that you try putting it in a braid."

"But then I'll look like-"Kristoph abruptly stopped. A wavy curtain of gold blocked his view of her expression, but the teenage boy had the feeling he knew what she was thinking, for once in his life. Katarina slowly began to move towards Klavier's room. At first Kristoph hesitated, and then decided to follow his mother.

"I merely offered a suggestion. It was by no means a request." Katarina said, not bothering to look behind her. Kristoph bit his lip, trying to search for the right words, before finally asking her what was on his mind.

"Mother, were you and Father in an argument? I thought I heard you two discussing something."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Kristoph wished for more then anything to take them back. Although she did not stop walking, Katarina suddenly became tense, and the air seemed to gold colder and stuffier. She turned her head to look at her son, a tight smile etched on her delicate face.

"There are no problems in this household, Kristoph. I didn't think I had to tell you something so blatantly apparent. The two of use were merely having a discussion. I seemed to have lost something very valuable to me, and that is all."

Kristoph was tempted to ask what the item she lost was, but thought better of it. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her upset with him.

The two finally reached Klavier's room, and Katarina gently pulled the door open. Klavier was sleeping as gently as a cherub, bundled tight in his covers. Katarina gave a sigh of irritation as she tried to maneuver past the toys scattered about the room, muttering something about Adelle. When she reached the sleeping boy, Katarina tenderly placed a smooth hand over his forehead. His mother's eyes softened as an affectionate smile graced her lips. Mesmerized by his mother's facial transformation, Kristoph couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he watched his little brother sleep peacefully.

You're lucky you were born at the right time, little brother.

"Why did you come here when he was about to fall asleep?" asked Katarina, gently fingering a few of Klavier's strands of hair.

"He needed some help with homework. Also, he told me of his new career plans." Katarina turned to look at Kristoph in surprise. The magic that was once there had evaporated, leaving Kristoph to face the same distant expression that he always saw for fourteen years of his life.

"Oh? And what could he possibly want to be, now?"

"A singer." Kristoph decided that it would be much wiser to leave out why he decided to become one.

"…Interesting." Katarina put one finger to her lip, as if in deep thought. "It's much better than becoming a fireman, at any rate. And what exactly made him decide on this particular career path?"

"I was discussing what I wanted to be when I was an adult. I listed off the various types of jobs, and when I mentioned the arts, I gave examples of what it meant, such as painting, writing, and singing," he lied, hoping that she would not see through him. "Regardless, I wasn't planning on a career in that sort of field anyway."

"And what do you wish to become?" asked Katarina, making her way past the toys and to the doorframe. Kristoph inwardly cursed. He had no set career path; his father always stressed the importance of doing something that would increase the prestige of the Gavin name as well making himself useful, but Kristoph wasn't sure what that could be.

"I haven't fully decided y-"

"Become a defense attorney."

"What?" Kristoph looked at his mother in surprise. If anything, he would have expected her to say "become a prosecutor," given the fame and power of the renowned Manfred von Karma.

"Become a defense attorney. Not for poor pedestrians, of course, but for wealthy, famous citizens caught in a bit of a scandal. Imagine the prestige of defending an extremely wealthy client from a false accusation! You will then have made an illustrious name for yourself, and, consequently, the family. And if you win a case against Manfred von Karma…" Katarina's lip curled as she eyed her son similar to how cheetah's size up their prey. "Needless to say, the benefits would be immense. You'd finally make a name for yourself, Kristoph."

Kristoph gazed at his mother from behind his glasses. Fame, power, and prestige. Those were the three things the Gavin family cherished above all else. Without them, one was worthless. If becoming a defense attorney would suddenly make him appear useful to his parents, then who was he to complain?

"I'll do it. It sounds like a rather… benevolent thing to do, helping people who can't help themselves."

Katarina gave Kristoph a small, detached smile before passing him, retreating from Klavier's room to go down the hallway. "Of course it is."

After making sure her footsteps could not be heard, Kristoph gently leaned his head on the doorframe and sighed. His eyes fell on Klavier, who was sound asleep, oblivious to Kristoph's mental and emotion turmoil.

You're so lucky, Klavier. You don't know just how lucky you are.

Kristoph treaded softly towards the sleeping boy, before placing a hand on his messy blond head. Memories of long ago nipped at his mind like crows pecking at a dead carcass. Kristoph's grip tightened as his eyes narrowed, watching the boy sleep with no problems whatsoever. For one brief second it occurred to Kristoph that he could probably kill the boy right now, while he was sleeping.

But he didn't. Kristoph's gaze softened as he watched his little brother breathe tranquilly. As irritating was, Kristoph was still his elder brother, and it was the older sibling's duty to protect the younger one at all times. With one last look, Kristoph closed the door, and exited the room.