Thank you to all my reviewers!!! Oh, and PsychoLioness13, thanks for pointing out that cafeteria thing. I didn't realize I had put that instead of mess hall. *shrugs* I'm glad I have you. And don't worry, Rowana Silvakisma, Kel won't go completely Gaia on us.

Chapter Two: Secrets

On the top of Balor's Needle, astonishingly, was where Neal spotted Kel. Her legs were dangling precariously off the edge.

"Kel!" he screamed so she could hear him. She leaned forward.

"What?" she called back snappishly. He almost couldn't hear her over the wind. The same wind whipped her brown hair around her hard face.

"What are you doing?"

"Sitting on Balor's Needle, you silly ass. What's it look like I'm doing?"

"But . . . aren't you afraid of heights?"

She was silent for a moment. "I was," she said finally. "Not anymore."

Something in her tone, heard even from the distance between him, had him looking especially hard at her. "Can I come up?"

"Sure," she said, but her eyes—her changed, clear pale green eyes—were annoyed.

He was up there within five minutes. She rose to meet him, a cool smile plastered on her face. She was lovelier than he, or anybody else, remembered.

"Hi," Neal said reluctantly. Now that he was here, he was hesitant to say whatever he wanted to say. "Can I, uh, can we talk?"

"About what?" she asked briskly.

"Your attitude," he said nervously. She glared at him. Mithros, what was wrong with her?

"What's wrong with my attitude?"

"It's cold," Neal said bluntly. "It's mean. What happened back in Scanra?"

Not a single thing flickered in her expression. "Nothing."

"Oh, so your attitude just froze over night?"

"Yes. Now, leave me be."

"Kel, talk to me," he yelled in frustration. "Why are you so…so…" he fished for a word. "Cruel?" he finally said.

"I am not cruel. I am normal as can be."

"Normal?!" Neal spluttered. "You are best friends with Yuki, and me, and yet you put us down as easily as you cut cake. Cleon, old sweetheart though he is, is also a good friend, but you insult him without batting an eyelash. And then there was Owen. You hurt him most of all, acting that you didn't care about his new knighthood at all. What happened? Please, talk to me!"

Kel regarded him dully, her eyes devoid of emotion. "Why should I?"

"You know what?" he spat. "Forget it. Maybe someone else will tell me."

She read his mind. "Don't bother asking Al," she said coldly. "She knows what would happen if she ratted on me."

"What would happen?"

"I would hurt her very, very bad."

(A/N: Okay, Kel is beginning to scare even me. And I'm writing this story!!! Oh, and yes, I know it's a little weird, and is not making much sense, but I feel like writing something. It's not my best fic, but hey. I like writing.) 

~*~

"What's wrong with Kel?"

Cornered. Great. The king, the queen, Buri, Neal, Raoul, and Cleon formed a ring around Alanna.

"What's wrong with Kel?" Raoul repeated.

Alanna remained silent.

"Tell me!" Neal said shrilly.

"Nothing," she finally said. "Nothing's wrong with her."

"Like hell," Buri said bluntly. "Tell us, Alanna. We promise we won't tell her or anybody else we told you."

Maybe she should tell them…Alanna opened her mouth to speak.

"Al?"

She gulped and wheeled around, as did the others, to face Kel. Her long form leaned carelessly against the wall.

"Care to share the secret?"

"No," the Lioness mumbled meekly.

Everyone was silent. Never before had their fiery redhead friend been known to show humility of any kind, especially to a younger person. Now they were witnessing it, and to Kel—quiet, uncomplicated Kel.

"Then I suggest you, my dear, leave us be, so my friends and I can have a talk."

Alanna left abruptly, glancing sadly at the others.

"Kel?" Raoul said timidly.

"What?"

He flinched at the harsh tone of her voice. "Can't you talk to us? Some? At least give us a clue!"

Kel pondered this a moment, then straightened from her place against the wall. "Clue number one: Something's missing."

"Well, duh," Buri said, exasperatedly. "We know. Can't you give us more?"

"No."

"Please?"

"When I say no, I mean no."

Without another word, Kel pivoted and left. Stunned, they watched her broad back retreat around the corner.

"She's missing a heart, that's what she's missing," Neal grumbled.

"I don't think it's a heart," King Jonathan said slowly.

"More like something we have, and she once had, but is now missing," Queen Thayet said thoughtfully.

"It's a heart I tell you! A HEART!" Neal yelled.

"Shut up, already, Neal," Cleon barked.

Neal fell silent, but not before he added in a low murmur, "I still say she lost her heart."