"Yes. But why is Milla in there?" Though she sounded fine, those peacock pools were pricked with tears.

"I dunno, they wouldn't tell me either. Did she tell you anything?"

"No. she just left a note as usual." She said, wrapping her arms round her boyfriend. Feeling his arms around her was comforting.

The first time Milla disappeared like that, Eries called every colleague in every police station across the city, country, and even the contacts that she had abroad. They all tried their best to help find her. Some of her friends who worked as government agents helped out too. But no one was able to find anything. Eries was heartbroken. With Marlene gone too, Richie was all she had left.

Some time later, out of the blue, came a knock on her door. Having just crawled out of bed after a wild night out with the girls, Eries did not bother to look through the peephole and just opened the door to her apartment. Her heart stopped beating for a few seconds, it simply froze with shock.

Millerna was stood right before her, alive and well. Eries was afraid to hug her in case it was a cruel dream, but then she was surprised when Millerna gave her big sister a bear hug. Hugging her back, Eries decided to skip the lecture. She was just thankful Millerna was okay. Eries went to make breakfast, even though she did not want to leave Millerna, she realised that she cannot suffocate people by being clingy. When two portions of egg on toast were made, she braved her fears and calmly returned to the living room. And she was still there!!! The second time was not such a shock, but the time Millerna was away did worry her. But Eries learned that, if she was patient enough, and carried on as normal, her little sister would one day come back.

Now it was different. Millerna was in custody, and no one knows why. While eavesdropping, she overheard Millerna was in the same place as the men the police are after. So it seems like it was just a bad coincidence. It happens to everyone. This can't be good, Eries thought. Richie was the first to pull away.

"I'll get us a coffee. Will you be ok on your own?" Richie asked, checking her peacock eyes for any sign of a lie.

"Yes." She replied truthfully.

"Reeeeaally? Cause I don't want my 'ickle dove to be sad." Richie was being playful, trying to cheer her up.

"Yes! Your little dove won't be sad. Promise." She kisses him lightly, "Now go!"

Richie strolls down the corridor, all the while blowing her kisses and making funny faces. By the time he actually got to the refreshments room, Eries was in stitches. She turns around to lean against the wall.

"Ooops! I-I'm sorry. Haha…hahaha… my… haha… mistake."

"What's so funny babe?"

That voice is so familiar…

Folken. Fanel. Flamer. The notorious gang leader. Of Red Moss.

Holy shit.

"How-"

"Sh sh sh sh shhhhh, you'll blow my cover darlin'. We wouldn't want to do that now would we?" Folken said smoothly.

"Why? Have you got something up you're sleeve?" Eries was suspicious. She had reason to be.

"You're sister is in there, because she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. If you leave now and pretend this never happened, I'll make sure her presence was never recorded."

Folken whispered in Eries's ear. His warm breath was making her ear tingle. She was shocked she even realised it. He seemed to know something about this questioning, and he had a strange glint in his hazel eyes. They just stared at each other for what felt like aeons, each not daring to break eye contact. Eries noticed there were tiny gold flecks in his irises. A distant voice from behind made them both jump out of their skins; Eries turned to find it was Richie, who was cursing because he spilt some coffee on himself. Turning back round, Folken had vanished.

(God, I should have arrested him there and then. Next time…) Eries thought. So why did she feel abit disappointed that he scooted?

"Eire's."

It was Richie's gentle tone. She greeted him with a kiss, and took her coffee. They delegated that there was not much use in staying, so they reluctantly went home.

---------------------

Sitting in the dark, the smell of metal was overwhelming. Still, at least it was clean. The feeling of anticipation was getting stronger by the minute. A little green light in the ceiling corner, told Millerna she was being watched. After all, she was a high security suspect. They have not charged her with anything yet, but if the guys do not make a move quickly, she soon will be convicted of something. Millerna knows she can sort herself out, but she only worries about what affect it might have on Eries. So at all costs, she has to keep what she does a secret. Watching the camera closely, the light slowly flickered off.

Time to get ready.

Millerna stand up, and waits. The lock clicks open; the door gradually widening. The light flooding through the gap blinded her, and she felt a rough hand grab her wrist. Then it was all a rush as they pulled her behind them, keeping her close. She did not ask. This was the plan.

There were footsteps approaching.

They paused until silence returned. Millerna savoured the smell of the familiar scent; something by Ghost. After staying put for a few moments, they were on the move again. Within minutes they were outside, and quickly climbed into an unlocked Cherokee jeep. They started the quiet engine and drove off. Looking to her left, Millerna knew it would be him; same old, same old.

These two men are blessed with the killer handsome gene, mixed in with mystery and intrigue. He gave Millerna a shock when he took her hand, while steering with the other. Almost immediately he let go, as if she had a contagious disease.

"Hey…" She began but he cut her off abruptly.

"I only did my job." He said bluntly.

"I know." Millerna was hurt at being cut off like that.

He gave her a look, then went back to concentrate on his driving. And I thought you were going to say something else. He thought.

They arrived at the mansion forty minutes later. Walking behind her all the way to the door, he could not help but stare as she walked. Her wavy blond hair swished as she moved, gleaming in the moonlight. The way her bum seemed to wiggle as she did so. How he missed all these things about her. Opening the grand oak doors, she went inside, and then turned to face him, arms crossed.

"Your things are in your room."

"Fine."

