A.N. So sorry for the late chapter update! Work's been busy and I was dealing with a lot of emotional ups and downs! Once again, a huge heartfelt thanks to WolfParadox for being my patient and amazing beta reader! Hope you guys like this!

CHAPTER FOUR

We drove to a hotel, I think I fell asleep on the way because when I realised where we were, I was already in a bed. It was somewhere in the afternoon when we arrived and it was dark when I woke. I got a bit excited when I realised what time it was.

It's night time.

I scrambled off the bed and padded around the room, looking for my backpack. Night means the moon and the moon lets me call Kuya. Kuya would hopefully be able to talk to me and we could talk about his plans for the War. The incident at the car wasn't important, I wasn't hurt or anything bad. I just got very scared.

I found my backpack at the wall and I zipped it open as quietly as I could to look for my Mirror. When I found it, I looked around to see if anyone else is in the room (I was alone) before I ran to the bathroom as quietly as I could. I just needed water and then I'd go out for a bit. Water then moonlight then I'd be able to talk to Kuya again.

I miss Kuya.

I locked the bathroom door before I went to the bathtub (the sink was too high.) to fill my Mirror with water. Kuya told me that fresh lake or spring water is better because it's nature that connects us, but this is the next best thing.

When I got my Mirror ready, I snuck out the bathroom and I looked around the room again. Neither of my guardians had come back yet so I don't have to worry about much. I'm more worried about where I'll find moonlight. Kuya learned how to call without moonlight pretty fast but that's because Nanay already taught him cause she raised him herself. I'm still learning.

When I got out of the room, I noticed how it's not like other hotels I've seen that Tatay had taken me to. The hallways aren't in the building, it leads outside. That got rid of my worries about where I'd find moonlight.

I was careful not to spill any water as I held my Mirror out to the small ray of light. I held my breath and waited.

"Bunso?" Kuya's voice was faint and it faded in and out when he spoke but that didn't matter, he was there!

"Kuya?" I whispered back, bringing the Mirror away from the light. Kuya was a bit blurry but I could see him okay enough, he looked worried.

"Bunso, are you okay? Lyka?" Kuya was leaning closer to me and I just smiled. I miss him. I want to go back.

"I miss you." I blurted out as I tried to look closer at him. He looked a bit see through and I could see clouds and stars through him. He was using a window glass.

Kuya smiled his sad smile again.

"I miss you too, Bunso," he whispered to me, placing his fingers in front of him. "I miss you so much and Papa misses you a lot too." I heard a deep voice beyond Kuya's side and Kuya looked away for a moment to reply.

"Papa got sad when he realised that the lady at McDonald's forgot to give the Happy Meal toy to you." I shrugged. I forgot that Papa wanted to give me a toy cause he says all kids should have something to play with. But I don't mind.

"It's okay." I tried to find Papa but he wasn't there. Kuya shook his head.

"Papa can't be seen by my Mirror," he explained. I wanted to say how his Mirror isn't a Mirror anymore since it's already his Sight that he's pushing onto something he could use as a Mirror.

I just kept quiet instead.

"Tell Papa it's okay." I don't like it when Papa gets sad. Especially if he gets sad because of something that isn't important. "I'm okay Papa." I said as loudly as I could. I wasn't expecting to hear Papa's rumbling voice at all but I did!

"If you're sure, iha."

Kuya grinned. "My Mirror can't see him but it's still working as a telephone," he told me. I nodded.

We became quiet for a bit before I tried to break the silence. "Do you know what to do for when you're back?" Do you know what to do for the War? Kuya lost his sad smile and his frown appeared. It wasn't angry. It was more like he has a really bad headache whenever he thinks about the War and I think I understand why.

"I don't know, Bunso. My primary War council is mostly injured or dead now, our brothers and sisters who are clan leaders can't come because their tribes are also in danger." Kuya's face crumpled and he looked down, rubbing his face with his hand.

"I don't know anymore, Lyka," he whispered. I shook my head. Seeing Kuya like this always hurt cause he always acts like he's not scared much or he always finds a way to just make everyone laugh or smile. He sometimes even sings for the younger kids when we're scared at night.

"It's okay," I whispered. I can't touch the water in my Mirror because I might lose my call with Kuya so I just let my finger get as close to Kuya's reflection as I could make them.

"It's okay," I repeated, forcing my voice to sound happy like Kuya does whenever one of us cries, "You'll know. You're smart and-and maybe our brothers and sisters could come help soon. No one should go through this alone" I don't think they would send help though.

The Cacao tribe lost their tribe leader Maria Cacao and it's been four years now and a lot of the Demigods there were killed because they were too exposed. The Hunt was really bad that time when fifty Cacao tribe members were killed while the Sinukuan tribe was making their own preparations to look for Mariang Sinukuan while keeping their sisters and brothers safe.

I don't think they'll be able to help. But Kuya needs hope right now and he doesn't have much of it in him.

