Chapter 54

'There's another destiny for Helen, isn't there,' Lus's voice had a strange kind of slowness to it as Ni somehow managed to chain him to the wall. 'There's someone else she could end up with, someone you're terrified she'll meet.'

'Don't be a fool,' Ni glared at him, 'the only person she's destined for is me.'

'Then why are you so paranoid about me meeting her? Am I the other man?'

'You like Kisara, just stick to that.'

'Getting me to end up with her isn't just about making sure False doesn't, is it,' Lus ignored him. 'It's also about making sure I don't end up with Helen, right?'

'Shut up, you have no idea what you're talking about.'

'Don't I?'

'No,' Ni turned away from him. 'And I'd thank you to remember that.'

'False isn't going to play nice forever you know,' Lus couldn't help but taunt. 'No matter how hard you try, you can't make him fall for Ara. He will fight for Kisara in the end and who knows, he might win.'

'That would be your loss, not mine.'

'I thought you didn't want a future with the two of them together.'

'I don't,' he folded his arms, 'but it's still your loss.'

For a few moments there was silence, then Lus found himself rattling at the chains which bound him to the wall.

'Will you have me here when she comes?'

'What,' Ni flicked his gaze towards him.

'When Helen comes, will you still have me here like this? Or will you move me to prevent love at first sight?'

'Why are you trying to be so greedy,' Ni snarled. 'Be happy to have one girl interested in you and be interested in only one girl. Helen is mine.'

'But she doesn't have to be,' Lus shook his head, 'she could be mine.'

'Aren't you interested in Kisara anymore?'

'Of course I still want Kisara,' Lus tilted his head thoughtfully, 'but that doesn't mean there can't be anyone else out there I might want more.'

'You don't even know Helen.'

'Love at first sight is a very powerful thing though. Maybe you should have me out of the way before she arrives.'

'You mean kill you,' Ni's voice dripped with a strange kind of anger as he spoke. 'Because I'd be more then happy to do that you know.'

'No, you need me alive so your son doesn't end up with Kisara, remember?'

'I could find someone else to distract her from my son,' he shrugged. 'Someone who isn't greedy enough to set their sights on my queen.'

'Who said I was doing that out of greed. Maybe when I met her for those brief few moments I knew I was destined to be with her forever.'

'If that were true you wouldn't keep after Kisara.'

'I might.'

'Then you really are a greedy…'

'There's no need for name calling Ni,' Lus cut him off. 'We both know where that will end.'

'Do we?'

'If we don't then I would be very surprised,' Lus smirked. 'And I really think you underestimated me if you thought these chains could hold me.'

At that he allowed himself to become invisible. He knew it was virtually impossible even for someone of his power level to Jump themselves out of restraints, but if he could trick Ni into believing it hadn't worked, then maybe…

'You must think I'm an idiot if you're expecting me to fall for that,' Ni rolled his eyes. 'I know all about your powers cousin or had you forgotten?'

'Are you sure about that,' Lus threw his voice to make it sound like it was coming from the other side of the room.

Voice throwing wasn't one of his special abilities, but it was something he'd taught himself to do in case of a situation like this. To disorientate his opponent meant more than just being invisible. It meant giving the impression you were everywhere and nowhere all at the same time.

'I'm not going to fall for any of your tricks Lus,' Ni remained calm, 'I know you've not left those chains.'

'Again are you sure about that,' he threw his voice to another part of the room, 'or are you just choosing to believe it's true because that makes things easier?'

'I know you've not left those chains,' he held his ground, 'you can't have; no one's powerful enough to do that.'

'That must be a nice thing for you to believe,' this time Lus made sure it sounded as though he was right next to Ni's ear.

Instantly Ni began to squirm. Even if he didn't believe Lus had left the chains, he was clearly being unnerved by the boy's performance, something Lus couldn't help but take a strange kind of satisfaction in. After all, how many people could honestly say they'd managed to freak out the devil?

'You're not as smart as you think cousin,' Ni's voice was tight, 'I may not be able to see you, but I can still sense you.'

'Don't lie,' he laughed, his voice now sounding from somewhere else, 'my invisibility masks all traces of me and you know it. Even the Mistresses couldn't sense where I was right now.'

'But maybe I'm not sensing you,' Ni smirked, 'maybe I'm sensing something I attached to you.'

'Attached to me?'

'You didn't think of that now, did you cousin?'

'You couldn't have attached anything to me,' Lus did his best to keep his voice level, 'I would have noticed. And even if you did, it would have become invisible when I did.'

'Not if you didn't know it was there it wouldn't have,' Ni chuckled darkly. 'And you clearly didn't know it was.'

'You're lying.'

'Am I?'

'You have to be.'

'Just because you think I'm lying doesn't mean I am,' there was almost a singsong quality to Ni's taunt, 'maybe I'm telling the truth here. Maybe I really have attached something to you. Maybe I know exactly where you are right now because I know exactly how powerful you are.'

'You're lying.'

'You really want to test that theory,' Ni summoned a crossbow into his hands, 'or do I have to shoot at you to prove my point?'

'You wouldn't dare.'

'Wouldn't I?'

'You couldn't, you… you… you… still need me to take care of the Kisara situation.'

'I thought you were more interested in my Helen now.'

'I'm not, I was just trying to wind you up.'

'Then prove it.'

'What?'

'Prove it and reveal to me where I know you are.'

'Fine,' Lus allowed himself to rematerialise in the chains, 'happy now?'

'Very,' Ni allowed his weapon to disappear, 'try that again and I will kill you. Understand?'

'Perfectly.'

'Good. Very good indeed.'