Chapter seven

"Neal, it's me, listen… I know we were meant to have a quiet night in but Roiben broke up with Kaye and she's in a right state. Don't worry, she's with me and she's OK. I need to look after her for a while. I will see you when I get home but don't wait up for me; I'm going to see Roiben to convince him he's made a mistake. I love you. Bye." Luis cut the call after leaving the message on Corny's voice mail.

Luis had tucked Kaye up in bed and when she began to snore lightly he crept out the door. He had to think strategically, Roiben couldn't be back at the court, it wasn't physically possible in the time period he had but Roiben did have a head start. Where would he stay on his journey back? That was a tuff one, yet to Luis an entirely obvious one. Ravus. Where else would the King of the faeries go apart from his favourite exiles house? Luis didn't want to let any more time to get between him and Roiben so his set off at a quick pace down the street towards the subway entrance.

Luis knew all to well how to get to the secret passage into Ravus' home. He took the subway a few stops over and got off when the route terminated. Instead of heading for the long corridor of stairs towards the exit like all the other passengers on the train, Luis hung back. When he was sure no one was watching him he slipped onto the tracks and into the dark, dank tunnel ahead. Sticking closely to the mould covered walls, keeping his hands in front of him like a blind man and straining his ears for the noise of on coming trains. He heard the all to familiar noise of one thundering along its metal rails and ducking into a groove in the wall and flattening himself away from the track he held his breath as the train hurtled past. Luis was sure that a child had caught a glimpse of his face because it stared open mouthed out the window as it went past.

Luis peeled himself from his close embrace with the wall and continued to stumble over the crude gravel on the floor. Seeing the light Luis knew he was nearing his old haunt, he picked up speed and sprinted out of the tunnel ready to vault onto the platform. He stopped. There were new people there.

Luis was surprised at the new generation. They looked oddly similar to his group that used to inhabit that lonely space. He casually pulled himself up onto the platform and wandered over, almost on instinct wanting to talk to these people. They couldn't have been more than sixteen. There were three boys and two girls.

"Eh… Hi?" said the tallest boy, he had long unkempt hair, unwashed and wild surrounding his bohemian look. They all looked like rebels, they all seemed to be dressed the same, punkish, tear-away-teen look.

"Hi, What are you doing down here?" Luis asked the group.

"Could ask you the same thing man, appearing from the darkness like that, that's creepy dude." A short boy said in a light-hearted tone. He had long curly hair and uncharacteristically for the middle of October, shorts on.

"Well, I'm, eh… looking for someone." Luis stumbled. He hadn't thought about it but Roiben might have come this way if he wanted to avoid attention.

"Dude, you looking for that gorgeous guy with the long silver hair, god he was stunnnnnning! I wouldn't mind getting with that." The short little blonde one who reminded Luis of Kaye giggled and Luis noticed the one with the curly hair was scowling at her.

With a massive pang of guilt, like a dagger to his heart Luis was basically looking at his brother. Dave had loved Lolli but she hadn't returned his affection. Lolli had preferred him and he hated that. He wanted to scream at that instant, all he had ever wanted was Dave to be happy, he was never truly happy no matter what Luis had done for him… Batting back a tear for his brother, Luis turned round and ran towards the tunnel. He heard the confused shouts of the teens but he didn't look back, he couldn't look back at that. He kept running until he reached the hole in the brickwork. Panting he slipped inside, sweeping the curtain out of his way and stepping quietly up the stairs.

Rounding the long corridor he nearly knocked a pile of ancient books from their teetering pile. Luis rounded the corner to see the fluttering of a few candles and the slender shadow of Roiben. Luis stepped forward, a loud creek echoed around the walls. Roiben span round, looking wild and startled.

"Kaye?" Roiben asked in a flash, seeming scared as he adjusted his eyes to the darkness behind him.

"Roiben, it's me, Luis. Why are you down here mate? You really should be with Kaye…" Luis said in a soothing voice.

"I can't be with Kaye!" Roiben screamed, whipping round and knocked dozens of vials of never of a shelf. They smashed and the golden dust flew into the air. For a minute it surrounded Roiben, an ominous glow around this beautiful man. Luis was staring at him; if he weren't in love with Neal he would probably have taken a liking to Roiben. Luis shook his head selfishly as he caught Roiben's gaze, seeing the fresh tears cascade from his eyes and watching his legs teeter, Luis sprinted to catch him as he fell. Roiben wrenched away from Luis touch like he had fallen on a bed of iron nails.

"This is my weakness, my love for that woman will be the death of me and we both know it. How did you find me Luis?" Roiben had returned to him normal indifferent self.

"She needs to be with you Roiben… you are her life, and I found you using common sense, you would go somewhere quiet, secluded, and most importantly away from Kaye, but you had to stay close enough to watch over her… it was obvious." Luis continued his soothing tones.

"You must return to her. Tell her I will be returning also, just not as soon as she would prefer. Tell her she knows it's for her own safety and I shall send for her when the trouble has subsided. Go Luis, be my messenger please." Roiben said calmly. Luis got up to return to Kaye but as he walked towards the door, Roiben caught his shoulder.

"Thank you Luis, I appreciate your help. Take care of her for me please… tell her I love her…" Roiben relinquished his grasp on Luis and turned and walked through the door to the other room.

Luis was left alone, sighing at his unhelpfulness and seeing Kaye's distraught face in his mind as he returned without Roiben. He decided to walk out the front door, avoiding those kids on the platform. Luis strolled out through the split in wall that appeared, invisible to the outside world. Luis flipped out his phone and realised that he had five missed calls from Corny. He pressed his speed dial number and pressed his phone to his ear. Corny answered on the first ring.

"LUIS! Where are you? Come home please. I'm scared. He's back! He's com…" Corny was screaming hysterically.

"Whoa whoa whoa, slow down, Who's back?" Luis cut him off mid sentence, totally bewildered.

"Ne… ne…" Luis heard Corny gulp and take a large intake of breath.

"Nephamael." Corny let his breath slide with the word.

"That bastard! How the hell is he still around? I thought you fucking killed the bastard?" Luis felt the rage boil inside him at the mention of Corny's ex-lover. Luis could hear Corny crying on the other end of the phone now.

"I thought so too. Please come home now." Corny was begging.

"I will be home as soon as I can. Lock the doors and try and stay safe. Bye for now." Luis clicked the call off and put his phone in his pocket and ran. He ran faster than he had ever run before. He needed to get to Corny before that bastard did. He wouldn't let Corny be in danger when he was with him. He loved him too much for something bad to happen.

He practically yanked the door from the taxi as he leaped in and bellowed at the driver. The driver sensed something was wrong and drove quickly. They were back at the apartment in fifteen minutes so Luis through the contents of his wallet at the driver, which amounted too much more than the petty fair he had been charged.

Fumbling with his keys he flew open the door and screamed for Corny. He was greeted by dark silence.