Chapter 11

'Errargh,' she screamed in frustration, as she sent half the furniture in the living room flying.

'Let me guess, you've also had a less than wanted visit from my bastard brother,' Pitch pouted as she entered the room from the door on the opposite side.

'Oh it was better than that, he told me if I didn't want him involved I should just kill him,' her face grimaced sourly. 'He then used every dirty trick he could think of to make me feel guilty for harbouring any kind of negative feelings towards him.'

'It's not your fault you have doubts towards him,' Pitch folded her arms, 'not after the way he's treated you like his own personal experiment. What exactly does he want anyway?'

'He wants me to allow someone of his choosing to get involved somehow. Although he was quick to neglect the whole who and how part.'

'Then you should have killed him.'

'I don't think I can. I don't think anyone is capable of killing him,' she shook her head.

'God I hope with everything in me that isn't true,' Pitch grimaced, 'I can't stand the thought.'

'You know I can still remember a time when you didn't mind him.'

'That's because I didn't realise just how far away from the vision of him I had he truly was. I thought… I always thought because he was her son that he couldn't… that there was no way he could be more monstrous than the sisters were. I thought he was a saving grace in her lineage; I needed that hope and he shattered it into a million pieces.'

'Is that why you started those rumours about him?'

'You call them rumours like you don't know they're true,' she glared, 'what he did to you wasn't right and someone needed to tell the Council some of what was going on. What I don't get is why you're protecting him.'

'I don't have a choice,' she turned her gaze away, 'this situation is more complicated than you realise. Besides, all I really have are doubts, I don't have any evidence…'

'So?'

'So I can't risk the stability of the Balance over a few doubts. These rumours will die down eventually and then… then I'll be able to make a better assessment of the situation.'

'I knew befriending a Balancer would lead to my ruin,' she gave a heavy sigh. 'But for the record I was just trying to protect you.'

'I know and believe me I'm grateful someone was, but at the same time… Things are just way too complicated. More so than even you realise. I can't be the one to ruin everything.'

'Ruin everything?' Pitch frowned. 'What…?'

'Cuz nothing ever lasts forever, we're like flowers in this vase together,' she cut Pitch off, her choice of song lyrics clearly annoying her old friend.

'What is it with you and music anyway?'

'It's the only thing which keeps me connected when I'm this far away,' she knew her statement was missing words but she didn't really care. 'Besides, music has magical qualities all of its own; why do you think the Nymphs are so famous for it?'

'Nymphs are famous for a lot of things Red,' she shot her a look. 'Music is merely one of the more appropriate ones.'

'Because, of course, they have the sex to cover everything else.'

'I'm surprised the Nymphs don't get on better with the MacTay,' she rolled her eyes, 'both seem to live on their sexual appetites.'

'Whereas that might be a gross exaggeration, we both know the fundamental difference between the MacTay and the Nymphs. The Nymphs are pacifists. Beyond the point the Odraians and Silkoneons are I mean. They won't even fight to defend themselves for the most part.'

'And the few who do choose to protect the Balance,' Pitch sat herself down again, this time closer to her, 'whereas no MacTay would ever choose to become a Balancer.'

'They protect the Balance in their own way though.'

'And what way would that be,' Pitch laughed.

'The way that will always be more than what you do,' Kashmana's voice sounded from behind them, 'and I thought we agreed no sparring in the house.'

'We weren't sparring,' Pitch turned round to face him, 'we were venting our frustrations at him.'

'What has he done now?'

'He's sticking his noise into our business, that's what. And neither of us can work out why.'

'Hmm,' Kashmana mused for a few moments, 'maybe we should keep a closer eye on things.'

'And it might help if Miraid was to make another of her appearances,' she mused. 'They haven't seen hide nor hair of you in about four months now, that's gotta be strange.'

'I only appeared to them that time because you wanted them to think me suspicious,' Pitch pointed out. 'Strangeness comes under suspicion last time I checked.'

'Yes, but being forgotten about doesn't and you're at risk of that right about now.'

'Good. You know how I feel about being involved.'

'Come on Pitch, its not like I ask much of you.'

'Yes but what you do ask of me tries to make me go against her father. That's not fair.'

'Then think about it as me asking you to help her mother, does that make it easier?'

'Whatever,' she rolled her eyes. 'I'll give them another Miraid appearance if I must.'

'Good. Just remember to keep yourself outa sight of my Sen Khine.'

'Which is a surprisingly easy thing to do considering I always ask to see her.'

'They don't trust you,' she smirked, 'so they're gonna do whatever it takes to keep you away from her.'

'Good,' she laughed, 'because there's nothing more delicious than mistrust.'

'Tell me about it,' she laughed, 'because there's nothing better than the mistrusted good.'