Araena VII
Chapter Two
"How do you manage with your charge? He's similar to her isn't he?" Equinox asked over a cup of tea. "How do I keep her under control?"
"Best to let them do as they wish until they get bored. That's when you teach them - when there's nothing else they want to pay attention to," Eclipse nodded.
"She never gets bored. I've noticed Araena behaves like a true demon when I pester her but she remembers nothing of these said periods of time later. Is it the same with your boy Raenef?"
"No, Raenef is always a blasted goof," Eclipse growled. He was still getting over the remark that had been made about him "serving a clown."
"If you're upset with the arrangement, why don't you go serve Krayon? He'd be glad to have your support."
"I could say the same for you. Why don't you?"
"I could not live with the guilt of dumping that disgrace into someone else's lap," Equinox stated simply, looking over the balcony to the garden below. There was Araena skipping around in a pretty blue frilly dress, giggling like a little school girl, until she fell and scraped her knee. At this point she began crying hysterically.
"She's quite a blemish on your record. Demon lords and ladies shouldn't dress like that or act like that," Eclipse couldn't help staring by now. The girl was downright peculiar.
"I know," Equinox sighed. "I can't handle her any more. That's why I called on you. Do you have any advice for me?"
Eclipse got up, solemnly finished his tea, and placed the cup down. "Start a zoo and everything will work out fine," he said seriously before disappearing.
"A… zoo?" Equinox blinked. He then realized what "zoo" meant. Eclipse was referring to the way Chris and Erutis had come to live with them but did that actually solve problems? They were humans! What good could they do?
"Hey, hey Equi!" Araena smiled cheerfully as she hugged him. "I gots a boo-boo. Can you fix it for me?"
Equinox twitched. Then he threw the child off and walked away.
"EQUI!!!" Araena sniffled. She ran to catch up with him.
"Start acting as your title commands of you," Equinox demanded.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"I'm dyslexic!" Araena held up all her fingers but the middle finger on her one hand.
"Creative way to flip me off," Equinox murmured. "I'll give you credit for that."
"Credit for what? What's it mean to flip someone off Equi?"
"Gr… never mind that."
"Who was that guy who looked like you who was here earlier, Equi?" she asked. Equi - she said the nickname teasingly - as if she knew he found it degrading.
"My half-brother Eclipse. He has a problem case like you. Raenef the fifth I believe is the boy's name," Equinox stated simply.
"Interesting. I should like to meet this boy, Equi. Take me to Lord Raenef's castle tomorrow at sunrise."
"B-but Milady!" Equinox objected.
"That's an order!"
"Yes ma'am," he sighed.