"It's okay." I watched as Kuya looked at me like he wants to say no. I smiled again. "You'll be fine, I'll be fine." I copied his words from when we were still on the plane. Kuya looked like he wanted to hug me really tight. I want to hug Kuya again, I want him to blow raspberries on my cheek and to stay up late reading the books he found for me. I want to speak to Nanay like I did back at the tribe when she came for short visits. But most of all, I just want to go back to my family

"I miss you, Bunso," he whispered, his voice cracking, "I miss you and I want you here. I want to hug you and keep you safe and I know I can't because the Hunt isn't stopping and it scares me to think that even with you there you might not be safe and I don't know what to do if anything happened to you there." Kuya never told me this. He never said he was scared. He just kept telling me I'll be safe, that I'll have family even though it's not him or Papa. He never told me he was scared.

"I'm scared you'll leave me like Tatay." I answered back. My throat felt tight and my eyes were burning, I took a deep breath and it wasn't so deep. I want to cry but if I cry, Kuya will cry and think it's his fault.

"I don't want you to leave me like Tatay." I said again. I know I sound like I'm whining and I don't want to sound like that but I just...I just don't want to be alone again! And Kuya was the only one that I could have with me all the time without being scared that they'll have to go away.

Kuya made shushing noises. "It's okay Bunso, it's okay, you won't." I saw Kuya smile tightly and he pressed his forehead against the glass, closing his eyes. "The Dark-Folk could maim and take my other limbs away but so help me, I'll find a way to make sure you won't lose me."

"Promise?" I asked, my voice sounded choked and I could feel my tears starting to go down my face when Kuya said I won't lose him. But I'm not embarrassed. If it's Kuya then I'm not embarrassed to cry or laugh loudly. I held up my pinky finger in front of my Mirror and Kuya nodded, copying me.

"Promise."

Then Kuya cleared his throat and smiled at me like he's trying to pretend that nothing hurts.

"Now, why don't you tell me how your day went hmm?"

"And if you've eaten your dinner yet." Papa's rumbling voice threw in.

I bit my lip while I tried to think over what parts of my day I should tell them. "Well…" I looked down at my feet and shrugged slightly, "There's not much to tell. I fell asleep and I woke up in a hotel."

Kuya looked confused and for a few seconds I got to remember how he also looked that confused when we first went to McDonald's. I told him to order a Happy Meal for himself and he finds it cute that there's a special order for kids.

"And where's your father?" Kuya asked slowly. He had a careful tone and I noticed that he wasn't smiling that much. I pressed my lips together. Kuya's not angry with me, right?

"Lyka, iha." Papa's voice came in again, he wasn't angry but he sounded...he's not happy. "Where is your father? Did you wake up alone?" I kept my head ducked down while I nodded.

"I knew it," Kuya snarled out. I flinched. "I trusted those two to keep her safe not leave her alone to could fend for herself!"

"Sinag, maybe they're-" Papa tried to cut in but Kuya didn't let him.

"I chose them because they're the safer option, Lolo! You know I had no choice with them!" Kuya sounded really angry. Was it my fault? "Puñeta!" I whimpered as I tried to hide from Kuya. I don't want him to be angry at me. Did I make Kuya angry? He never got angry before...

"Sinag-"

"Did they think that this is a joke?" Kuya spat out, "I expected more from the man Nanay told me about! I didn't expect them to be a bunch of irresponsible, useless, imbecilic pieces of-" I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried not to cry. Did I make Kuya mad?

"That is enough!" Papa barked out. Kuya stopped.

"Sinag, go apologise and speak to your sister. You need to rethink what you just said." Papa didn't sound happy.

It took us awhile to speak to each other.

"Lyka, I'm-I'm sorry," Kuya started. I shook my head.

"Shouldn't have left the room." I muttered. Kuya looked sad but I don't care right now. Why would he let me go if he thinks bad of my father and 'uncle'?

"No, no, it's not that." Kuya said quickly, he closed his eyes and sighed. "I just...it's hard. It's hard having to trust two men I don't know with someone I want to keep safe." I shook my head.

"So why did you let me go?" I shot back. Kuya looked surprised, then hurt. He looked away from me when he answered.

"Because I want to keep you safe, the only option is over the seas where hopefully no Dark-Folk could touch you."

"But now I'm alone!" I shouted at him, my breath hitched when I did. I was crying and it hurt to breathe, but it felt a bit better when I shouted. Kuya looked like it hurt him just to talk to me. "I don't know them! They don't care and they don't know me like you do!" I sniffled and rubbed my eyes as I tried to get rid of my tears.

Kuya didn't reply to me, he just looked away. I wanted to say more to him but then I heard someone coming. I dipped my hand in the water.

Kuya's face disappeared. I'm alone again.

~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~

I was already in the room with my Mirror under my pillow when my guardians came back. They had two plastic bags and it smelled like food but I didn't really feel like eating. I sniffled and wiped my nose with my sleeve. My throat still felt tight and everything still hurt inside and now I have to deal with my new guardians seeing me cry.

