Chapter 54

The house was small and reasonably well kept, but as far as CiCi was concerned it was hell. She couldn't believe her own parents had kidnapped them. It felt so unbelievably surreal and there was nothing she could do about it. So perhaps that was why she was so resolved not to allow them the one piece of information they desired. The level of fear she still maintained over her brother had been enough to keep him silent and now she was allowing herself to enjoy her parents' frustration, as their flesh and blood told them everything but that which they desired. There was a sweet kind of satisfaction to it and one she wasn't giving up anytime soon.

'CiCi, when's Ulk Seto coming for us?' Damon hissed at her, when they'd been left on their own for a few moments.

'They're not,' she hissed back, 'they don't know we're here yet, so we're going to have to get back to them on our own.'

'But how, they won't let us Jump out of here.'

'Then we find a way out of here and then Jump.'

At her words, he nodded childishly and ran towards the door. After fiddling with it for a few moments, he turned back to her with a look of disappointment on his face.

'You heard them lock it,' she rolled her eyes, 'even you should know we wouldn't be able to get out like that.'

'Then how we going to get out?' His face filled with a little boy pout.

'I haven't worked that part out yet, but I will.'

'I want Ulk Seto.'

'I know,' she felt her face fall miserably, 'and I promise we'll get back to them.'

'How? The door's locked and we can't Jump and those mean people won't let us go.'

'I'll think of something, I promise, just give me time.'

'I don't know how to give you time.'

'I…'

Before she could get any further through her sentence she heard a key turn in the lock. Anxiously she threw her brother a warning look and fearfully he hid himself behind her.

'Are you two hungry?' The pale face of her mother peered round the door.

'No.'

'Are you sure?'

'We want to go home,' Damon's voice was loud and squeaky. 'We don't want to stay with you, send us home. I want Ulk Seto.'

'But you belong with us,' as she pulled herself into the room, her long white hair caught the light and shimmered slightly, 'we are your parents; this is your home now.'

'This will never be our home,' CiCi oozed every ounce of confidence she could into her voice, 'and as soon as Ulk Seto and Ulk Tristan find out we're missing, you'll be sorry.'

'They can't do anything,' she shook her head, 'we are your parents; you belong to us.'


'So where's Day Day?' Kasey blinked up at Lilac.

'Somewhere nearby,' she gritted her teeth and exchanged a glance with her sister, 'he's with CiCi.'

'But why aren't they in the Palace? Why did they leave?'

'They're playing hide and seek.'

'Why?'

'Why do you play hide and seek?'

She giggled and grinned childishly, before disappearing.

'Great,' Lilac gritted her teeth, 'where did she go?'

'Probably to Damon's,' Hazelnut shook her head.

'Why?'

'Hide and seeks their favourite game and I'm the one who normally ends up playing with them,' she rolled her eyes. 'Come on, let's go.'


'What are you doing here?' Drake glared angrily at her, the instant she entered Taylor's bedroom unannounced.

'We're looking for CiCi and Damon,' Hazelnut's voice was calm as her eyes flicked nervously towards Taylor.

'We?'

'Yes,' she nodded, 'me, Lilac and Kasey.'

'And where are they?'

'I don't know. Kasey Jumped herself here and my sister and I are looking for her.'

'I thought you were looking for CiCi and Damon.'

'Them too.'

The older boy, who till this point had been watching them curiously, got up and walked towards her. He then tilted his head and frowned.

'Err…' Hazelnut blinked at him.

'He wants to know what happened to his cousins,' Drake translated.

'Err… I… we don't know. I just left them on their own for half an hour and they… they just disappeared.'

'You left them on their own?' He shot her a strange look. 'Even I know how idiotic that is; CiCi can't stand Damon.'

'I know, but… but she'd been really nice to him all day.'

'And that was a good reason to leave them on their own? Hazelnut, you're…'

Taylor motioned for him to be silent and reluctantly he stopped. His boyfriend then gently placed his hand on Hazelnut's shoulder and gave her an emphatic look.

'What?' She flicked her gaze towards Drake.

'He doesn't blame you,' he sighed, 'and he wants to help you find them. I guess we both do. Do you have any clue as to where they might be?'

'No,' she shook her head, 'I don't even know why they would have left.'

Taylor sighed and appeared to think for a few moments. He then grabbed hold of Hazelnut's hand and led her out of the room. Curiously alarmed, Drake followed them out. Outside Lilac and Kasey were already waiting for them.

'I thought we were going to do this without any help,' Lilac tilted her head back and forth.

'I accidentally walked into the wrong room,' she shifted her gaze away. 'But let's face it; Taylor's probably our best bet to find them anyway.'

'What makes you think that?'

'I don't know, the fact he's their blood cousin and practically their brother.'

Taylor nodded in agreement and Lilac studied him closely for a few moments.

'The air around you moves differently to before,' she half held a hand towards him, 'because you're different to before. So, I need to know, you won't tell on us, will you?'

'He hasn't said a word since I found him,' Hazelnut shrugged before anyone else could say anything.

'That's because he can't,' Drake folded his arms, 'so you have no worries from him. Me on the other hand…'

'You wouldn't,' her face filled with a strangely confident look, 'because, despite everything Drake Ashmar, we're still friends.'