"Hey! Aren't you that BeyBlading captain from the news?"

Samantha looked up from her phone and stuffed it into her pocket, standing up to see who had addressed her. She gave the boy opposite her a tight smile, which became slightly warmer when she saw that he was cute. "I have a name," she said, trying to sound friendly. "Its Samantha."

"Oh, right. Sorry," the boy bashfully ran a hand through his hair. He was dressed in the hotel's uniform and his bellboy hat sat awkwardly on his tufty brown hair. He looked older than Samantha, though; his eyes were a clear green that hurriedly looked away when they met her own. "I was just wondering…" he gestured to the television screen in the lobby that was currently showing the match she had just won.

"Yeah, I'm just coming back from that," Samantha fished out her phone and began typing on it again once the screen lit up. "I was actually waiting for my friend, he said he'd meet me here but he's not back yet. Do you know how far away the stadium is on foot?"

"About twenty minutes," the boy shrugged. "You didn't walk?"

"No, I came in the bus with the other teams," Samantha's eyes lit up as her phone beeped and she hurriedly checked her messages. "But the boys in my team wanted to walk."

"You're friend isn't a girl?"

"Nope, he's my team-mate."

"Well, he's not a boyfriend, I hope?" his tone was lighthearted as he leaned against the sofa she had been sitting up.

Samantha glanced up at him and raised an eyebrow. Her lips twitched. "You hope?"

"Yeah, well," he shrugged awkwardly and Samantha almost laughed at his nervousness. "I was just, you know, wondering."

"He's not my boyfriend," assured Samantha. "But he's not very nice, and if he sees you here-"

"Rissa."

"He'll be even less nice," she finished lamely. Tala's hand closed around her shoulder as he came to stand next to her, towering over her companion. She rolled her eyes. "Down, boy."

"Err, hi," the bellboy offered his hand. "I'm Jason."

Tala's eyes flickered from his outstretched hand to his face. "Leave." His voice was flat. Jason obeyed automatically.

Samantha sighed. "Really, Tala?"

"He was hitting on you."

"You didn't even give him a chance to!"

"You admit he was trying to, though?"

"Yes, fine. He was. So?"

"So, Kai will-"

"He doesn't care."

"Like hell he doesn't."

"Don't pretend to know more about my relationship than I do."

"Your relationship is more my concern than yours," Tala steered her towards the sofa and sat her down, taking the available seat next to her. "Now that you both have finally decided to let me be godfather to your children-"

"You're ridiculous."

"-I've decided I have a personal interest in making sure you get to that stage," he continued speaking as if he hadn't heard her. "And that means no flirting."

"I don't flirt," said Samantha pointedly.

"Neither does Kai," said Tala firmly. "You're paranoid."

"You're biased."

"Its been over a month," he pointed out. "By now, you'd think that you'd know him better than that."

"I know him better than you're giving me credit for," she shot back. "I saw those girls in Beijing. And in Cairo, before that. And now in Venice, again. Tala, he doesn't even try to fight them off."

"He can't hit girls, Rissa."

"So I'm supposed to slap every boy that even looks at me but he can still talk to every random girl? And buy them drinks?"

"That was one time-"

"I don't care! It still happened," scowling, Samantha turned away. "I'm not jealous or insecure, I swear. But I don't like double standards."

"He's in love with you."

"He's never said that to me."

"Neither have you."

"Why do I always have to?"

"You don't."

"Then stop trying to give me relationship advice! I-"

"Err, excuse me?" two pairs of icy blue eyes shot towards Jason, who was approaching them with his hands outstretched, as if in surrender. "I'm sorry to interrupt but there's a man here to see you."

"Who is it?" snapped Tala.

"I don't know his name, but he wants to see you," Jason nodded to Samantha. "He's pretty old, said his name was Johnson."

"That's my butler's name," Samantha frowned. "What's he doing in Venice?"

"It might be important," Tala grabbed her elbow. "Let's go."

"I can go alone, Tala," Samantha rolled her eyes and tugged her arm out of his grip. Ignoring his annoyed glare, she turned to Jason. "Can you show me where he is?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," he grinned and pointed to one of the conference rooms at the end of the lobby. "He went in there. There were two other men with him. I think they're having a meeting."

"Can I interrupt?"

"I don't see why not. They haven't asked to not be disturbed."

Samantha shrugged and allowed Jason to lead her towards the doors. He knocked, poked his head inside and opened the door a bit more, ushering her inside. She gave him a smile before turning around. What she saw made her freeze.

"Good evening, my dear," Voltaire's voice was icily casual as he gestured to the chair next to him. "Won't you sit down?"

"I'm not staying here," she backed away immediately and reached for the door. A hard grip on her upper arm stopped her. She turned around to see a familiar face.

"I hope you remember Quill and Paul," Voltaire's voice was still conversational. "They had such lovely things to say about you… and Kai."

Samantha jerked her arm out of Paul's grip, who merely grabbed her other arm and pulled her away from the door. She kicked his shin and elbowed his stomach, for good measure. More surprised than hurt, he immediately let her go. "I don't know what the hell you're doing here, Voltaire, but I swear-"

"Stop your chatting and sit down," snapped a voice. Samantha looked to her other side. A man stood there, in nondescript black clothes. He wore dark glasses and had an ugly scowl on his face. "I didn't come here to battle wits with a child."

"She is hardly a child any more, J," Voltaire sounded amused. "Control your temper. Sit down, Karissa. We have much to discuss and very little time to do so. My pesky grandson can't seem to stay away from you, no matter how much I threaten him."

"He's not scared of you," said Samantha. Warily, she took a step forward, pointedly stepping on the toes of the other boy who still stood to attention. He swore quietly behind her, but didn't move. Slowly, she sank into a chair further away from the one Voltaire had indicated, managing to keep all four people in the room within her view.

