The Battles We Rage and The Choices We Make

Billy has finally been adopted, but are his new family all they seem to be or are they hiding dark secrets. And with the arrival of two new endowed children who have sided with Manfred the balance has been lost at Bloor's. So with Billy's adoption and with a need for more endowed children, can the two be connected.

This is the Second chapter in my story, we are going to meet Billy's new family and the new students in this chapter. I thought I would get all the new Characters introduced in

one chapter.

Don't own so don't sue. All I own are the Characters you do not recognise the rest belong to Jenny Nimmo

New Years and New Families

As Billy Approached the door to his new home and his new life he was surprised to say the least to see it flung open and the women that he had seen in the picture rush out to greet him. As he looked at her he could see her deep red hair blowing in the wind behind her and a deep pair of brown eyes brimming with happiness.

"Hello Billy, I'm Andrea Valerious your..yo…. your new mom" she stopped speaking and wrapped her warm arms around him. All Billy could do was gape in shock and open and close his mouth words failing to come out.

"I'm sorry we did not come to pick you up Billy but we thought that it might have been to much for you. Suddenly being thrust on us and having to endure a journey to a new home with people you do not know and would not trust."

Andrea looked up remembering that they were still outside and the prying eye's of the taxi driver watching them made her fill slightly uncomfortable.

"Come on inside Billy everyone is dying to meet you, poor Kai is in a state he was desperate to go and pick up his new big brother." She chuckled quietly to herself before continuing.

"Do not worry Billy no harm will come to you here you are safe now Dear one."

With that she quickly opened the door to the house and allowed Billy to step inside. Andrea closed the door quietly behind her and led the way through a richly decorated hall way into a large sitting area where Billy instantly felt three Paris of eyes turn to him.

The young boy who Billy assumed was Kai instantly burst into a smile, his eyes looking flushed and excited. The man who Billy had seen in the photo looked at him with the same eyes his wife had happiness brimming in every once of his crystal clear blue eyes. Billy had been correct about the young girl she was pretty, Billy's first impression was that she looked like one of the angels that the Chapel was decorated with. A slow smile creped across her lips and her blue's eyes shone with the same excitement that her Brothers had.

"Hello Billy welcome to your new home"

Billy turned towards the voice it was deep and rich and yet oh so welcoming, Billy felt a small smile creep along his lips as he looked around at his surroundings. The sitting room was decorated in a pale cream colour with the main wall painted deep red and adorned with pictures of both of the children; in the centre hung a large picture of a women that Billy recognised but could not quite place.

"My name is Byron Valerious Billy, You may call be that or dad if you so wish I do not mind, which ever who feel comfortable with."

Billy had jumped when Byron had spoke he was so intrigued and mystified by the pictures in the room he had not noticed everyone in the room still staring at him. Billy blushed slightly when he realised that everyone's attention was still on him. Kai however became Billy's saving grace unable to contain his excitement and happiness any more the young child suddenly ran across the room to Billy.

"I'm Kai your new little brother and I'm this old"

He signalled by placing five fingers in Billy's face and waving them about

"Mummy said I can show you around and your room and the animals, we have lot's of animals, do you like animals I do I like all animals, Cats, dogs, fish, hamster, pigs, goats and rabbits "

He managed to scream while not taking or pausing for breath. His face look red and flustered and Billy could not help but laugh and the little boys enthusiasm.

"Kai maybe Billy would like to settle down and catch his breath his self first before you drag him here there and every where, showing him every possible place you can thing of." Andrea gently said to her son.

The little boy did look a little taken back after being reprimanded by his mother and looked up at Billy with a little less enthusiasm in his eyes and face.

"Mummy says who need to rest Billy do you want to rest I could take you to your room. It's right next to mine"

Kai said with a little less enthusiasm in his voice from when they had first spoke, Billy found his self slowly opening his mouth to speak while still staring at the little boy before him.

"Em..no…I'm not really tired and I would really like to see the animals, if I could just put my stuff some where I could go with Kai I really do not mind."

"REALLY! Mummy can he please, please, Mummy he said he was not tired and I could show him where to put his things and show him all the animals."

Both Andrea and Byron laughed and a small chuckle was heard from the young girl as she looked lovingly from Billy to Kai.