"Sorry we were gone for so long, kiddo." I heard my father start talking but I don't want to look at him. I don't want to look at anyone right now so I just kept my head down.

"We got dinner for all of us." My 'uncle' added. I nodded. I really don't feel like eating right now.

"You okay, kid?" I heard my father ask. I looked up at him for a few seconds before I looked down again and shrugged.

"I don't know." I muttered. I really don't, I don't understand anything that happened earlier. Why was Kuya angry?

I felt a finger touch my chin and my head was tilted back. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my lips together. They'll make fun of me for crying, I just know it.

"Lyka, what happened?" My 'uncle' asked. I shook my head.

"Nothing."

"You're lying." I shook my head. I heard a sigh.

"We want to help you, Lyka." My 'uncle' said gently. My father was quiet but I didn't care. I don't care. I'll keep saying it if I have to make it clear that he doesn't matter. I felt someone wiping cloth on my face. I whined and I tried to get away from the cloth but my 'uncle' kept me from going too far.

"Shh, Lyka it's okay. I just need to wipe your face." Why is he suddenly nice to me? Awhile ago he was saying 'no' to taking me in but now he's acting like I'm important. Why?

"But...I don't want it." I mumbled, wiping my nose with my jacket sleeve. My 'uncle' frowned.

"What?"

"Your help." I can't understand what face my 'uncle' made but he just sighed and shook his head.

"I know right now, everything seems bad-"

"It always is." I interrupted him, "For me, for everyone in my family, it always is. Everything's always bad." My 'uncle' shook his head again.

"-but you need to know that we're here," He finished. He spoke so calmly that I'm a bit scared of him. He smiled and wiped my face again with what I now know is a hankie. "Me and your dad, we're family. You're a surprise but we'll try our best with you." I looked away and shook my head.

"What happened to make you cry?" my father asked. My 'uncle' already asked that question. I frowned at him and pressed my lips together.

My father just stayed where he was but he crossed his arms and looked at me. He was waiting and even if I didn't want to tell him I think he'll find a way to know what happened. My 'uncle' was looking at me too.

"Lyka, I know to you it's not important but to us it is. We just came back from getting dinner and we see you curled up on your bed crying and unresponsive, we want to make sure you're okay." I took a deep breath but my breath still hitched when I tried it. My throat tightened up and I felt tears pricking my eyes again.

"Kuya left me." I whispered, my voice broke and I just whimpered curling up on myself, "He left me and I don't have anyone!" I could feel myself getting carried and I felt a hand patting my head. I flinched. Only my family was allowed to do that!

"Hey kiddo." It was my father, what was he doing? "For what it's worth, you have us." It's not worth much. They don't know me. They don't know what I am. They don't know who Nanay really is. They don't know anything. I hiccuped and whimpered again as I buried my face in his shirt.

"We're not much granted, but we're here. You're not alone, kid."

My breaths were still hitching but I managed to stop myself from crying now. I leaned away from my father and I saw him looking at me, his brows were knotted together. I think I saw concern in his eyes but I didn't want to keep looking at him so I looked down.

"Okay?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Great," I could hear the smile in his voice, "Why don't we all sit down and eat?"

A.N. So there we go with Chapter Four! As someone that left their family (though for a different reason) I will admit that it took me two and a half days of crying before I could stop. And even then it still hurts to think of the house I left cause of all the memories good and bad.

Quick reassurance that Sinag isn't bad, he's just got bad trust issues with foreigners because to him they're threats to his family. He never got angry or showed that distrust to Lyka because he wants her to understand that she'll be safe. It's just that the moment he found out Lyka was alone, he felt like his suspicions were all true and that wasn't a nice thing to think when he's in a plane many feet off the ground and he can't return to protect his youngest sibling,

Papa can't be seen by my Mirror - Deities can't be seen by Mirrors used by Mayari's children because it reflects physical form. While their disguises can be touched, it's still an illusion which in turn can't be reflected.

Sight - Wooden bowls are known as Mirrors though it's oftentimes used by the younger children of Mayari or the inexperienced ones. With the older ones and the ones Mayari had raised, they have Sight. That allows them to project themselves through any reflective surface through the moon's light so they could contact their family.

Maria Cacao - In this story, Maria Cacao is a diwata, a Fae Folk of the Philippines. She is one of the tribe leaders for the demigod tribes and she's the most unforgiving. Her skin is the darkest between her, Maria Makiling and Mariang Sinukuan. She likes making deals with people in need since she sees it as a way to ensure that people would know her help is not without consequences. Her tribe is located in labyrinthine caves inside her mountain.

Mariang Sinukuan - Mariang Sinukuan is the elder sister to Maria Makiling, she's jaded by time and her belief in humanity has been lost due to everything she'd seen in the past centuries. She's one of the leaders of the different tribes, her tribe is hidden deep in the heart of her lands. She had made her tribe a home underground to make sure that none will find them.

Lolo - Grandfather

Puñeta - a Tagalog curse word. Could be used to express anger, frustration, disappointment. Derived from Spanish word of the same name.