Meggie gratefully took the cup offered to her, curling her fingers around it. The warmth spread through her, but did not touch the coldness she felt in her heart. She looked up at Raine, who was watching both her and his dad carefully. Her eyes slowly moved to his father, afraid of what she might find in his eyes.

She was surprised to find a curiosity in them. She squinted, surprised that no anger was evident in his eyes. But did he feel it?

"I'm not angry."

She blinked.

Raine smiled.

"He has a gift for reading people. It's annoying." Meggie smiled, before glancing quickly back at him.

"I'm Jack. You must be Resa's daughter. You look a lot like her." He sipped on his drink, and Meggie's grip tightened around her cup.

"I don't want to look like her. I don't want that burden." She lifted the cup to her lips, to distract herself from their reactions at her words.

"See dad? She has a hate for her mum too!"

Meggie put down the cup, wiping her lips as Jack looked at her closely.

"Well, why wouldn't I? She has screwed all of us around for too long-things that did not start out her fault. She has hurt us both so much. So yes. I have a certain amount of hate for her." Meggie chewed, tasting the bitterness. Her heart clenched under the weight of it, and she took another drink of coco.

"I want to do something." Raine banged his fist on the table, and Meggie jumped, almost spilling the contents in the cup over her.

"Raine, that was rude," Jack scolded, and Raine had the grace to be embarrassed.

"Sorry Meggie." He mumbled.

"It's fine-I just wish you had waited. But I do too-which is why I took the action to come here myself."

"Kids. I feel your pain, I really do. But that's not the way adults handle things."

"Are you so sure?" Meggie hated that word now. Adult.

"Adults cause war, kids would rather just play together. Adults want power. Kids just want freedom and happiness. So don't be so sure on that!"

There was a ringing silence, but Meggie did not regret her words. What she did regret was not saying them to Dustfinger, to all the people who treated her like she was a naive child.

"Okay then." Raine said awkwardly.

Jack appeared deep in thought, so Meggie looked at Raine, who was staring back at her.

"Dad, Meggie and I could just take care of it."

"Son no. Don't corrupt Meggie."

"Corrupt? Are you saying he is corrupted?" Meggie was confused. Raine glared at his dad.

"She doesn't know." He hissed quietly, and Meggie looked in between them.

"Doesn't know what?"

"Son you should have told her." Jack said quietly. Raine cursed under his breath and then looked at Meggie.

"I was friends with Jeremiah...and he's not dead. I helped him escape." Meggie sat there for just a moment, letting it slightly sink in before she was up, and in that process she knocked her drink.

"Meggie wait." Raine stood up.

But she was already running.

"Meggie!"

She was aware of someone running after her, breathing deeply.

"Raine stop! You're going to scare her!" Suddenly she was drenched in cold water, and she stopped suddenly. Raine collided into her, grabbing her shoulders.

"Meggie I'm not going to hurt you neither is he! Please! We mean no harm!"

"Get off of me!" She struggled, her body jerking violently in his arms but he held on.

"Meggie please!"

"Raine let her go now!" Jack snarled, yanking Raine off. Meggie looked at them, tears in her eyes but she bolted again.

She was barely aware of where she was running, but obviously her feet knew.

Her house loomed in sight, and she collapsed at the front door, gasping and shivering. She brought her knees to her chest, holding onto them, and buried her head into her wet jeans. The cold air blew at her, and she started to shudder violently.

"Meggie!"

How did he always find her? Somehow, no matter what predicament she was in, he found her.

She heard his footsteps before she felt his arm arms around her, gathering her and bringing her close to his chest.

"What happened to you? We were searching for you!"

"I-I...so s-s-s-stupid." She shuddered. Dustfinger rubbed her arms, before picking her up.

"C'mon let's get you inside." He carried her to her room and took out some clothes.

"Here." He turned around, and she shakily got dressed.

"You can turn around now." He helped her back out to the lounge, and sat her down, putting a blanket over her.

"Are you hungry?"

"Dustfinger?" Meggie protested. He stopped his frantic pacing, looking at her through wide eyes.

"I'm fine."

The concern was gone, and now the anger appeared.

"Where were you! I told you to stay Meggie! I told you to wait for me!" Meggie winced, and sunk into the couch, as if she could hide in it.

"Meggie I am tired of this. I am tired of worrying for you, of you going behind my back. We are meant to be equals."

Meggie stood up, throwing the blanket off her.

"You are a broken record! Maybe I don't want to grow up. Adults cause war, children just want to play!" she yelled.

"Yes, you want to play don't you?" he sneered. Meggie glared at him.

"Did you go to his house?" he asked her.

"Why? Are you jealous?" she folded her arms across her chest.

"I asked you not to. So did you?"

"Yes but I'm back." She said shakily, closing her eyes.

"Yes -in this state. What happened?" Her eyes filled with tears and she turned from him, her anger deflating.

"Meggie?"

"It-he's friends with Jeremiah. He helped him escape." She finally looked back at him, looking for his reaction. Dustfinger stared at her, before walking over and wrapping her up in his arms, tightly.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you in any way?" Dustfinger didn't wait for an answer but pulled back to examine her himself.

Any other time she would have enjoyed his touch but not tonight.

"Dustfinger, I believe that Resa's his mother but I'm not sure where he stands right now. I need you to come back with me. Please. I need you to do this for me." She whispered, gripping onto his face and looked into his eyes, exposing herself.

"Meggie, clearly he's a fraud. Clearly it's not true so please stop. Especially after tonight-you want to go back? Why do you set yourself up for these things?"

Meggie took her hands away and took a step back.

"I can't believe you." Meggie whispered, hurt. Dustfinger's eyes widened and he opened his mouth, but then the door opened, and Roxanne, Mo and Resa strolled in. Mo and Resa were oblivious to what was going on but Roxanne wasn't.

She grinned.

"See the games she plays? She's a child." Dustfinger frowned, and Meggie just closed her eyes.