"Ok half pint" Byron said while still gently laughing "give Billy the grand tour, and Billy is there anything particular you would like to eat this evening?"

Billy was taken back these people had welcomed Billy into there home and shown him nothing but affection and kindness they were nothing like the de Greys. There house was warm and inviting and seem to be calling out for people to come and enter, it was nothing like the passing house with it's force fields and foreboding. Billy had only been in the house a small while and yet he felt safe and welcomed in to this family, like this was somewhere he could finally belong. He no longer would be dogged and stalked by Manfred and made to do terrible things by Old Man Bloor, and have to choose whether or not to betray his friends for the sake of a family that used to seem so in the distant but now it was here and in front of his eyes

"No theirs is nothing special I would like…Whatever you cook will be fine."

Billy finally managed to say will flashing his new family a big smile. Billy could feel Kai softly pulling on his arm his eagerness to show his new brother his surroundings and the secrets that this house could hold.

"Billy" and gentle and soft voice said "I'm Bracken by the way I thought I would introduce by self before Kai drags you off and your not seen again for a few hours"

The young girl said with playfulness and love in her words, she looked up at Billy and flashed him a smile showing off a set of straight white teeth.

As Billy was being pulled along the hall way and eventually up the stairs he was more certain that Bracken had to be an angel and that he was glad that this family had decided to adopt him. He had a New Family.

Bloor's Academy

The Heavy oak doors swung open and revelled two small figure standing in the entrance side by side, they started to walk forward not diverting there gaze form straight a head of them. A deep male voice erupted into the halls and broke the two figures gaze.

"I'm glad to see you made it hear in one peace….But your late and we have been waiting for the pair of you. Manfred will show you to your dormitories and then you will join us for dinner"

With that Harold Bloor left and in his place stood a young man who appeared to be in his late teens early twenties his hair was of the darkest black and was tied in a small ponytail. His face and eyes were directed at the floor but not even that could hide the burns that were on his neck, his face and his hands. His face looked red and blotchy yet seemed to scream out in angry. The two figures diverted there eyes as the young man looked up.

"Come on I will show you the way, Keep up because I'm not waiting"

With that he leapt into action moving swiftly through the empty corridors of the old building, the two figure trying to keep up. Manfred went through corridors and corridors before he slowly began to climb the stairs to what would become there new dormitories. They opened the door and entered a large room which seated to double beds and a cabinet next to each. Manfred moved to the side to allow the two figures to enter and watched as they slowly looked and walked around there new room, there new home.

Manfred knew of the pair he knew they were endowed just like him, just like Charlie, he had to get them on his side before Charlie and his lot would have them running around Bloor's like they own the place causing trouble and mischief where every they went. Sticking there noses in to things that did not concern them was how he had become what he was to day scarred and disfigured, angry and full of hatred. Manfred had planned on taking his angry out on that Billy through out summer but some man had come to the Academy and demanded that he and his family be allowed to adopt Billy. Manfred was uncertain what had caused his Grandfather to agree to the request he knew that his grandfather kept Billy around so that he would have a spy on Charlie and his lot. But his Grandfather had agreed and even told Manfred under no circumstances was he to harm Billy Raven, his Grandfather seemed afraid of something, something that Manfred was desperate to find out.

"Manfred….S..Siir" the smaller of the two sputtered, breaking Manfred from his thoughts.

"What. What is it"

"Em…I'm….We….I was just wondering Sir, wh..what happened to your face?"

Manfred looked quite taken back people just tended to ignore his face or pretend not to look at it, but here someone was actually asking about it. Angry darkened his eyes and the two figures looked taken back and scarred the smaller one was scanning the room as if looking for a exit other then the one that Manfred was standing in front of.

"Have you every heard of some one called Charlie Bone" both figures shook there heads furiously "If you stand in his way and stop him from getting something he wants this is what happens"

Both of the figures stood there staring at Manfred unsure of how to react to what he had just said to them.

"Is that all" Manfred asked and both figures sharply nodded there heads

With that Manfred Walk out and shut the door a small smirk playing across his features

"Welcome to a new year Charlie Bone"

I decided to end that chapter here, so what do you think? Drop me a review and I will update I have more chapters ready. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ONLY PLEASE!