Chapter 38

He found her stood silently at the back of the hall, staring wistfully towards the other end of the room. There was a strange look on her face, as though she was thinking about much more than what she was there for. And he knew exactly what she was there for. The Balance Council liked to hide certain sacred artifacts in strange places. This just happened to be one of them and the artefact she was after was the Talisman of Blood.

Gently he placed a hand on her shoulder, making her start. Swallowing hard she turned round to face him, a weak smile pulling its way across her face as she did.

'My twin graduated here,' she gave an edgy laugh, 'I didn't think it would hit me like this, but…'

'I understand,' he returned her smile with one of his own, before crossing the room towards where the Talisman was hidden. 'Why did you come for this one anyway?'

'The Talisman of Blood binds family together,' her voice was level, as she watched him retrieve it, 'I thought it would protect the children if they were bound to their parents.'

'That's some smart thinking there H H,' he did his best to hide the cruel edges of the smile pulled at his lips as he brought the Talisman back towards her.

'Not really,' she shook her head, 'I mean, it was or would be, if I hadn't been stood here for hours unable to get to it.'

'Why unable?'

'I couldn't stop thinking about her. About what her life must be like. About all the friends she must have. She's my twin and I barely know anything about her.'

'Vii Sen aren't encouraged to know about the family they leave behind; it makes them pine for it and then…'

'Yeah, I know,' she sighed, 'that can cause more trouble than its worth. But that doesn't mean we don't miss them anyway. I mean, show me a Vii Sen who doesn't wish they could have known their birth family.'

'False Gleasta.'

'He doesn't count. I mean, his father…'

'He's still Vii Sen,' he cut her off, 'that has to count for something, doesn't it?'

'I guess,' she took the Talisman off of him. 'Where is False anyway?'

'He needed some time alone,' he folded his arms, 'I'm really not sure he's cut out for this whole Balancer lark you know.'

'Oh don't say that; it's his first proper day, he's probably just a little unsettled.'

'Oh I'd say he was more than a little unsettled,' he couldn't help but smirk, as he remembered the look on False's face when he'd told him the truth.

'Look, he's just a kid, don't be so hard on him,' Helen scolded.

'Why are you so concerned,' he cocked an eyebrow, 'he's not your charge anymore.'

'No, but he was and how you train him will be reflected back onto me. Reputation is everything in this game, you know that.'

'Well he's certainly making a reputation for himself.'

'Nichee,' she shot him a look.

'What,' his smirk broadened, 'I didn't say it was a bad one.'

'Yes, but I know you Nichee. I know what you're like.'

'Do you now?'

'Yes, I do.'

He gave her a quick once over, wondering for a moment exactly what she did know about him. He was pretty confident she had no idea what his true identity was, but…

'Helen, I was wondering…'

Suddenly the ringing of bells cut his sentence short.

'I'm sorry,' Helen glanced nervously about, 'but I guess that's my cue to get down there.'

'What?'

'I'm going down there tonight, to investigate things properly,' she grinned at him. 'I know Balancers aren't supposed to give themselves home field advantage down in hell, but I thought, what the hell.'

'Aren't you worried about heading down there?'

'Why would I be worried,' she shrugged, 'it's no more dangerous than anywhere else I've set up home field advantage. And you know me Nichee, I'm not afraid of anything.'

'That's what I'm worried about.'

'Well don't worry about anything,' she laughed, as she slowly disappeared, 'because I'll be fine.'

'Jo…' Crovell's voice was weak as he half opened his eyes to find his sister's face right in front of his. 'Why…?'

'You know I love you, don't you C?'

'Yes,' he nodded wearily, 'I think so anyway.'

'And I know I put acceptance over you, but you… you do understand that, don't you?'

Slowly he nodded.

'Then you know why I wanted to go after the Teen to get your Chaos back, right?'

'To… to get Dad's acceptance.'

Gently she kissed his forehead, before pulling him in towards her so that his head was resting against her breasts.

'I want to get your Chaos back C, I really do, but I'm not strong enough on my own. Not when he's managed to get your Daiosen under his thumb.'

'Duke…'

'It's okay,' she held him protectively, 'I know Duke still loves you more than anything. He really, really doesn't have any choice about what he's doing. I know that's true. But…'

'You're afraid to go after the Teen, aren't you?'

'I'm not afraid to do what is right C. But…'

'What is it?'

For a few long moments she was silent. Then she lovingly kissed the top of his head and pulled away from him.

'Jo, please tell me.'

'I can't tell you anything whilst you're like this.'

'Why not?'

'Because you won't get what it really means.'

'I don't understand,' his face filled with a strange look, as he stared up at her.

'Of course you don't. There's little you can understand without your Chaos. That's why I have to get it back for you.'

She turned and began to leave.

'Jo wait,' his voice made her stop.

'What is it?'

'Where's Mum and Covo?'

'They agreed to give me some time alone with you. Because they know… they know you're in no state for anything C.'

'Why did you need some time alone with me Jo? What are you so afraid of?'

'I'm not afraid of anything C, I just didn't want to take the chance.'