Araena VII

Chapter Three

            "Eclipse, please allow me to forewarn you," Equinox 'thought' to his half-brother.  The two were connected through a mental link.  "Araena ordered me to take her to meet your master in the morning."

            "…"  Eclipse didn't respond but he sent out enough vibes to suffice as a response.  It was a very unsettling dark silence.

            "It's your own damn fault!  If you hadn't let her see you--!"

            "What do you think those two could do if they met?  What horrible chaotic mayhem do you expect?  Answer me!"

            "Horrifying unbelievable fluffy cute sugary behavior?"

            "Worse than that!  And then what do you think the senior demon lords will do when they hear of it?!"

            Equinox gulped and the sound also carried through in his thoughts to Eclipse, "Laugh, mock us horribly, assign us shameful tasks for a few years, have us physically and mentally abused, and finally kill us brutally?"

            "Damn straight," Eclipse mentally growled.  "How good are you at acting Equinox?"

            "Alright I suppose.  Why do you ask?"

            "Pretend to lose your way tomorrow.  Walk in one big circle back to your home."

            "But we have a mystical guide," Equinox objected sorrowfully.  "We can't get lost with the magic map we have."

            "Well then lose it!  Burn it to ashes!  Tear it to shreds!  Anything!"

            "But it was father's map," Equinox objected.  It fell silent again.  This time it was a more subtle gentle silence.

            "Hide it," Eclipse suggested.  He wasn't sentimental about the raggedy old paper their father had left behind but he knew Equinox was.  Eclipse would never let it show, but he had a soft spot for his younger half-brother.

            "I think I'm going to have to take her.  She won't take no for an answer."

            "I think I have an idea.  I'll just get Raenef out of the house and keep him out for the day."

            "Brilliant, just brilliant.  I knew you were the thinker of the family for a reason."

            "Thank you," Eclipse chuckled a bit.

            "Did I just hear what I think I heard?  Did the all-powerful, over-glorified, pompous Eclipse the Great just say thank you and then laugh?" Equinox questioned teasingly.

            "Shut up," he said coldly.

            "Okay, okay…"

            "Mr. Equi!  Mr. Equi!  It's morning, Mr.Equi!  Let's get a move on!" Araena skipped into the room.

            Equinox sighed heavily and reiterated to message to his brother.

            "Lord help us if these two meet," Eclipse mentally murmured.  "I'll get Raenef out of here straight away."

            "Indeed," Equinox accidentally said aloud, nodding.

            "Mr. Equi?  What are you talking about?"