He watched her leave, going up the spiral staircase and into the hall above. He stayed there, daydreaming. Suddenly she was back. His heart leapt and a smile nearly formed on his thin lips, but restrained himself.

"Just wanted to say thank you."

Millerna said it in the same fashion, like when your mother tells you to do something you do not want to do. Then she was gone. The old mantra which always swam in his line of thought, returned to taunt him.

You are such an idiot.

---------------------------

The next morning Eries got up early and headed for the station. She tried not to get her hopes up of walking home with Millerna. When she arrived however, the guard greeted her with a sombre smile. He informed her that Millerna had escaped during the night.

"What?!"

"I'm sorry, but even we don't know how she did it."

Eries slumped into the nearest chair to her. She was in so much shock, that she did not notice her superior had entered the room, and was looking at her strangely.

"I know this may sound cheeky, but would you help us find her?" The guard asked.

"Of course. I would like to know myself why she is involved."

So, her superior filled her in on everything that they know; they had been following the Black Diamond case for some time now, and a tip-off lead them to make these arrests in Munich. What they had not expected, was to find her sister in with the suspects. Neither did Eries.

While driving to the local café to search for more clues, she could not help thinking; what did Millerna do for a living? She could lie and say that she worked as an airhostess, which would be the perfect cover story. But Eries always was a rubbish liar. She wanted to ask Millerna, although something always held her back. It might be the fear of losing her like she lost her parents. Mother died while they were still very young, so this loss was just accepted. Yet when father died in an armed struggle, it affected her badly; and Marlene had recently 'vanished' of the face of the earth. All that happened in the space of a year. Without realising it, tears had begun to fall from her piercing peacock eyes and she put her foot down on the acceleration pedal. She failed to see a red car in the next lane, also speeding up trying to overtake her. They turned quickly to do so, but misjudged it. In a split second, they collided and sent each car in opposite directions. Eries's jeep flew into the air, spinning as it went. The red car smashed into the side barrier, crumpling the entire bonnet. Eries landed roof side down on the central barrier.

A motorcyclist stopped and watched the whole thing unfold before him. Taking off his helmet and racing to the driver in the jeep, he was shocked to the core.

Blood poured from Eries's head and her limp body hung out of the seat, strapped in only by the seat belt. Other drivers stopped to try to help. Soon the ambulances arrived along with the fire brigade.

They cut her free, but she was unconscious. Checking her airways, they put her in the recovery position while the ambulance tried to get closer to her. Eries was laid gently on to the stretcher, and when the man went with them, they asked whom he was.

"Just a friend."

"Yeah well hurry and get in, we have to get her to the hospital a.s.a.p." Said the paramedic.

Folken jumped in and they sped off. She stirred, murmuring something. He put his ear closer so he could hear better.

"Sorry?"

("Don't… leave… me…")

Then she suddenly gripped his hand, though her eyes remained shut. When their hands touched, it was like being struck by lighting. That feeling was always there, even if it was only eye contact. Surprised, and for the first time, Folken did not know what to do in a situation with a woman. The rest of the journey passed in a haze; with Eries always calling her boyfriend's name. When they arrived at the hospital they took her out and wheeled her away, and he just followed. Why was he following? Folken was clueless. He could not stand her, yet there he was.

God knows that if his family ever found out about this,

he would be a dead man.

When she came to, a bright light blinded Eries. It was morning, and she heard the birds chirping through the open window. With some effort, she sat up and a nurse was there to fluff some pillows to support her back. She thanked her and the nurse went away. Still feeling abit dizzy from the anaesthetic, Eries wondered how she got there. Opposite her was an old lady, who was surrounded by her family.

Family. Ah, it was coming back to her know. She got upset about thinking of the past again. And that car…

Who took her to hospital?

"I've got to get a grip on things." Eries spoke to herself.

"Eries!"

Someone shouted to her. Looking up, Richie was running towards her and enveloped her in a hug, nestling his face in her neck. His warmth was comforting, as was being held by his strong arms. He asked how she was, and stroked her back. Richie put an arm round her shoulders, and she put hers round his waist. She leaned against his broad chest, looking out into the peaceful hospital gardens. The place was just so serene and beautiful. They talked about how long they had been seeing each other. Then the conversation moved to the future, and what each of them wanted. Eries wants security, and he understood what she meant completely.

"Promise me we'll always be together. I know it sounds silly, but it'd make me feel loads better."

Richie lifted her chin, so they were eye to eye. His vivid blue eyes possessed this wonderful crystal clear clarity to them, making them shine. His cute little nose was pointy, just like hers. Those chiselled features would make him an international male model, but instead he chooses to do something for the community. With his physique you would think he was an Olympic athlete. And that dark brown hair; it was so cool, short and spiked in all directions, putting even the most popular DJ to shame. Richie's fashion sense is pretty trendy too.

"I promise. Eire's?" He also possessed the most other-wordly sexy voice in the galaxy; deep and grainy. She could listen to him babble about rubbish for hours.

"Hm?"

"I know it's not the most romantic place in the world, but… would you…"

He took a platinum diamond ring from his pocket, looking her shyly in the eye, waiting for her answer. She threw her arms around his neck.

"Yes!"

Richie showered her with kisses and they held each other. Something else was preying on his mind, and although he did not want to say it now, he knew it was only a matter of time. He took a deep breath. He told Eries how worried he was about her when he received the news. But there was worse news to come; and it concerned Millerna.