"I won't try to kill you in a crowded hotel," said Voltaire, noticing the way her eyes darted to the nearest window. "You've lost some of your sense since you left us."

"Cut the crap, Voltaire. Tell me why I'm here."

"Your manners really do need improvement," the old man tutted disapprovingly before leaning back in his chair and surveying her closely. "I have a proposition for you, Karissa."

"A proposition or a task?"

Voltaire chuckled. "Clever girl. I told you she was sharp, didn't I, J?"

"You also told me that finishing her off would be easy," said the man called J. "I've lost one man already and after seeing him, I don't have a lot of willing candidates to finish the job."

"That was more Kai's doing than hers, I suppose."

"Voltaire, he had no skin."

"That would be my doing," said Samantha. Her voice was acerbic.

Voltaire raised his eyebrows. Samantha knew that look. He was impressed. "You have grown."

"Not really, you just have incompetent henchmen."

He ignored the jab. "Karissa, the proposition I have for you is simple," he leaned his elbow on the table and folded his hands, one of top of the other. "We've recently expanded the Abbey to include a separate wing for girls, not much older than you when you first came to us. You've become quite a success by using our basic teachings and I'm interested in seeing if I can replicate that."

"You're sick."

Voltaire waved off her words. "My point is that there is no better candidate than you to provide expert teaching. I want to offer you a place at the Abbey, as an instructor, in the same position as Boris was before he left us. You'll be paid well, you'll have your own home, not to mention you'll become more powerful by testing out the new prototypes, such as those belonging to Quill and Paul," he indicated the two boys, who nodded as their names were mentioned.

Samantha stared at him. "Are you insane?"

Voltaire raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"That is the most ridiculous offer I have ever heard," Samantha stood up from her chair, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't need money, I have a home, and I could beat your students in my sleep. I'm not interested, Voltaire. You're crazy if you thought I ever would be."

To her surprise, the old man smiled. "I didn't think you would be, my dear. Which brings me to my final statement; if you don't join us at the Abbey, I will put a bullet through the heart of your precious Kai."

Samantha didn't flinch. "He's your heir. You won't kill him."

"I don't need an heir as weak as him. If he dies, I have other, better options."

"I don't believe you."

"Would you like to risk it?"

"Are you threatening me?"

"Yes."

Samantha shook her head. "I have no guarantee. You could kill him even if I do join you."

"I repeat, my dear; would you like to risk it?"

"I'm not afraid of you."

"I did hope you would see sense," Voltaire sighed. "Very well. Quill, open the door. I'll wait for your answer, Rissa," he added as Samantha made to turn away. "You're here in Venice for some time. One of my associates will contact you before you leave."

"I'll call the police as soon as you do," she said unfeelingly. As soon as Quill opened the door, she pushed past him and walked out. It snapped shut behind her.

Samantha kept her pace measured as she walked towards the other end of the lobby. Tala was still sitting there, this time with Kai. They were both deep in conversation; probably plotting to kill Jason, who had just smiled at her when she walked past the reception desk. Samantha smiled back, making sure there was nothing out of the ordinary in her movements. She felt like running to Kai and telling him everything just so he could take her away, but she knew she couldn't. He would go on a killing spree. So she smiled and walked and blinked back the dizziness that threatened to overpower her.

"What took you so long?" asked Tala. Samantha didn't answer and sat down, clenching her hands into fists. She didn't meet Kai's eyes, not even when his arm snaked around her waist.

"Oh, they were just some people from the BBA. They wanted to talk about grandfather," she shrugged casually. Her voice didn't shake, but she knew her lips were about to start trembling. She felt cold. Reflexively, she leaned against Kai, releasing one of her clenched hands to clamp down onto his arm.

"You have goose bumps," his voice was quiet as his hand closed around her upper arm. Tala said something about going to get some food and walked away, leaving them alone. "What happened?"

"The conference room was cold," she answered automatically.

"You don't look so good," his fingers tilted her chin towards him. His eyes were soft; they were always so warm when they looked at her. She loved it. Unable to help herself, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. His face broke into a smile.

Samantha smiled back. "I'm okay. Don't worry."

"I know when something's bothering you, Rissa."

"Tala was annoying me before you came," she sighed. Inside, her stomach clenched at the lie.

"What about?"

"I'll tell you later."

"That's all?"

"Yes," Samantha nodded. "Yes. I'm fine. I'm just tired."

"Tell me about it," Kai leaned back against the sofa, pulling Samantha with him. "I was walking back with Tyson and the idiot tries to take a shortcut and we almost end up mugged."

"What?" Samantha's eyes widened and she turned to face him. Voltaire had said he would try, but she didn't think he was serious. But Kai wouldn't have even told her something like this if he hadn't thought it would actually happen. Her hand shook as she rested it against his cheek. "Are you alright?"

"I can look after myself," he rolled his eyes. "They were probably going to pull something, maybe ask for my wallet, but one of them got a phone call and then they didn't follow us. I got that idiot out of there, though."

"Yeah," Samantha nodded, pulling herself together. "Yeah. Good idea. You're not hurt, though?"

"Of course not."

"Oh, okay," Samantha nodded again.

Kai gave her an odd look. "What's wrong?"

"With me? Nothing," she shrugged. "I told you, I'm tired."

"What are you thinking about?"

"I have a headache."

"Come on, then," he stood up and offered her his hand. "You can get some sleep before dinner."

"Dinner?"

"You're the one who forces us to eat together every night," he pointed out. "I was happy with just you and me."

"Trust me, I'm happy with that now."

Kai frowned. "Rissa, what's up with you? You're a million miles away."

"No, I'm not," her hand closed around his as she stood up and they began walking towards the elevators. "I'm just tired."